Frequently Used Instructional Terms in Special Education
A resource for teachers pararofessionals, and parents to better understand key special education terms.
IntervetionsDefinition: Interventions are stragtegies or support used to help students who are struggling academically, behaviorally, or socially. These supports are put in place to help students improve and be successful in the classroom. Who This Applies To: Interventions are typically used for students who are struggling with learning, behavior, or social skills. This could include students with learning disabilities, ADHD, emotional disabilities, or students who need extra support but may not have an IEP yet. Examples: Small group instruction Behavior intervention planExtra practice with teacher support Resource Title: What are Academic Interventions? Description: This resouce explains how interventions are used to support students who are struggling and provides examples teachers can use in the classroom. Link: http://www.readingrockets.org/helping/interventions High-Leverage Practice (HLP) Practice: Provide Explict Instruction Description: Teacher clearly model skills, provide guided practice, and give feedback to help students learn new concepts. Link: https://highleveragepractices.org
Accomodations Definition: Accomodations are changes in how students learn or show what thye know without changing what they are expected to learn. These supports help studentsaccess the general education curriculum and participate in classroom activities. Who This Applies To: Accomodations are used for students with disabilities who need support to access learning. This often includes students with IEPs, 504 plans, or students who need temporary support in the classroom. Examples: Extended time on assighments or test. Preferential seating. Read aloud directions or assighments. Resources Title: Classroom Accomodations for Students with Disabilities Description: the resource explains different accomodations teachers can use to support students with disabilities in the classroom. Link: https://www.understood.org/en/articles/classroom-accomodations High-Leverage Practice (HLP) Practice: Provide Support and Scaffold Description: Teachers provide supportsuch as visual aids, guided notes, or extra time to help students access learning. Link: https://highleveragepractices.org
Modifications
Definition: Modifications are changes to what a student is expected to learn. These changes may lower or adjust the learning expectations to meet the students individual needs. Who This Applies To: Modifications are typically used for students with significant learning needs who require changes to the curriculum. These students usually have an IEP. Examples: Shortened assighments. Different grading scales. Simplified reading material. Resource Title: Accomodations vs. Modifications Description: This resource explain the difference between accomodations and modifications and provides examples of how modifications change learning expectations. Link: https://www.understood.org/en/articles/the-difference-between-accomodations-and-modifications High-Leverage Practice (HLP) Practice: Adjust Level of Instruction Description: Teachers modify instruction and expectations to match the student's learning needs and abilities. Link: https://highleveragepractices.org
Differentiation
Definition: Differentiation is when teachers adjust instruction, materials, or activities to meet the different learning needs of students. Who This Applies To: Differentiation applies to all students, espeacially those who learn at different levels or in different ways. Examples: Flexible grouping Choice of assignments Different reading levels Resources Title: Differentiated Instruction Strategies Description: This resource explains how teachers adjust instrcution, materials, and learning activites to meet the needs of different learners. Link: https://www.readingrockets.org/article/defferentiated-instruction-strategies High-Leverage Practice (HLP) Practice: Flexible Grouping Description: Teachers group students based on skill level, intrest, or learning needs to provide more targetd instruction. Link: https://highleveragepractices.org
Adaptation
Definition:Adaptation are changes made to instruction or materials to help students access learning and be successful in the classroom. Who This Applies To: Adaptations are used for students who need additional support, including students with disabilities, English Language Learners, or students who need extra help understanding the material. Example: Visual support Graphic organizer Simplified direction Resource Title: Instructional Adaptation for Students with Disabilities Description: This resoucrse explains how teachers can adjust instruction and materials to help students better understand content and participate in learning. Link: https://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/module/di/ High-Leverage Practice (HLP) Practice: Use Graphic Organizer Description: Graphic organizer help students organize information and better understand concept and relationships. Link: https://highleveragepractices.org
Specially Designed Instruction (SDI)Definition: Specially Designed Instruction is instruction that is adjusted to meet the unique needs of a student with a disability. Who This Applies To: SDI is used for students with IEPs who require individualized instruction to help them access and make progress in the general curriculum. Examples: Breaking assignments into smaller steps Explicit instruction One-on-one instruction Resource Title: Specially Designed Instruction (SDI) Description: This resource explains how specially designed instruction is used to meet the unique needs of students with disabilities. Link: https://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/module/sdi/ High-Leverage Practices (HLP) Practice: Explicit Instruction Description: Teachers clearly model skills, provide guided practice, and give feedback to help students learn new concepts. Link: https://highleveragepractices.org
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Frequently used Instructional Terms in Special Education
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Created on April 14, 2026
A resource for teachers, paraprofessionals, and parents to better understand key special education terms.
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Frequently Used Instructional Terms in Special Education
A resource for teachers pararofessionals, and parents to better understand key special education terms.
