Jenna Mancini Rufo

The teaching and learning of mathematics have long been haunted by myths.- The Math Person Myth: "Some people just aren't math people."- The Learning Gaps Myth: "We can't address grade-level content until students are caught up with their peers."- The Answer Getting Myth: "Math is all about getting the right answer."- The Rigor Myth: "Rigorous math instruction is only for advanced students—it's wasted on those at lower levels."- The Single Score Myth: "Paper-and-pencil tests are the only practical way to assess students' math knowledge."- The All Children, but . . . Myth: "Sure, we believe that all children can learn math—except . . . "In Conquering Math Myths with Universal Design, Jenna Mancini Rufo and Ron Martiello set out to dispel each of these myths, illuminating the path toward more inclusive and accessible math instruction that empowers students to learn, understand, and appreciate the value of mathematics in everyday life.Through the lens of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), the authors address myths that inhibit students' understanding and enjoyment of math. The UDL approach to instructional design provides students with multiple pathways to access information, express knowledge, and engage with content, thus reducing barriers for all students—not just those with learning challenges. Using UDL, you and your students will embrace the idea that we can all be "math people."Discover research-based takedowns of common math myths along with practical UDL strategies and tools that you can put to work in your classroom right away. Join the crusade to conquer math myths with UDL!

The research is clear: Including students with disabilities in general education classrooms is the most effective way for all students to learn.If you are working toward greater inclusivity in your school or system, this book from educators and inclusion experts Julie Causton, Kate MacLeod, Kristie Pretti-Frontczak, Jenna Mancini Rufo, and Paul Gordon is an invaluable guide for you and your leadership team.Chock-full of research, resources, and seasoned advice, The Way to Inclusion walks you step-by-step through the inclusivity change process, from envisioning your path to reimagining the roles of existing staff and everything in between. The book outlines seven clearly defined milestones tied to an Action Plan that will help you stay the course with so vital an initiative. In addition to milestones and leadership questions, you'll find: Instructions for conducting an equity review of your system with a focus on special education.Guidance for creating and analyzing service-delivery maps, including before-and-after examples from systems that have successfully shifted to greater inclusivity.Classroom observation and staff survey tools.First-person accounts from educators who have undergone the change process.Best practices for developing an inclusivity-focused vision statement.Downloadable forms and templates to help you move forward with implementation.There is no excuse for segregating our students with disabilities from the rest of the student body. This indispensable guide will help you make certain that all students in your system not only learn but also thrive in the least restrictive environment possible.

As schools reopen their doors and students return to the classroom, what will the “new normal” of special education look like? The pandemic exposed educational inequities and areas of urgent need—and now, schools have a unique opportunity to press pause and reimagine their practices. This book helps K–12 school leaders and educators take the lessons of the COVID-19 era and turn them into action: by closely examining what worked during distance learning, letting go of practices that keep some students struggling, and planning new routines and environments that meet the needs of every learner.A visionary call to action from inclusion experts Jenna Mancini Rufo and Julie Causton, Reimagining Special Education guides readers in creating more equitable schools and services, through practical strategies teachers can use right away and thought-provoking, big-picture questions for administrators to tackle. Readers will explore how inclusive educational practices can address each student’s unique needs as schools reopen and bridge learning gaps for students who struggle. Throughout the book, vignettes and anecdotes spark lightbulb moments for educators and show what recommended practices look like in real classrooms.Essential reading for administrators, classroom teachers, and other education professionals, this is the forward-thinking guide every school needs to reimagine the possibilities for special education, support authentic inclusion, and help learners with and without disabilities thrive in a changing world.DISCOVER HOW TO:Re-story students by focusing on their gifts and strengths rather than their deficitsRedesign instruction and assessment to be more flexible and better meet students’ unique needsRestructure intervention frameworks to move away from sorting and labeling students and toward a flexible model that provides access to allRevitalize co-teaching with tools and strategies for serving students with and without disabilitiesRealign service delivery through inclusion facilitation and consultative supportsRethink equity by creating a culture of belonging, dismantling exclusionary programs, and tackling individual and institutional biases