UNT Educator Preparation Office Spring 2026 Teacher Learning Series

Guidance and Strategies for Early-Career Educators

Meeting Every Learner Where They Are: Practical Differentiation for Clinical and First-Year Teachers

January 27, 6:30-7:30PM
Feeling overwhelmed by the range of academic levels in your classroom? This webinar is designed specifically for clinical and first-year teachers and focuses on practical strategies for differentiating instruction while navigating curriculum platforms, assessment tools, documentation requirements, and small-group instruction. Participants will leave with concrete, manageable approaches they can implement immediately to better support all learners—without burning out.

Recording here!

Inclusive Classrooms in Action: Supporting Students with Special Needs

February 17, 6:30-7:30PM
Clinical and first-year teachers will explore inclusive instructional practices that support students with disabilities in general education classrooms. This session covers understanding special education supports, using accommodations and modifications effectively, and fostering a classroom environment where all learners can thrive. Slides from the webinar can be found here and resources can be found here.

Recording here!

From Data to Decisions: Making Assessment Work for You

March 3, 6:30-7:30PM
Designed for clinical and first-year teachers, this webinar breaks down the assessment process into manageable steps. Participants will learn how to collect meaningful data, analyze results, and use evidence of student learning to adjust instruction, plan small groups, and monitor progress. Slides from the webinar can be found here.

Recording here!

You’re Not Alone: Teacher Office Hours for Clinical and First-Year Teachers

March 17, 6:30-7:30PM
Teaching comes with a lot of questions—especially in your first year. This open office hours webinar provides a supportive space for clinical and first-year teachers to ask questions, share concerns, and get practical advice in a judgment-free environment.

Register here!

Teaching for Language and Learning: Supporting English Learners

April 7, 6:30-7:30PM
Designed for clinical and first-year teachers, this webinar focuses on inclusive instructional practices that support students learning English as an Additional Language. Topics include scaffolding academic language, using visuals and modeling, and creating a supportive classroom environment for multilingual learners.

Register here!

Partners in Learning: Collaborating with Families and Communities

June 16, 6:30–7:30 PM
Clinical and first-year teachers will explore inclusive, asset-based approaches to collaborating with families and communities. This session emphasizes inclusive communication, shared responsibility, and meaningful family engagement.

Register here!

 

HOW TO UPDATE YOUR TEAL EDUCATOR ACCOUNT

SPECIAL EDUCATION RESOURCES ACROSS THE CURRICULUM 

Mathematics Resources
● IES: Assisting Students Struggling with Mathematics: Intervention in the Elementary Grades: Practice Guide
● NCII: Intensive Intervention in Mathematics - Lesson Resources and Modules: Intensive Mathematics Intervention: Training Modules | NCII (intensiveintervention.org)
● Mathematics - Special Connections
● Mathematics - Identifying and addressing student errors

Reading Resources
● IES: Assisting Students Struggling with Reading: Response to Intervention (RtI) and Multi-Tier
Intervention in the Primary Grades
● NCII: Intensive Intervention in Reading - Lesson Resources and Modules:
● Dyslexia at a glance
● Direct Instruction - Reading
● Matching Readers with Texts
● Improving Reading Comprehension in Kindergarten -3rd Grade
● Reading Rockets

Writing Resources
● Teaching Elementary School Students to be Effective Writers - practice Guide Summary
● Writing - Special Connections

Progress Monitoring Resources
● Using Student Achievement Data to Support Instructional Decision Making
● Center on Multi-tiered systems of supports
● Making sense of Progress Monitoring to guide data based decision making
● RTI and data based decision making
● Data based individualization

Behavior Support Resources
● NCII: Behavior Support: Resources and Modules
● IES: Reducing Behavior Problems in the Elementary School Classroom

Emergent Bilingual Resources
● Effective Literacy and English Language Instruction for English Learners in the Elementary Grade

Response to Intervention
● RTI & English Language Learners
Response to Intervention - Tips from the experts

Evidence Based Practices - Where to look:
●University of Kansas Dept of Special Education - Special Connections
● What Works ClearingHouse
● IRIS Center
● Council for Exceptional Children - High Leverage Practices in Special Education
● Texas SPED Support

Individual Education Plans:
● Navigating IEP meetings
● IEPs vs. 504 Plans
● Texas Notice of Procedural Safeguards
● Considering Least Restrictive Environment
● Accommodations for Students with Learning Disabilities

Autism:
● National Clearinghouse on Autism Evidence & Practice
● Autism Internet Modules 
● Center for Autism and Related Disabilities 
● Visual Schedules:

Collaboration and Co-teaching Resources
● 5 Tips for Co-teaching
● 6 Models of Co-teaching

Assessment Materials
● Intensive Interventions (Part I)
● Intensive Interventions (Part II)
● CBM by Intervention Central

RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS OF EMERGENT BILINGUALS

The following professional organizations focus on the education of emergent bilinguals (EBs). Check with your school principal about funding to attend an annual conference. Additionally, these organizations provide professional development throughout the school year.

The Texas Education Agency provides numerous resources to understand how EBs are educated. In Texas there are six program models to support EBs. 

Developing lessons to support the emergent bilinguals to master the TEKS.

Lessons must be designed to support emergent bilingual students. These lessons need to incorporate the state standards for the subject matter and grade level (TEKS). When the language of instruction is Spanish, teachers need to access the TEKS in Spanish. 

Regardless of the language of instruction, the presence of emergent bilinguals in the classroom requires that teachers provide a series of accommodations. 

Developing and implementing formal and informal assessments to support the emergent bilinguals.

The following books are good resources:

  • Herrera, Cabral, & Murray (2020) Herrera, S.G., Cabral, R.M., & Murry, K.G. (2020). Third edition. Assessment of culturally and linguistically diverse students.  - offers information about formal and informal language assessments, formative and summative content-area assessments, and authentic assessments for culturally and linguistically diverse students. 
  • Gottlieb, M.H. (2016). Assessing English language learners: Bridges to educational equity: Connecting academic language proficiency to student achievement. Corwin. - offers a look at equity in assessments for English learners in linguistically and culturally responsive classrooms and schools that optimize students, learning opportunities. 
  • Espana, C., & Herrera, L.Y. (2020). En comunidad: Lessons for centering the voices and experiences of bilingual Latinx students. Heinemann. - offers actual lesson plans. 

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) provides a series of resources for the major language assessments for emergent bilingual students in Texas:

Developing lessons to support emergent bilinguals in mastering the English language proficiency standards

If you are teaching emergent bilinguals, you will be expected to include English language standards in your lesson plans. The TEA provides valuable resources to incorporate the English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS) into your lessons. 

Understanding and adhering to federal and state laws governing services for emergent bilinguals

Educational services for emergent bilinguals must abide by the existing laws and regulations. - Video presentation on the process for serving emergent bilinguals.