Principles of Adaptive Needs Lesson Prep

The following is a list of resources that can help you prepare a lesson for Adaptive Needs. Many of these are principle-based, applicable to virtually any setting or topic. You can click directly on the index links, or you can browse through the entire page.
Adapted Teaching Moments (what "Teaching in the Savior's Way" looks like in adapted settings.)​

Teaching Strategies for Children with Disabilities from BYU's College of Education

Specific Lesson Ideas

The following buttons allow you to borrow specific lesson ideas uploaded to this site by fellow S&I Adaptive Needs teachers. You have permission to download, change, and improve anything you find here.
Adapted Learning Assessments
The buttons to the right contain simplified learning assessments you can use in a special needs class. Each question contains two options: a BLUE and a YELLOW. For non-verbal students, you can make little blue and yellow flags by taping colored cardstock to plastic knives or popsicle sticks. Then, read the question out loud and allow the students to "vote" on which answer they feel is correct. Discuss their answers as you go!

 Micro-Training Videos and Materials
Differentiated Instruction (10:03)

This micro-training provides an overview of a fundamental principle of Adaptive Needs pedagogy: Differentiated Instruction. It highlights how you can prepare your lessons in a way that engage the "multiple intelligences" of your students.
Differentiated Instruction Full In-service w/ Handout (48:44)

This full training on Differentiated Instruction is excerpted from a SLVI Faculty In-service. It walks through not only the basics of Differentiated Instruction, but also includes several opportunities to practice, examples of how the Savior uses Differentiated Instruction in scriptural accounts, and a full faculty discussion of how to do it! The buttons below contain the downloadable handout referenced near the end of the discussion and the original PowerPoint.
Hooks, Attention-Grabbers and Anticipatory Sets (12:55)

​This animated micro-training by Aaron Pond talks about using "hooks" to engage your students' attention. Through this video, you will learn the benefits, the cautions, and 8 strategies of using this fundamental strategy in your lessons.
Involving and Engaging Students (15:27)

​Did you know that the research has shown that the optimal teacher-to-student talk ratio is around 20:80? This micro-training by Aaron Pond uses "The Lord's Law of Learning" (D&C 88:122) to teach 9 fundamental principles of involving and engaging students in gospel-centered classes.
Questions: Getting to the HEART (13:26)

​Not all questions are created equal. This micro-training by Aaron Pond uses a memorable acronym -- H.E.A.R.T. -- to teach the five different types of questions that teachers can use in a Gospel-oriented setting, and gives scriptural examples of how (and when) to use each one.
The button below is a link to a PDF Video Discussion Guide for "Teach People, Not Lessons." It is designed as an easy-to-use, plug-and-play resource for personal study, a local faculty in-service, or a teacher council meeting.
Teach People, Not Lessons: Personalizing Your Instruction (18:31)

​This Christ-centered micro-training by Aaron Pond will help you to personalize your lessons to meet the needs of your students. It is broken up into nine segments:
(0:00) Introduction
(1:23) Adapt Your Lesson to Your Students' Capacities
(4:13) Adapt Your Lesson to Your Students' Interests and Backgrounds
(5:46) Check For Understanding Throughout Your Lesson
(7:25) Listen to Your Students. Let their Responses Guide / Change Your Lesson
(8:49) Extend Personalized Invitations to Act
(11:54) Be Personal, Vulnerable, and Authentic
(14:01) The Sermon(s) on the Mount
(16:49) Conclusion
Multisensory Instruction (9:32)

​This microtraining by Aaron Pond outlines how you can engage all seven (yes, SEVEN!) of your students' senses in the classroom. Research has shown that this one technique increases the attention span of your students, helps your students to remember your lessons, helps your students build stronger connections with the material, and helps ALL students to understand the lesson, regardless of disabilities or cognitive challenges.
Using Food in a Christ-Centered Classroom (6:21)

