Universal Design for Learning

The Universal Design for Learning is a framework of instructional guidelines that will help teachers plan and implement lessons and curriculum that is accessible to all types of learners. As we discover more about how students learn, the UDL helps educators align this purpose with classroom instruction.

As a classroom teacher, I am including many of these guidelines already. As a reading language arts teacher, one of the most impactful guidelines I have implemented in my classroom is the ability to recruit interest in learning. I do this by providing students with choices regarding their independent reading books, classroom seating arrangement, book club members, and ways to show their learning. Another guideline that is apparent in my classroom is providing options for comprehension. Each of the components in this guideline are a large part of the curriculum I teach (comprehension and analytical strategies). Students have many opportunities throughout the school year to see these strategies explicitly modeled by me while also getting the opportunity to have partner and independent practice of these strategies. Lastly, another UDL guideline emphasized in my classroom is providing options for self regulation. I do this by providing students with the dialogue and skills to be able to set goals and work to meet them. Students are often asked to reflect on their goals, behavior, and learning. By implementing these strategies, students of a wide variety of abilities, learning styles, and ways of expressing themselves have been able to increase their motivation and learning. I have seen this have such positive effects on my students, such as increased engagement and higher academic achievement. 

Moving forward, there are a few guidelines I’d like to work to implement further. First, I’d like to be able to provide options for language and symbols. This happens when I teach grammar or vocabulary, but I’d like to find ways to sprinkle in more authentic opportunities throughout the day to make it feel more natural. Also, because I am a reading language arts teacher, the opportunities to practice equations and understand symbols are not as common. Second, I’d like to add more options for physical movement. With reading language arts, it’s so important that students are able to write or communicate in a way that is clear and conveys the message they want. Giving students the choice to write, type, or use another way to express their thinking will allow them to truly show what they have learned. I will definitely need help implementing these guidelines. 

I would really like to learn more about how to successfully implement these guidelines in a way that helps all students without having to plan or prepare several different components. I recently attended a professional development about UDL held by Lead4ward, and it was a great way to tie my professional and educational learning to this framework. One of the resources I plan https://lead4ward.com/ to continue learning more. I’d also like to attend more professional development courses for this. Another resource I’d like to dig more into is the UDL page on Cornell University’s site: https://teaching.cornell.edu/teaching-resources/designing-your-course/universal-design-learning. This page has several suggestions for making these guidelines come to life in both planning and instruction. Some books I’d like to read include Transform Your Teaching with Universal Design for Learning: Six Steps to Jumpstart Your Practice by Jennifer Pusateri, Teacher's Guide to Applying Universal Design for Learning by Katie Novak, and Antiracism and Universal Design for Learning: Building Expressways to Success by Andratesha Fritzgerald. The Universal Design for Learning framework is an important document that should lead educators to make instructional decisions when planning lessons each day. These books and resources can help guide me as I continue to provide access and learning to all of my students.