IntervetionsDefinition: Interventions are stragtegies or support used to help students who are struggling academically, behaviorally, or socially. These supports are put in place to help students improve and be successful in the classroom. Who This Applies To: Interventions are typically used for students who are struggling with learning, behavior, or social skills. This could include students with learning disabilities, ADHD, emotional disabilities, or students who need extra support but may not have an IEP yet. Examples: Small group instruction Behavior intervention planExtra practice with teacher support Resource Title: What are Academic Interventions? Description: This resouce explains how interventions are used to support students who are struggling and provides examples teachers can use in the classroom. Link: http://www.readingrockets.org/helping/interventions High-Leverage Practice (HLP) Practice: Provide Explict Instruction Description: Teacher clearly model skills, provide guided practice, and give feedback to help students learn new concepts. Link: https://highleveragepractices.org
Accomodations Definition: Accomodations are changes in how students learn or show what thye know without changing what they are expected to learn. These supports help studentsaccess the general education curriculum and participate in classroom activities. Who This Applies To: Accomodations are used for students with disabilities who need support to access learning. This often includes students with IEPs, 504 plans, or students who need temporary support in the classroom. Examples: Extended time on assighments or test. Preferential seating. Read aloud directions or assighments. Resources Title: Classroom Accomodations for Students with Disabilities Description: the resource explains different accomodations teachers can use to support students with disabilities in the classroom. Link: https://www.understood.org/en/articles/classroom-accomodations High-Leverage Practice (HLP) Practice: Provide Support and Scaffold Description: Teachers provide supportsuch as visual aids, guided notes, or extra time to help students access learning. Link: https://highleveragepractices.org
Modifications
Definition: Modifications are changes to what a student is expected to learn. These changes may lower or adjust the learning expectations to meet the students individual needs. Who This Applies To: Modifications are typically used for students with significant learning needs who require changes to the curriculum. These students usually have an IEP. Examples: Shortened assighments. Different grading scales. Simplified reading material. Resource Title: Accomodations vs. Modifications Description: This resource explain the difference between accomodations and modifications and provides examples of how modifications change learning expectations. Link: https://www.understood.org/en/articles/the-difference-between-accomodations-and-modifications High-Leverage Practice (HLP) Practice: Adjust Level of Instruction Description: Teachers modify instruction and expectations to match the student's learning needs and abilities. Link: https://highleveragepractices.org
Differentiation
Definition: Differentiation is when teachers adjust instruction, materials, or activities to meet the different learning needs of students. Who This Applies To: Differentiation applies to all students, espeacially those who learn at different levels or in different ways. Examples: Flexible grouping Choice of assignments Different reading levels Resources Title: Differentiated Instruction Strategies Description: This resource explains how teachers adjust instrcution, materials, and learning activites to meet the needs of different learners. Link: https://www.readingrockets.org/article/defferentiated-instruction-strategies High-Leverage Practice (HLP) Practice: Flexible Grouping Description: Teachers group students based on skill level, intrest, or learning needs to provide more targetd instruction. Link: https://highleveragepractices.org
Adaptation
Definition:Adaptation are changes made to instruction or materials to help students access learning and be successful in the classroom. Who This Applies To: Adaptations are used for students who need additional support, including students with disabilities, English Language Learners, or students who need extra help understanding the material. Example: Visual support Graphic organizer Simplified direction Resource Title: Instructional Adaptation for Students with Disabilities Description: This resoucrse explains how teachers can adjust instruction and materials to help students better understand content and participate in learning. Link: https://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/module/di/ High-Leverage Practice (HLP) Practice: Use Graphic Organizer Description: Graphic organizer help students organize information and better understand concept and relationships. Link: https://highleveragepractices.org
Specially Designed Instruction (SDI)Definition: Specially Designed Instruction is instruction that is adjusted to meet the unique needs of a student with a disability. Who This Applies To: SDI is used for students with IEPs who require individualized instruction to help them access and make progress in the general curriculum. Examples: Breaking assignments into smaller steps Explicit instruction One-on-one instruction Resource Title: Specially Designed Instruction (SDI) Description: This resource explains how specially designed instruction is used to meet the unique needs of students with disabilities. Link: https://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/module/sdi/ High-Leverage Practices (HLP) Practice: Explicit Instruction Description: Teachers clearly model skills, provide guided practice, and give feedback to help students learn new concepts. Link: https://highleveragepractices.org
'Including citations always reinforces our presentation. Breaks the monotony'
- Always cite the author
Write a title here
Disciplines such as Visual Thinking facilitate the taking of visually rich notes through the use of images, graphics, infographics, and simple drawings. Go for it!
Visual content is a cross-cutting, universal language, like music. We are capable of understanding images from millions of years ago, even from other cultures.
Did you know that Genially allows you to share your creation directly, without the need for downloads? Ready for your audience to view it on any device and share it anywhere.
Use this space to put a great phrase
With Extras
Visual
WOW Effect
Animated
Interactive
Genially
Ingenuity
Amazing
Design
Dynamic
Magic
Creativity
Very WOW
Step 4
Step 2
Step 5
Step 3
Step 1
#keyword
75%
the information we process comes through the view
WOW presentation
Boring presentation
Capture the attention of your audience
Generate yawns in your audience
Facilitatelearning
Communicate ina concise manner
Motivate the audience
Surprise youraudience
Design howto visualize it
Plan thecontent
Text + icons
Create experiences with your content
It has a WOW effect. Very WOW.
Measure results and experiment
Engage and surprise your audience
It is organized, hierarchical, and structured
Make your audience remember the message
A great presentation…
Improves communication on any topic
Matches with your audience...
And makes them part of the message
02:30
Q&A
Thank you very much!
your-email@genially.com yourwebsite.com
25%
Leave your audience speechless with interactivity.
75%
You can add text, emojis, GIFs, videos, tables, and much more.
Insert a great video for your presentation and use this space to describe it. Multimedia content is essential in a presentation to leave everyone speechless. Additionally, this way you will summarize the content and entertain your audience.