Lesson Plan Book for the Diverse Classroom: Planning for Accessibility

Lesson Plan Book for the Diverse Classroom was developed by Dr. Stacy Dean to help elementary school teachers meet the often-overwhelming demands placed upon them in this era of standards and accountability.  The book provides guidance on how to plan instruction more effectively. Effective planning results in effective teaching, which in turn results in improved student outcomes. Furthermore, effective planning helps teachers meet the challenge of ensuring the general education curriculum is accessible to all students.

Lesson Plan Book for the Diverse Classroom uses the framework of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) as the basis for creating accessible classrooms, features of which include:

• Diverse recognition networks that provide multiple, flexible methods of presentation, such as demonstration, lecture, simulations.
• Diverse strategic networks that provide multiple, flexible methods of expression, including written, oral, pictorial, rubrics, and tiered assignments.
• Diverse affective networks that provide multiple, flexible opportunities for engagement, such as cooperative learning, guided notes, and selection of topic by student.

The book helps teachers plan lessons that rely upon scientifically based instruction to meet curriculum standards. It provides strategies for making instruction accessible to diverse students, such as incorporating assistive technology that improves the functional abilities of students with disabilities.

The Lesson Plan Book for the Diverse Classroom provides a no-fail format for creating lesson plans as well as a plethora of tips and resources that offer information, ideas and support for enriching instruction. It incorporates all of the necessary guidelines for effective planning and teaching, thereby serving as a single resource for those who teach diverse populations (general education, special education, mixed ability, at-risk, ESL/ELL, etc.).