This teacher training video discusses the fundamentals of using food in a Christ-centered classroom. It talks about using food (1) as object lessons, (2) as a reward, and (3) as a social connector, giving several examples of each.  The video also addresses challenges and considerations when using food to teach in a Gospel setting, helping all students to "feast upon the words of Christ."
Sensory-Sensitive, Inclusive PowerPoints (30:55)

​This hands-on training video by Aaron Pond discusses the fundamentals of inclusive PowerPoint design in a way that maximizes your lessons for students with disabilities. Colors, fonts,  titles, images, animations, sound, content, captions, organization, and presenting skills are all discussed. Have a copy of PowerPoint open while you watch this to learn as you go!
How to Teach Varied Ability Levels Simultaneously  (16:54)

​This micro-training led by Todd Christensen discusses how to prepare and teach lessons when you have a wide variety of capacities and ability levels in the same class. At the beginning of video, he references two additional trainings available in the Warehouse of Awesomeness that also help with this topic, linked here:
SEL - Social and Emotional Learning  (31:48)

​This micro-training led by Joanna Noall helps us transform our lessons in a way that assists our students with the five social and emotional compentencies: (1) Self-awareness, (2) Self-management, (3) Responsible Decision-Making, (4) Relationship Skills, and (5) Social Awareness.

Handout on INclusion-Oriented Teaching

The following handout contains supplementary notes from a presentation Dr. Terisa Gabrielsen gave on "Inclusion" -- one of the foundational principles of Adaptive Needs teaching that benefits all classrooms and educational settings.

Handout on Adapted Needs Lesson Accommodation STrategies

The link below downloads a 90-page handout packed with resources on specific ways that you can accommodate and adapt lesson materials and classroom organization schemas to meet the needs of students with various exceptionalities. It has been compiled by Dr. Kade Johnson.
Universal Design for Learning (4:37)

​This video provides an overview of "Universal Design for Learning", an evidence-based strategy that provides a great framework for how to think about your Adaptive Needs (and even traditional) lessons.
"I Do, We Do, You Do" (1:46 / 1:44)

​These two videos highlight a simple lesson organization principle that blesses all students, regardless of their capacities or exceptionalities. It is a simple three step process to train specific skills.
Adapting Lessons in an Adaptive Needs Setting (17:29)

This video by Tim McKissick, one of our coordinators in the Salt Lake Valley, gives examples of how we can effectively adapt our lessons to fit the needs of our special needs students. 

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Leveraging Cellphones in Class (23:25)

This discussion lead by Heather Pretlow gives grounded, guiding principles to leverage technology in class as well as suggests specific ideas you can use to help your students use their cellphones responsibly. 
Using Music in an Adaptive Needs Setting (25:33)

This discussion lead by Cathy Millburn includes ideas and principles to help you include music in your adaptive needs lessons.
Kinesthetic Movements in Adaptive Needs Settings (18:38)

This discussion lead by Todd Christensen talks about the importance of using body movements to help students with disabilities focus and learn. He gives several examples of how to apply this idea in an S&I classroom.
Crafting Lesson Journals for Adaptive Needs Students (4:17)

​This video by Jeff Loveridge provides some great suggestions for utilizing student journals in an Adaptive Needs seminary or institute setting.
Visual Supports: Agendas, Checklists, and Timers (34:13)

​This training by Cliff Passey and the amazing faculty at the Kauri Sue Hamilton seminary provides -- as well as models -- some great ideas for visual supports and organizers that help provide structure to your class in a way that benefits many Adapted Needs students.
Adapted Teaching Moment: Teach about Christ No Matter What You Teach (4:05)

This short micro-training explains how to focus on the Savior in every lesson in an adapted seminary or institute setting. It is narrated by Adris Goodwill. You can also learn about this Teaching in the Savior's Way topic at the following link.
Adapted Teaching Moment: Help Learners Come Unto Jesus (6:13)

