Everything Every Educator Needs to Know About Inclusion
As you walk from classroom to classroom, are you awed by the incredible educators in your district, yet sometimes cringe at the instructional practices you see?
Do you cringe when you see students being pulled out for therapy, into resource rooms, and placed in classrooms for students with disability labels.
Do you cringe when hard working educators struggle to use planning time to create inclusive lessons, seem to go through the motions as they cover the content from the district’s adopted curriculum, and when they advocate for some students to be educated in separate and never equal places?
Like many other educational leaders, you know there is a better way to teach and reach all students.Â
In fact, you’ve worked in districts where inclusion wasn’t just a special education initiative, fancy words on a vision statement, or a goal to reach in the next 5-10 years….but inclusion was the glue that held everyone together as a community. Inclusion was a reality for every student, regardless of identities and labels.Â
But these days, you feel like a broken record…always saying how inclusion can become a reality. You are overwhelmed by the resistance coming at you from all directions…the school board, educators, and sometimes…even families.Â
More than anything, you want to change your school system to become inclusive…to embody the school’s latest vision and strategic plan you and your committee worked hard on over the summer around equity, diversity, and inclusion.Â
You are searching for ways to change the mindset, heartset, and skillset of your staff…to make your dream of inclusion a reality.Â
You are looking for something that will give all educators exactly what they need. Something that addresses their wildly varying beliefs about inclusion, their knowledge of inclusive education, and something that respects their diverse needs and interests.Â
You are ready to move the district away from out-dated segregated practices that limit the possibilities for so many students. We are here to help.Â
Our Story
We, Dr. Kristie Pretti-Frontczak and Dr. Julie Causton (Kristie and Julie) have spent the last 25 years traveling on crowded planes, doing research in windowless libraries, and presenting in dusty auditoriums and echoey gymnasiums. We have each spent countless hours standing in front of educators in Sheraton Ballrooms…wearing pencil skirts and matching blazers, with microphones in hand.
All because we had dedicated our lives to studying and re-imagining special education, to teaching administrators and educators HOW to create inclusive schools, and to finding the essential ingredients that make a school inclusive.Â
The work was amazing, the people were energizing, and the occasional standing ovation made it worth it!Â
However…the travel was exhausting…our reach was limited…and we knew the work could be done differently — with greater impact.
We knew there had to be a way to reach more than one school, one district, one flight at a time.
More importantly, we knew there had to be a way to honor educators as adult learners, respect their preferences, and address their pressing issues. We understood that each staff member was in a different place in terms of their mindset, heartset, and skillset regarding inclusion…and needed solutions at their fingertips, and not just in March when a professional development (PD) day was scheduled.Â
So several years ago, we gave up our blazers and hard earned travel reward programs. We shifted away from in-person public speaking, and poured our dreams, our passion, and creativity, into a collective new endeavor.
This endeavor? The design and delivery of on-line professional development that transforms schools, yes even yours, into wildly inclusive places and spaces.Â
Today, we spend every minute as a magical✨ co-teaching duo, offering PD that addresses the unique needs of staff, and gives answers to courageous leaders like you who are on a quest to create inclusive schools!
Before diving into our PD solutions, we invite you to imagine yourself as a leader of a truly inclusive school system. Start by picturing in your mind and feeling in your heart, what that school would look like, sound like, and feel likeđź’. We would say close your eyes, but that would make it hard to read…so keep your eyes open, and your heart open, and imagine with us. 🌟
Imagine if…
- Everyone in your district understood why inclusive education is better.Â
- There was no longer a need for resource rooms or self-contained rooms.
- All teachers expected and embraced the wide range of learners.
- Differentiation was a part of every classroom – every lesson – every day.
- Student behaviors were supported in loving and caring ways.Â
- Students with and without disabilities showed great improvement on academic and social outcomes.Â
- and YOU had professional development planned for an entire year.
everyone gets what they need,
when they need it. Â
Introducing Inclusion-Bytes – the solution to your professional development needs around creating inclusive schools!Â
At the heart of Inclusion-Bytes is the belief that students with disabilities have the right to be educated thoughtfully in general education classrooms with meaningful access to general education content and full engagement with peers.
Our beliefs are deeply supported in the U.S. Federal law, scholarly research on the academic, social, and behavioral benefits of inclusive education, and most importantly, the lived experiences of disabled people.
