Learning Without Limits is a K-5 school in the Fruitvale neighborhood in Oakland that believes strongly in the balance between constructivist learning and knowledge-based learning using culturally relevant pedagogy. Students attending Learning Without Limits are empowered with the academic skills and character traits necessary to succeed in college and beyond. The teachers and staff help students grow into leaders who care about their peers and who are able to act in support of what they believe in.
Students and their families are a part of a community where relationships are nurtured and student growth is a collaborative effort, and their actual vision statement was written by founding families and teachers (they chant it as a whole-school community every morning).
We stand on the shoulders of those who came before us as we grow into leaders, who are passionate and care about making our world better. We are equipped with skills and knowledge, filled with curiosity and we know that even when we face challenges, we will achieve!
Students and their families are a part of a community where relationships are nurtured and student growth is a collaborative effort, and their actual vision statement was written by founding families and teachers (they chant it as a whole-school community every morning).
We stand on the shoulders of those who came before us as we grow into leaders, who are passionate and care about making our world better. We are equipped with skills and knowledge, filled with curiosity and we know that even when we face challenges, we will achieve!
Learning Without Limits is leading a visioning around inclusion, which secures opportunities for students with disabilities to learn alongside their non-disabled peers in general education classrooms. This work is being led by Katie Ruffman, former Senecan and LWL's MTSS Lead/Sped Admin. Katie has always had strong leadership with a critical lens of how SPED can be more inclusive across the school community. Along with still holding a caseload of students, Katie (sped teacher) works alongside the gen-ed teacher supporting LWL's first true inclusive classroom utilizing the co-teaching model!
The purpose of co-teaching in inclusive classes is not to double the content knowledge of the instructors. The purpose is to figure out ways to meet the needs of the students in the room in a way different than what has been tried and was unsuccessful in the past. Co-teaching is meant to provide specialized services to students with disabilities in regular classrooms, while ensuring they also get access to the same academic material as their peers.
Some notable advantages of co-teaching include:
Some notable advantages of co-teaching include:
- Increased adult attention to students, since co-taught lessons can reduce the teacher-to-student ratio.
- Shared expertise among two or more teachers.
- Shared responsibility for instruction and management.
- Increased opportunity to differentiate for student needs.
- All students can benefit from the additional supports, resources, and diversity in the classroom.
- Stronger, more creative, lessons due to teachers sharing the planning process with each other.
Blog Post Written By: Toshia Mears, Director of School Partnerships
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