From “Deficits” to “Neurodiversity” — The Time Is Now

Kim CarterDemystification, Differentiated Learning, Learning

In a recent commentary piece at Education Week, author, speaker and educator Dr. Thomas Armstrong argues for tipping from a deficit model to a more inclusive (and enlightened) model that values students’ strengths, regardless of their learning profiles. He writes, I believe it’s time for a paradigm shift in the field of special education. Fortunately, a new concept has emerged … Read More

Topography of Diversity

Kim CarterDemystification, Learning about Learning, Metacognition, Whole Child

Below is a pretty cool topographical map of a brain from UNIT SEVEN. While it is not to be taken as scientifically accurate, it does serve as a fantastic metaphor for thinking about students’ minds. We know that while the major structures of the brain are largely the same from one cranium to the next, the specific architecture of individual … Read More

Origami and Temporal-Sequential Ordering … An All Kinds of Minds Lesson Plan

Kim CarterClassroom Culture, Demystification, Differentiated Learning, Learning, Learning about Learning, Learning Challenges, Metacognition, Strategies for teachers, Student Strengths, Student Weaknesses, Teachers, Temporal-sequential Ordering

It’s the time of year when lesson planning is, once again, on every teacher’s mind. And we at All Kinds of Minds are thinking about lesson plans, too – that is, “Learning about Learning” lesson plans! We believe that it is critical to empower students to find success. Educators can promote and support this goal in many ways. One way is to help … Read More

Summer Blog Series Post #8: The Role of Social Cognition in Talking to Different Audiences

Kim CarterDemystification, Differentiated Learning, Learning, Learning Challenges, Learning Specialists, Social Cognition, Strategies for teachers, Teacher Effectiveness, Teachers

By the time children and adolescents arrive at school, chances are that they’ve already interacted socially with a number of different people: their parents/caregivers, siblings, friends, school acquaintances, and bus driver, to name a few.  And once they’re in school, they assume the role of student. As students, they also interact with teachers, administrators, and other support staff around the … Read More

AKOM and the Solo Practitioner

Kim CarterDemystification, Learning Specialists, SA, Teachers

There are many roles an educator can play. For years I was blessed to work at the Center School, an independent school outside of Philadelphia. During my years there, our faculty completed the Schools Attuned Generalist Course, and another teacher and I trained to become course facilitators. The school was a perfect setting for using a neurodevelopmental lens to develop … Read More

Understanding and Accepting

Kim CarterDemystification, Exams

Last week I completed the exam accommodation schedule for our students at Forman School. It was enlightening to see that students who were once resistant to taking an exam in the library for a distraction free environment or in the computer lab where they would have access to a word processor to compose essays were now readily signing up for … Read More