But it goes beyond theories and beliefs. Inclusion-Bytes evolved from our combined 100,000 hours of designing and delivering professional development and helping schools become inclusive.Â
We have taken the most powerful practices from what we learned as researchers, professors, and professional development providers, and culled it, organized it, and boiled it down to the essential ingredients, and created an invaluable PD offering.
inclusion-bytes are…
A comprehensive on-demand professional development series that will support your entire teaching staff (Pre-K-12) with everything any educator needs to know about inclusion.Â
As world-renowned inclusion experts, we co-teach each of the Bytes, which consists of 20 powerful videos. We also include supporting resources that cover all of the evidence-based practices necessary to create inclusive classrooms.
We organized the Inclusion-Bytes around four categories—Essential Bytes, Differentiation Bytes, Co-Teaching Bytes, and Behavior Bytes.
Here are a few Byte titles to give you a sense of all that is included:
- Inclusive by Design: Crafting Lessons to Reach the Range of Learners Together
- The Power of Access Points in the Inclusive Classroom: Enhancing Learning Opportunities for ALL
- Minds at Ease: Creating Neurologically Secure Learning Environments
- Demystifying Specially Designed Instruction (SDI): An Overview
Access Full Table of Contents HERE
COMPREHENSIVE: The Inclusion-Bytes cover everything from understanding the foundations of inclusive education to implementing effective academic strategies for diverse learners. Each Byte contains a video with closed captioning, key PPT slides, downloadable handouts, and options for discussion, reflection, and application. There are a total of 20 videos. Click here for the titles, description, and length of all Inclusion-Bytes.
FLEXIBLE: With Inclusion-Bytes you can integrate professional development into your yearly PD calendar, or staff can access at their own pace and on their own schedule, or staff can work together during grade level meetings and PLCs. Each of the videos is approximately 30 minutes in length.
TRANSFORMATIVE: Each Byte produces big changes in schools, in classrooms, and most importantly in outcomes for students. The videos and materials are highly engaging, built upon adult learning principles, include real-life examples, and have multiple opportunities for discussion and self-reflection.
EVIDENCED-BASED: We developed the content based upon our years of experience teaching Pre-K through 12th graders, our work as professors preparing future teachers, and our work with 1000s of school districts all over the world. The Bytes were also developed based upon the 40+ research articles we’ve authored on systems change, adult learning principles, and inclusive education. The Bytes incorporate the collective wisdom from the dozens of books we’ve written on inclusion, and from our direct work with students with disabilities and their families.
ENGAGING: No more meaningless lectures, or sitting in a gym listening to a boring presentation. Inclusion-Bytes are dynamic videos full of stories, short clips, case examples, and practical solutions. Each Byte is also co-taught, which allows us to share multiple perspectives and examples around complex topics.
PRACTICAL: All of the Inclusion-Bytes are on-demand and organized in a content hub staff can view from any device connected to the internet. The training content across the Bytes was designed for general education teachers, special education teachers, and related service providers. The content introduces new concepts for even the most veteran staff and provides specific steps to take action.
Click on each category for an at-a-glance listing of all 20 Inclusion-Bytes.
Essential Bytes
EB 1: Inclusion Illuminated: The Benefits of Together |
EB 2: Inclusive by Design: Crafting Lessons to Reach the Range of Learners Together |
EB 3: Inclusive Academic Supports: Supporting Student Success |
EB 4: Designing Inclusive IEPs: Best Practices and Practical Strategies |
EB 5: Our Students with IEPs: Supporting All Educators to Understand their Role in Implementing Inclusive Education |
Essential
EB 1: Inclusion Illuminated: The Benefits of Together |
EB 2: Inclusive by Design: Crafting Lessons to Reach the Range of Learners Together |
EB 3: Inclusive Academic Supports: Supporting Student Success |
EB 4: Designing Inclusive IEPs: Best Practices and Practical Strategies |
EB 5: Our Students with IEPs: Supporting All Educators to Understand their Role in Implementing Inclusive Education |
Differentiation Bytes
DB 1: The Power of Access Points in the Inclusive Classroom: Enhancing Learning Opportunities for ALLÂ |
DB 2: Differentiation: Reaching Standards through Customized Learning Paths |
DB 3: Quick and Effective: Low-Preparation Magical Differentiation Strategies |
