- How did you find Sarah Ward’s workshop/ or methods?
I am leading a team of teachers in a collaborative action research project. Our work is directly connected to a POPFASD (Provincial Outreach for Fetal Alcohol) grant I wrote last year. Through our work with our district partner, and POPFASD we were connected initially with Sarah’s work at a district sponsored professional development certification program, “FIRST” training. From there we were directed to look into further pro- d opportunities through the BCTF, which led us to the POPART (Provincial outreach program for autism resource training) workshop.
- What is it about 360 Degree Thinking that appealed to you?
It aligned with our grant work, and I enjoyed the easy to apply executive training strategies such as the working clock and the done, do, get ready model.
- What forms of Executive Function development did you already have in your classroom? Anything similar to what you’re implementing in your classroom currently?
Everything has changed. Teachers are not typically trained to focus on EF skills.
- How have Sarah Ward’s strategies in your classroom made a difference?
Time management, ability to sustain and start tasks, transition/zones, scaffolding strategies, minimized language increased visuals, differentiation.
- What have been or have there been challenges while implementing these strategies?
TTOC communication; push-back from some staff
- What did you originally start implementing and how?
I began using the working clock strategy first.
- How does 360 Degree Learning relate to your current thesis on alternative seating in your classroom?
Self-regulation, executive functioning skills and teacher training are the focus of our research. Alternative seating are simply tools that can be used as parallels to strategies.
- Do you believe there is a specific age these methods are limited to?
No. This is UDL for all learners- Pre-K through adult ed.