Author Archives: Toby Karten

Rethinking Inclusion

Hi y’all! Two weeks ago, I was at a Broadway show, presenting at an educational conference, offering on site inclusion coaching, getting a massage, and whispering “Namaste” in a yoga class. Today is different. Never has my refrigerator been so clean, nor … Continue reading

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Co-Teaching Do’s, Don’ts, & Do Betters

Together general and special educators, administrators, and related staff support each other and  their students to create shared learning environments.This includes setting up co-teaching norms and expectations for planning, instructing, observing, assessing, documenting, and reflecting. Learners then receive, not only access to … Continue reading

Posted in co-teachers, co-teaching strategies, Collaboration, Inclusion, Inclusion Collaboration, Inclusion Lesson Plans, inclusion partners, Inclusion Strategies, multi-tiered systems of support, SDI, UDL | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Co-Teaching Do’s, Don’ts, & Do Betters

“Starring” OUR Students with Differentiated Instruction

https://www.solutiontree.com/blog/https://www.solutiontree.com/products/developing-effective-learners.html

Posted in assessment, Classroom Ideas, Collaboration, diversity, diversity, Inclusion, Inclusion Collaboration, inclusion partners, multi-tiered systems of support, student diversity, UDL | Tagged , , | Comments Off on “Starring” OUR Students with Differentiated Instruction

“I’m Just a Teacher”

As an inclusion coach and consultant, upon a principal’s request, I arrived at a New Jersey school site last week to deliver a professional development session on the topic of co-teaching strategies. As a special educator, I arrived armed with … Continue reading

Posted in Being a Teacher, co-teachers, co-teaching strategies, Collaboration, Inclusion Collaboration, inclusion partners, Inclusion Strategies, Professional Development | Comments Off on “I’m Just a Teacher”

Unable and Unwilling is Unacceptable!

Communications from parents of students with Down syndrome (DS) prompted this blog post.  Students with a label of DS possess different ages, genders, academic, social, and communicative levels, as well as varied likes and dislikes; hence each student is unique.  We cannot allow the common … Continue reading

Posted in Collaboration, diversity, Down syndrome, Full inclusion, Inclusion Collaboration, Inclusion Ouches, inclusion rules, Inclusion Strategies, Inclusion: Families Partnering with Educators, multi-tiered systems of support, navigate the core curriculum, neurodiversity, positive disability attitudes, Special Education, Successes of Students with Disabilities | Comments Off on Unable and Unwilling is Unacceptable!

Heads or Tails & Coming Together!

When you flip a coin, there is a 50% chance of it landing on heads up and a 50% chance of it landing tails up. Life, a tossed coin with legs, is even less probable. Often, we do not toss … Continue reading

Posted in Autism, Collaboration, disabilities and Broadway, disABILITY Awareness, disABILITY Rights, diversity, diversity, Full inclusion, Inclusion Collaboration, Inclusion: Families Partnering with Educators, positive disability attitudes, TDF | Comments Off on Heads or Tails & Coming Together!

#Texas Strong

My heart and prayers are sent to our Texas colleagues as they begin their school year. As an inclusion consultant in Victoria, Bloomington, Edna, and Corpus Christi, I have personally witnessed the steadfastness, compassion, resourcefulness, and intelligence of my Texas … Continue reading

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New Beginnings…

What I miss most about not being exclusively attached to one school building- is-yes you guessed it-the students.  New slates, like that fresh box of Crayolas with the sharpener of course(ok-I am dating myself), allow educators to engage with a rainbow of … Continue reading

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Developing Effective Learners

Developing Effective Learners: RTI Strategies for Student Success Toby J. Karten Designs, minds, muscles, flowers, ideas, strength, countries, strategies, and plans develop. An artist learns to rework a sketch, a mind is strengthened with engaging instruction, a weak muscle is exercised, … Continue reading

Posted in Being a Teacher, Inclusion Strategies, multi-tiered systems of support, RTI, Student Connections, Successes of Students with Disabilities | Comments Off on Developing Effective Learners

Vic’s Teacher-Then, Now & Forever

Toby Karten, Vic’s Teacher-Then, Now & Forever Being a student’s teacher has no finish line. It doesn’t start in the beginning of the school year in August or September and end at the close of the term in May or … Continue reading

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