Read a book to your student. Then read it again but, this time, have the child read along with you as much as he can. This practice of reading in unison is another great way to encourage and practice fluent reading.

This website is dedicated to promoting inclusive schooling and exploring positive ways of supporting students with autism and other disabilities. Most of my work involves collaborating with schools to create environments, lessons, and experiences that are inclusive, respectful, and accessible for all learners.

About Paula

Biography

Dr. Paula Kluth is a consultant, author, advocate, and independent scholar who works with teachers and families to provide inclusive opportunities for students with disabilities and to create more responsive and engaging schooling experiences for all learners. Paula is a former special educator who has served as a classroom teacher and inclusion facilitator. Her professional interests include differentiating instruction and inclusive schooling.

She is the author or co-author of ten books including: "Don't We Already Do Inclusion?": 100 Ways to Improve Inclusive Schools, “You’re Going to Love This Kid”: Teaching Students with Autism in Inclusive Classrooms; A Land We Can Share: Teaching Literacy to Students with Autism; The Autism Checklist; Joyful Learning: Active and Collaborative Learning in the Inclusive Classroom; and From Tutor Scripts to Talking Sticks: 100 Ways to Differentiate Instruction in K-12 Inclusive Classrooms. Paula is also a director of a documentary film titled “We Thought You’d Never Ask”: Voices of People with Autism.

Dr. Kluth has been awarded numerous honors in her field and community. Most recently she was a recipient of the 20 Under 40 University of Wisconsin Alumni Achievement Award for her work with students with autism. She was also named the National Down Syndrome Congress Educator of the Year in 2007 and the Belle Center of Chicago’s Inclusion Advocate of the Year in 2006.

Beliefs

In this web space you will find articles, web links, and resources that can be used to inspire positive change in schools and communities. You will find the following beliefs reflected in the pages of this website:

  • Students with disabilities are experts in their own lives;
  • Students with disabilities should have opportunities to educate, collaborate with and learn from their peers and their teachers;
  • Students without disabilities should have opportunities to educate, collaborate with and learn from their peers with disabilities;
  • The families of students with disabilities should be given meaningful opportunities to partner with their child’s school;
  • All students deserve schools that are welcoming;
  • All students deserve curriculum and instruction that is engaging, appropriate, challenging, and respectful;
  • All students should be valued and viewed as making unique and worthwhile contributions to the school community.

What I'm Reading

I am reading Pathways to the Common Core again as it is really the text on the new standards. Lucy Calkins and her colleagues wrote this book before the Common Core Standards were even dry on the page so if you want to read about the changes that will be likely coming to a school near you (if they are not there already), check out this quick read by the folks at Columbia University

As my girls get older, we are changing our nightly routine slightly. We usually read together or one of us reads to the others, but now we have also added occasional silent reading in my room. When we finish reading, we sometimes make book recommendations to each other or discuss what we have selected for the night. I have been enjoying this as much as our shared reading as it gives me “permission” to choose titles I might typically not make time to read. For instance, I often read the books they recommend to me like Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Ellen Tibbets. I am also reading a lot about reading at this time. I recently finished The Book Whisperer (which I loved) and now I am starting The Reading Promise. So far, it is a very sweet story with quite a few practical ideas for creating memorable rituals with your own children.

Is it my fond memories of watching Quincy as a child or just my fascination with medical mysteries that drew me to this book? Hard to say, but I am glad I picked up The Poisoner's Handbook because I was finally able to use some of my knowledge from high school chemistry and I learned a few facts sure to amuse friends at cocktail parties (e.g., in the early 1900s, coroners typically had no medical background or real qualifications for the job; many were bartenders). As an educator, I also found the book really interesting and kept thinking how much I would have enjoyed reading this as a student. The toxicologists and medical examiners in the book are the heroes of the story and those who think chemistry is only for a few, might change their minds after reading this compelling true story.

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