DB 4: Investing in Excellence: High-Preparation Differentiation Strategies that are Worth It |
DB 5: Empowering Individuality: Innovative Approaches to Adapting Lessons and Activities  |
DB 6: The Art and Science of Differentiation |
Differentiation
DB 1: The Power of Access Points in the Inclusive Classroom: Enhancing Learning Opportunities for ALLÂ |
DB 2: Differentiation: Reaching Standards through Customized Learning Paths |
DB 3: Quick and Effective: Low-Preparation Magical Differentiation Strategies |
DB 4: Investing in Excellence: High-Preparation Differentiation Strategies that are Worth It |
DB 5: Empowering Individuality: Innovative Approaches to Adapting Lessons and Activities  |
DB 6: The Art and Science of Differentiation |
Co-teaching
CB 1: Co-Teaching Excellence: Leverage the Most Effective Co-Teaching Models |
CB 2:Â Reimagining Collaboration: Flexible ways to Deliver Inclusive Lessons (Even without a Co-Teacher) |
CB 3: Demystifying Specially Designed Instruction: An Overview |
CB 4: Meeting Individual Needs: How to Deliver SDI Minutes in an Inclusive Setting |
CB 5: Strategies for Inclusive Service Delivery: Empowering Educators to Collaborate with Related Service Providers |
Co-teaching Bytes
CB 1: Co-Teaching Excellence: Leverage the Most Effective Co-Teaching Models |
CB 2:Â Reimagining Collaboration: Flexible ways to Deliver Inclusive Lessons (Even without a Co-Teacher) |
CB 3: Demystifying Specially Designed Instruction: An Overview |
CB 4: Meeting Individual Needs: How to Deliver SDI Minutes in an Inclusive Setting |
CB 5: Strategies for Inclusive Service Delivery: Empowering Educators to Collaborate with Related Service Providers |
Behavior
BB 1: Minds at Ease: Creating Neurological Safety |
BB 2: Minds at Ease: Helping Students to Feel Seen |
BB 3: Minds at Ease: Techniques for Soothing Student’s Nervous Systems |
BB 4: Minds at Ease: Creating Neurologically Secure Learning Environments |
Behavior Bytes
BB 1: Minds at Ease: Creating Neurological Safety |
BB 2: Minds at Ease: Helping Students to Feel Seen |
BB 3: Minds at Ease: Techniques for Soothing Student’s Nervous Systems |
BB 4: Minds at Ease: Creating Neurologically Secure Learning Environments |
What you get
We know that effective PD must be practical, designed by experts, differentiated, provide just in time solutions, and allow educators the opportunity to tap into their lived experiences and seek solutions.
We also know in a content heavy and fast-paced world, educators need respectful PD targeting the issues they face, allowing them to put things into practice immediately, and giving them feasible solutions.
Here’s What Educators Get:
- 20 comprehensive and flexible Inclusion-Bytes co-taught by Dr. Julie Causton and Dr. Kristie Pretti-Frontczak
- The Bytes include videos with closed captioning that total over 12 hours of transformative and evidence-based PD
- Each video comes with Key PPTs and downloadable handouts – over 100 different handouts across Bytes
- The engaging and practical Bytes also include 3 hours of additional expert videos and podcasts, and 14 links to curated websites with additional training materials
Here’s What PD Facilitators and Coaches Get:
- A facilitator’s guide with many fun (and effective) options for how to roll out Inclusion-Bytes
- Suggestions for using the Inclusion-Bytes during a variety of PD situations from staff meetings to PLCs
- Emails from us with check-ins, new ideas, troubleshooting, success stories to learn from others, and ideas to maintain momentum
Here’s What District Leaders Get:
- Effective inclusion-related PD for the year for on-boarding of new staff, and for taking all current staff to the next level in their practice
- Unlimited lifetime access to the PD (investment is a one time process)
- Built in accountability through embedded application and reflection segments
- Four learning reflection and application guides to support adult learners to make choices in their learning and to increase accountability
- Customized district content hub that is password protected
- Certificate of completion for each staff member
What LEADERS ARE SAYING…
tried everything?
We get it…you may be hesitant to invest more time and money because you’ve tried so many things that haven’t produced results.Â
- You’ve hired inspirational keynote speakers for top dollar, but haven’t seen changes in day-to-day practice.
- You’ve conducted surveys and focus groups to help get everyone on the same page, but still most staff are not on board.
- You’ve hired coaches to solve this problem, but the suggestions are often conflicting and it seems some coaches don’t actually believe in inclusion.
- You had an extensive equity audit to help push staff toward inclusion, but the report just sits there collecting dust.Â
- Students with disabilities continue to be your lowest performing group on district achievement measures.