This short micro-training explains how to help learners in adapted classes come unto Jesus. It is narrated by Chip Romney. You can also learn about this Teaching in the Savior's Way topic at the following link.
Adapted Teaching Moment: Love Those You Teach (4:12)

This short micro-training explains what it looks like to love those you teach in adapted settings. It is narrated by Adris Goodwill. You can also learn about this Teaching in the Savior's Way topic at the following link.
Adapted Teaching Moment: Teach by the Spirit (3:51)

This short micro-training gives specific examples of how to teach by the Spirit in adapted settings. It is narrated by Cathy Millburn. You can also learn about this Teaching in the Savior's Way topic at the following link.
Adapted Teaching Moment: Teach the Doctrine (3:04)

This quick micro-training helps us understand how to "teach the doctrines of the Church so plainly that no one can misunderstand" in adapted settings, focusing on how the Savior did it and giving specific, modern-day examples. It is narrated by Aaron Pond. You can also learn about this Teaching in the Savior's Way topic at the following link.
Adapted Teaching Moment: Invite Diligent Learning (2:48)

This quick micro-training helps us understand how to "invite diligent learning" in adapted settings, focusing on how the Savior did it and giving specific, modern-day examples. It is narrated by Karen Myatt. You can also learn about this Teaching in the Savior's Way topic at the following link.
Adapted Teaching Moment: Teaching Children (2:16)

This quick micro-training helps understand how certain principles of teaching children can also be applied in adapted settings. The video focuses on how the Savior did it and gives specific, modern-day examples. It is narrated by McCall Carson. You can also learn about this Teaching in the Savior's Way topic at the following link.
Adapted Teaching Moment: Teaching Youth and Adults (2:50)

This quick micro-training helps understand how certain principles of teaching youth and teaching adults can also be applied in adapted settings. The video focuses on how the Savior did it and gives specific, modern-day examples. It is narrated by Elder Colton Lawson, one of the amazing service missionaries at SLVI. You can also learn about this Teaching in the Savior's Way topic at the following link.
Good Teaching is Good Teaching (0:41)

​This short video is Part 1 in a training series entitled "Teaching Strategies for Children with Disabilities", by the David O. McKay School of Education. It is narrated by Katie Steed.
Attention Getters (0:56)

​This short video is Part 2 in a training series entitled "Teaching Strategies for Children with Disabilities", by the David O. McKay School of Education. It is narrated by Katie Steed.
State the Objective (1:07)

​This short video is Part 3 in a training series entitled "Teaching Strategies for Children with Disabilities", by the David O. McKay School of Education. It is narrated by Katie Steed.
Managing Attention Span (0:59)

​This short video is Part 4 in a training series entitled "Teaching Strategies for Children with Disabilities", by the David O. McKay School of Education. It is narrated by Katie Steed.
Using Visual Aids (0:40)

​This short video is Part 5 in a training series entitled "Teaching Strategies for Children with Disabilities", by the David O. McKay School of Education. It is narrated by Katie Steed.
Wait Time (1:02)

​This short video is Part 6 in a training series entitled "Teaching Strategies for Children with Disabilities", by the David O. McKay School of Education. It is narrated by Katie Steed.
Active Participation (1:01)

​This short video is Part 7 in a training series entitled "Teaching Strategies for Children with Disabilities", by the David O. McKay School of Education. It is narrated by Katie Steed.
Music and Drama (0:59)

​This short video is Part 8 in a training series entitled "Teaching Strategies for Children with Disabilities", by the David O. McKay School of Education. It is narrated by Katie Steed.
Helping Visual Learners by Using a Schedule (0:58)

​This short video is Part 9 in a training series entitled "Teaching Strategies for Children with Disabilities", by the David O. McKay School of Education. It is narrated by Katie Steed.
Proactive Behavior Strategies (1:10)

​This short video is Part 10 in a training series entitled "Teaching Strategies for Children with Disabilities", by the David O. McKay School of Education. It is narrated by Katie Steed.