Curriculum Barriers & Using UDL Principles to Dismantle Them

With the wealth of research and tutorials I have engaged in during the creation of this blog, I find myself reflecting about my past teaching experiences and sometimes feeling disappointed. I could have made learning so much more meaningful for my students if I had presented information and allowed them to express their learning in a multitude of ways. Although as the teacher, I myself did not realize the hidden barriers within the curriculum.

Each child comes to your classroom with variety of experiences and abilities, but we do not have modified curriculum for these students. It is the duty of a committed, analytical and reflective teacher to unhinge the obstacles within a standard curriculum and create the greatest opportunities for academic success.

After visiting the following website, (http://www.cast.org/teachingeverystudent/tools/curriculumbarrierstutorial.cfm) I was introduced to tutorials, tools and activities that help educators identify and modify the potential barriers in their curriculum. Using this activity I was able to deeply reflect on how some of the incredible learner qualities my students brought to the classroom had potentially been squelched by how the curriculum called for expression.

Teachers can use the Curriculum Barrier Tool for practice, and then can even use their own curriculum to identify hidden barriers in their classroom, and try to modify them for the future.

Below is a screenshot of a curriculum barrier template I created based on the curriculum, qualities and potential barriers for one of my former students.