To be considered a competent educator, there are almost 2000 strategies, concepts, and terms that you must know. However, since teachers wear so many hats, who has the time to learn them all? Don’t worry; we have you covered. In this series, we will discuss all the teaching and learning strategies, concepts, and terms that you need to know to be considered an effective educator. There are over 70 articles in this series, so pace yourself. We recommend reading one piece per weekday, which will allow you to complete the series in three to four months. We hope you enjoy it.
Click here to read all the articles in this series.
Incidental Teaching Model When a teacher uses natural events as an opportunity to facilitate more language use.
Incidental Vocabulary Learning When students learn new vocabulary words and expand their understanding of current words by reading widely, engaging in discussions, having a variety of experiences, and using technology.
Inclusion The participation of students with disabilities in regular education classrooms, usually with support services.
Inclusive and Particularistic Are two key terms referring to characteristics of a culturally responsive curriculum that ensures all students are welcomed and included in all aspects of the school while acknowledging their unique differences with respect and acceptance.
Inclusive grade model A model in which the teacher grades a student based on the targets set by a multidisciplinary team. The five-step process provides a child with a disability, with a developmental delay, or for whom English is a second language with fair and meaningful grades.
Inclusive School A school where everyone can have their educational needs met while being accepted and supported by peers and staff members.
Inconsistent Speech Disorder Inconsistent speech disorder, which is also known as inconsistent phonological disorder, is less common than phonological impairment. This disorder is characterized by inconsistent productions of the same word items (lexical) and is aligned with phonological assembly difficulty including difficulty with selecting and sequencing phenomes, without the accompaniment of oromotor difficulties.
Independent Educational Evaluation An assessment performed by a qualified examiner who is not affiliated with the school district.
Independent Practice An activity in which students apply what they have learned without teacher assistance. This further informs the teacher about the accuracy of his or her perception about and actual effectiveness of the lesson.
Independent Reading Level The standard at which a learner is able to read and comprehend without assistance from someone else comfortably.
Independent Study A course that allows students to receive degree credit for assignments completed outside of the traditional classroom environment.
Indirect Performance Measure Student opinions, surveys, focus groups or other methods used to measure student knowledge on a topic.
Indirect Teaching Methods Refer to instances where students take the primary responsibility, and the teacher acts as a facilitator. The students are responsible for the direction and pace of their learning, as well as the content to variable degrees.
Individualism The philosophy that the rights and freedoms of the individual are more important than those of the group. Individualism is predominantly found in western cultures.
Individualistic Culture A culture in which the individual is the primary unit of focus and group cohesion is deemphasized. People are encouraged to think for themselves and act in their own best interest.
Individualized Education Program (IEP) Is an education plan developed specifically for each student with a disability. In Canada and the United Kingdom, an equivalent document is called an Individual Education Plan. A well thought out Individualized Education Plan (IEP) represents some of the best personalized planning in education. The IEP lays out a year’s worth of instruction and identifies appropriate goals and the educational milestones that will form the path to meeting them for special education students. IEPs are often intricate documents that are twenty and thirty pages long, and developing IEPs can be an arduous process.
Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) An IFSP is a document that outlines a plan for young children who need early intervention services. It is customized for each child, as well as including a plan for the family. For instance, when children are receiving early intervention services, the family may also need the training to support their child’s needs. Since an IFSP is customized for the individual, every IFSP will be different.
Individualized Service Plan (ISP) An ISP is a plan for getting an individual the support and services he or she needs. If your child attends public school, he or she will have an IEP (individualized education plan). However, those children with special needs who attend private schools will need to get an ISP from a local education agency to make sure their needs are met. While there are fewer services for private school students, students with one of 13 disabilities covered in IDEA may be eligible for equitable services.
Individualized Transition Plan A set of strategies created by the IEP team to assist teenagers with a disability develop and make goals for the transition from high school into formal adulthood.
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Is a federal law specifically mandating that schools provide equitable education for the mentally and physically disabled.
Inductive Approach A strategy in which a parent or caregiver explains the possible results of a child’s action on another person.
Inductive Reasoning Refers to reasoning that allows a person to think of that specific event back to what the general principle was that caused the event.
Industry vs. Inferiority At this stage (age six to twelve), meeting success allow individuals to feel a sense of productivity, achievement, industriousness, and, in general, positive feelings about oneself and one’s abilities.
