educators

​Curriculum Resources
  • Learning Progression Frameworks: The Learning Progressions Frameworks (LPF) were designed for use with the Common Core State Standards in both English Language Arts and Literacy and Mathematics. The LPFs are based on research that describes how understanding of core concepts in English Language Arts and Mathematics typically develop over time when students have the benefit of high quality instruction. These frameworks offer a guide for the development of curriculum and assessment and assist educators in lesson planning. (Hess & Kearns, 2010, 2011)
  • Graduated Understandings: The Graduated Understandings are comprised of Instructional Families and Element Cards. They present the areas of curricular emphasis within and across grades and the progression of learning within domains of the Common Core State Standards.
  • Core Content Connectors: The Core Content Connectors make connections between the Learning Progressions Framework indicators and the CCSS.
  • Content Modules: The Content Modules offer general background for educators in content areas covered in the Common Core State Standards. The Content Modules present information and examples of concepts across grade bands; providing examples of instruction and accommodations/adaptations for topics that may be difficult to teach.
  • Sample Items

TIES Center
The TIES Center (Increasing Time, Instructional Effectiveness, Engagement and State Support) is a national technical assistance center that is promoting inclusive practices for students with significant cognitive disabilities. The TIES Center has many resources for educators and has Distance Learning articles that provide information on particular topics such as schedule making and time management.
www.tiescenter.org

National Alternate Assessment Center
NAAC is a five-year project funded under the United States Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). NAAC has  four primary objectives: to bring together and build on high quality, technically sound alternate assessments; to demonstrate high quality design through our selected partner states; to administer all types of alternate assessments; and finally, to provide technical assistances through high quality dissemination practices.
www.naacpartners.org/
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CAST
Since its founding in 1984, CAST has seeded and grown the field of Universal Design for Learning through creative research and development, strategic partnerships, teacher preparation and support, and international outreach.
www.cast.org/ ​

​Practice Site
Using the MSAA Practice site allows students to become familiar with the assessment features and tools- these experiences can then be transferred to other online learning tools. A great resource is the Demonstration Videos. These videos highlight how to administer an item and how to determine if a student has a consistent communication mode. These can be used to show how instruction can be delivered and how students may need to be supported.
www.msaaassessment.org/tap/sample-items
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