This document outlines Jessica Ramirez's proposed structure and curriculum for a Universal Design for Learning middle school. The school would serve about 320 students in grades 5-8. It would have general education classrooms as well as one self-contained special education classroom. All students would have access to assistive technology and modifications as needed. The school aims to provide free and appropriate public education to all students in the least restrictive environment possible through differentiated instruction, assessments, and a focus on social-emotional learning.

1. MS. RAMIREZ’S UDL
SCHOOL
JESSICA RAMIREZ
SPED 6334
JULY 12, 2019

2. “Every student can learn, just not on the same day, or the same
way.”
— George Evans

4. STRUCTURE
• The school is a middle school, grades 5th-8th grade.
• There are about 80 students per grade level.
• There are about 320 students total
• The school will be two floors with only one main entrance
• There will be one cafeteria for all students
• One gym for all students
• One library with books, computers and other resources available
• There will be one main bathroom for students, per floor (5 stalls per male and female bathroom).
• There will be 5 fire exits that can only be accessed during emergencies (Front office will be
notified when doors are open)

5. STRUCTURE
• There are 4 classrooms per grade level, not including special education – one teacher per subject
(math, reading, science, history).
• There will be two blocks for fine arts, one for PE, one for student’s choice (Art, music, or theatre arts).
• All classrooms will have one door with a view mirror
• Each classroom will have one “kidney table” for small group, individual desks per student arranged in
rows or groups depending on teacher and lesson/activity for the day.
• There will be one designated space for “floor/rug time”
• There will be one chromebook cart per classroom, so students have access to technology when
needed
• Each classroom teacher can arrange for bean bags/couches for seating, free time, reading time, etc.
• Each student should be visible to teacher at all times

6. CLASSES
• Students will be grouped by grade level, mostly consisting of
the same ages.
• There will be 18-22 students per classroom.
• Special education students who are not as severe will be in
general education classrooms and receive support by sped
teachers/paraprofessional 2-3 times a week as needed.
Students will receive pull out as needed individually.
• Special education students who are not able to function in
the general education classroom will be in small group
classrooms with one special education teacher and one
paraprofessional. There will be 1 of these self-contained
special education classes.

7. CLASSES
• Students with lower abilities will sometimes be paired with “peer tutors”, which
will be students who are higher able.
• Students who need extra amounts of supports will be in groups with teacher or
paraprofessional.
• Classes will be set up comfortably to where students feel safe. This includes
comfortable chairs, couches, rugs, etc.

8. PERSONNEL
• 1 principal
• 1 dean/assistant principal per grade level, each of those people will also be the dean of
instruction/coach per subject. For example, the 5th grade assistant principal is also the dean of
math instruction. That dean/coach will help assist and support each teacher of their subject, 5th,
6th, 7th, 8th grade math – 4 total
• 1 academic director to oversee deans/assistant principals/coaches
• 1 dean of operations to run all operations. 1 assistant as custodial manager that has 2 assistants.
– 4 total
• 1 teacher per fine arts – PE, art, theatre arts, music – 4 total
• 4 general education teachers per grade level – 16 total
• 2 paraprofessionals per grade level to help as needed– 8 total

9. PERSONNEL
• 1 special education teacher and 1 special education paraprofessionals for self-contained classroom – 2
total
• 1 special education teachers and 2 special education paraprofessionals to help in class support. – 3
total
• 1 interventionist per subject to mostly help with 504 students and other students who need the extra
help – 4 total
• 1 counselor
• 1 librarian
• 1 school nurse
• 2 front office receptionists/administrative assistants
• Café personnel – 4 total

10. PERSONNEL
• With the district
• Special Education coordinator
• LSSP
• Educational diagnostician
• Behavior specialist
• Speech therapist
• Specialist to teach social skills classes

11. INSTRUCTION
• Free Appropriate Public Education
• Teachers will teach class as a whole group
• Teacher will always have clear goal of the day on the board
• Board will always of steps of criteria for success (CFS)
• Learning stations divided into groups
• Students will be able to choose where they sit, as long as they are still being successful
• Students will use “Google Classroom” in order to learn college style. It will be used mainly for
independent work such as exit tickets. They will also be able to participate in class discussions in
which teachers and students can view per class.

12. INSTRUCTION
SPED
• Access to all special education and related services
• All students will be in the least restrictive environment, unless they are unable to be in
a general education classroom.
• Students who are a harm to self and/or others will be in a self-contained classroom
• Compliance of IEP and everything for each individual student
• Behavior Intervention plans followed at all times
• Provide appropriate modifications and accommodations

14. GENERAL CURRICULUM
• Curriculum will meet standards of Texas Education Agency, but will be adjusted
accordingly.
• Though standard curriculum is still followed, students will have several chances to
improve their grades and test scores.
• Each student will receive curves as needed, according to their individual differences
and abilities.
• Students will have modified work accordingly
• Work and tests will continue being adjusted through students performance levels..
• Classes such as social awareness will be taught. This will also include classes about
social emotional learning. All teachers will be trained on this. Students will not be
tested over it, but will have surveys and be able to share and give feedback.

15. TECHNOLOGY
• Students will have access to chromebooks in every classroom – this will depend on the teacher and what is being
taught that day.
• They will have access to the library before and after school, and during class hours depending on teacher
• They will have access to Google Classroom
• Students will be taught different learning websites such as my math lab
• They will be able to access grades
• They will have a specific blog page in order to share anything they want. It can be made private or public to other
students. It will be public to teachers.
• Each classroom will have an electronic whiteboard in which all teachers will have trainings on. This will be used as the
projector and teaching method. Computer will be connected to it.
• Access to teacher and staff phone numbers when needed

16. TECHNOLOGY
Sped assistive technology
• Audio books
• Text-to-voice programs/tech
• Voice-recognition technology
• Proofreading programs
• Speech-recognition programs
• Electronic math worksheets and calculators
• Alternative keyboards
• More as needed

17. ASSESSMENT
• Students will have an exit ticket every day or every other day to asses student learning. Some
exit tickets will be short answer, but most will be multiple choice.
• There will be a short quiz at the end of every week. Some students will be able to take verbal
exams as needed.
• There will be a mid-module and end of module exams for every module in the curriculum. All
exams will be multiple choice, short answer and essay questions depend on the teacher, exam
and student.
• There will be 2 benchmarks a year to assess progress towards STAAR testing.
• There will be STAAR tests for math and reading subjects for every grade level, in early April.
• Retests may occur in May before the school year ends.

18. ASSESSMENT
• Students will receive proper modification and
accommodations for every exam, as needed. Small
groups testing will be from about 6-8 students.
Teachers and admin will read questions and answers
to students.
• They will always be reminded that exams do not
define who they are, but do help us get an idea of
where they are at.

19. SOURCES
• Google images
• Rose, DH., & Meyer, A. (2002) Teaching Every Student in the Digital Age.
Universal Design for Learning. Association for Supervision and Curriculum
Development, Alexandria Virginia.