- You’ve accessed your local technical assistance, but haven’t seen the inclusion needle move or outcomes for students improve.
And it doesn’t stop there…you have…
- Staff asking for more paraprofessionals to “make inclusion work”.
- A few parents seeking or threatening to seek litigation about inclusion
- Teachers continue to ask for more resource rooms,and planning time.Â
- School board members asking you to reduce the budget and not say the word “inclusion”.
And leading inclusion is only a fraction of your entire work load. You are exhausted! You feel like you’ve wasted time, effort, and money trying to get the district to become inclusive…and nothing has worked.
What is it WORTH TO YOU to have…
- Truly inclusive classrooms where diversity is embraced, uniqueness is celebrated, and all students are on a path to success
- Educators feeling respected, supported, and prepared to reach and teach all learners
- Improved achievement of students with disabilities and those without
- Access to world-recognized inclusion experts who have a proven record of creating true change in school systems Â
- Your inbox is full of ❤️ and appreciation from staff after diving into the Inclusion-BytesÂ
the best investment
Inclusion-Bytes is available for district-wide and program-wide license and includes:Â
- 12+ hours of on-demand PD
- Over 100 downloadable and shareable handouts
- 3 hours of additional instruction through videos, podcasts, and blogs
- A facilitator’s guide and ongoing support from us
If you need a quote for either a regional, state, or provincial license or a small district license-contact us.
DR. KRISTIE PRETTI-FRONTCZAK
DR. JULIE CAUSTON
GET INCLUSION-BYTES
FOR YOUR DISTRICT
Surprise! 🎉 🎉 🎉
Limited Time BONUS!
If you act now, you can add to the transformative PD offered this year by selecting one of the following bonuses.
Option 1:
Full access to our Inclusive Related Services On-Demand (valued at $16.5K) – The Inclusive Related Services On-Demand PD is designed for Pre-K-12th grade speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, and physical therapists. Inclusion experts and practitioners provide tips and ideas for seamless inclusive service delivery and illuminate solutions to the most common challenges inclusive related service practitioners face. Bonus sessions from self-advocates are also included.
Option 2:
Full access to our Legal-Bytes On-Demand đź’» (valued at $16.5K) – Legal Bytes On-Demand PD is a series of legal education taught by Pat Radel Esq. In the recordings, Pat debunks common special education myths and answers common special education legal questions pertaining to inclusive education.Â
GET INCLUSION-BYTES
FOR YOUR DISTRICT
We don’t just promise satisfaction—we guarantee results! If you struggle in any way to roll Inclusion-Bytes out, we’ll meet with you and your team for 1 hour to problem-solve and engage in exploring possibilities…for free. We’re that confident in our solution.Â
Check Inclusion-Bytes out before you buy…
Satisfaction guarantee
You can also invest risk free because our commitment to quality lasts a lifetime and we’ll make sure the content remains accessible to your staff for a lifetime. Check out our terms here.
Lastly, we’re so sure you’ll love Inclusion-Bytes that it comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you’re not delighted with your purchase, simply return it for a full refund—no questions asked.
Ready to invest? Click here to use a district credit card.
Need more support or want to pay using a P.O.? Email Liz directly liz@inclusiveschooling.com let her know you want immediate access to all 20 Inclusion-Bytes. She will get you all set up within 24 hours.
Here is exactly what happens after you purchase…
- You will receive an immediate email offering congratulations on your wise and life-changing PD. You will also receive a facilitator’s guide with many fun (and effective) options for how to roll out Inclusion-Bytes. We also send a few emails over time with check-ins, success stories from others, and new ideas to maintain momentum.
- Upon investing in a district-wide license, you get immediate access to a customized and password protected dashboard. This dashboard serves as the online content hub for all videos, supplemental resources, instructional materials, and handouts. The dashboard provides you and your staff with a one-stop place to access at their own pace and on their own schedule, or in alignment with the district’s PD schedule.
 And don’t worry, we will be an email away if you have any questions at all.
GETÂ INCLUSION-BYTES
FOR YOUR DISTRICT
 You are right for
inclusion-bytes IF you…
-
Have outdated special education classrooms
-
Dream of a school where every student belongs
-
Have a large discrepancy in the performance for students with disabilities
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See staff using pull-out and resource rooms to service special education students
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Respect the time and energy of your staffÂ
-
Are searching for professional development that fits your school calendar and staff needs
Don’t continue to lead a system that doesn’t match your values until you retire! Courageously lead this work and change the lives of your students and leave a legacy of inclusion behind!
