“What Works for Your Brain?”: Collaborating with Students to Nurture Classroom Neurodiversity

Kara’s talk in March 2023 for the 48th Annual Conference, Institut des troubles d'apprentissage (Learning Disabilities Institute, Quebec)

Every learner deserves the appropriate level of challenge and support – but how are teachers able to meet the myriad of needs in their classrooms? You may already know how all learners benefit when teachers incorporate strategies to support neurodivergent students (e.g., autistic, ADHD, dyslexic, gifted) into everyday teaching. Even more importantly, when it comes to planning and differentiating effectively, students are our best resources. This session will focus on whole-class approaches to enhance inclusion, support classroom neurodiversity, including:

- building in student goal-setting and self-reflection;

- collaborating with students as investigators into their own learning;

- and teaching accessible learning tools and strategies to the entire class.

Attendees will also learn how to communicate more clearly with neurodivergent learners, design flexible assessment tasks, add tried-and-true strategies to what they're already doing well, and understand the brain-based reasons underpinning effective accommodations.