In the past providing accommodations almost makes it seem like you have to compromise the learning but you are still providing an education but in a manner that the students can understand.  I have always felt like everyone has to "get it" but everyone may not get it.  However, I need to have provided every opportunity for them to do so.

Comment on Michael Flores's post: I agree.  I wouldn't have known what to call them but so many of the attitudes of the students that I have dealt with make sense. 

It's helpful to see the different types of learning disability's broken down and seeing that the accommodations vary greatly depending on the way that the students struggle to learn.  Sometime we try to cluster it into one big column I think.

I learned that it's important to remember that people with the same disability often don't require the same accomodation.

I loved the opening activity examples.  I often struggle with coming up with a good fun but relevant intro.  I also love the emphasis that a lesson doesn't necessarily have to be old school 90 minute lecture format to be effective.  I love that a discussion is also labeled as a form of instruction.  It's hard for those of us who grew up on those lectures to wrap our head around that sometime. 

There were several things that stood out.  I love the idea of combining frequent assessments as the final.  I also agree that if we prevent opportunity for cheating or disruptive behavior, we can get ahead of an issue before it arises.  It's so difficult, but I love the idea of self reflection and not automatically assuming the student is the problem.  My goal is to be a better listener and providing more opportunity for discussion rather than just immediately shutting their ideas down.

Has anyone found a solution to the problem of managing phone use in the classroom?  I want them to learn self control and don't want to take them up, but it seems to be a never-ending problem.  Especially when others in the school don't follow through.  

I agree that you have to set the expectations in order for them to follow them.  Consistency is so important yet so hard to maintain.  I sometimes am so hopeful that they will turn something in, in order to pass the class that I don't always uphold the late policy.  I hope to do better with that.