The proof is in the data
See below for evidence of what happened for students when their school became inclusive!
You’ll see here exactly what happened when inclusivity broke down the walls of exclusion. For us, the data speaks of many things including, improved collaboration, enhanced creativity, excellent differentiation, a new outlook on behavior and a new and deep sense of belonging that directly leads to measurable learning!
The numbers are impressive, but this isn’t only about numbers. Remember, every percentage point here represents a student who now has access to general education curriculum and peers and an inclusive life– now that is hard to measure!Â
Student Achievement:Â Statewide Reading Test Data
Before
3 Years Later
state high stakes 4th grade assessment data
Before
3 Years Later
“Julie and Kristie, we have just finished with Inclusion Bytes, here are just some of the comments we have received from our teachers across Pre-K 12 settings! We have NEVER received comments like this from any PD! Our entire staff are LOVED this learning experience!–(even the ones who aren’t typically PD lovers;-) Check out these comments out!
- Inclusion Bytes was thought provoking, powerful and transformational!
- Our third and fourth grade teams gained TONS of practical ideas and tips to use IMMEDIATELY in class!
- Enlightening, refreshing, engaging– I cannot say enough about these classes!
- As a High School English teacher, I came away with at least 10 things I can change right away. Actually, probably even more than 10!”
DIRECTOR OF STUDENT SERVICES, TX
Inclusion-Bytes FAQs
Is this just for special education teachers?
No, Inclusion-Bytes is for ALL educators including general educators, special educators, and related service providers.
Is this only for educators who work in inclusive settings?
This PD is for educators who work in a variety of settings and in a variety of teaching configurations. However, we focus on helping all educators become even more inclusive, regardless of the setting they are currently in.
What grade levels is Inclusion-Bytes appropriate for?
Inclusion-Bytes is for all Pre-K- 12 educators and includes resources and examples that are unique to preschool, elementary, middle, and high school settings.
How many hours of PD does Inclusion-Bytes Cover?
The 20 Inclusion-Bytes include 12+ hours of recorded content by Dr. Julie Causton and Dr. Kristie Pretti-Frontczak. Across the Bytes, several other videos, podcasts, blogs, and handouts can extend the learning beyond 12 hours. You have lifetime access to the content so you can go slow and cover the 20 Bytes across years, or dive in and complete all in a school year.
Can everyone in my district have access to the Inclusion-Bytes?
Yes, this is designed for an entire district so that all staff can have access to the same professional development.
Is it designed for people to go on their own, or can we all learn together?
Inclusion-Bytes is designed in a convenient and flexible way so that educators can access the video sessions and resources at their own pace OR educators can learn together and leaders can build in time for group discussion and activities.
When do Inclusion Bytes begin and end?
Educators can begin any time and will have immediate and unlimited access to content and materials. That means they can move through the course at their own pace or at a scheduled time to be determined by administrators.
How long will we have access to the PD?
You will have lifetime access to the Inclusion-Bytes. This way you are able to use and reuse the content every year with all of your new or returning staff. No renewal fees either!
How many hours of Continuing Education Unit (CEU) hours can educators earn for taking this PD?
It depends on how you choose to use the PD ranging from 12 hours to 100 hours depending whether or not educators are asked to review resources in addition to the 20 videos, engage in self-reflections, come together to complete activities, discuss learning, and debrief implementation of learning at a later date. You can use the breakdown below to guide your CEU decisions.
- 12 hours to watch all 20 bytes
- 24 hours for watching each byte, reviewing all resources, and completing a basic reflectionÂ
- 25 –40 hours for watching, completing a basic reflection, discussing learning from each byte with others in small groups, determining action steps, and implementing them on the job.
- 41 -100 hours for watching, completing a basic reflection, discussing each byte’s learning with others in small groups, determining action steps and implementing them on the job, debriefing implementation of learning.
Are there accountability measures built in for educators?
Yep. At the end of each Byte, we include an “Application and Reflection” segment that can be used in a variety of ways (e.g., write their application and reflection and submit it to a school leader, discuss their application and reflection with another educator in the group setting, create a video of themselves applying the skill or strategy in the classroom)
Inclusion-Bytes also includes four different choices to support reflection and application of learning. They are designed for different learning styles — because choice is the friend of inclusion!