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Theme:
- High-Leverage Practices (HLPs) 16: Explicit Instruction
Articles:
- Enhancing Learning Through Explicit Instruction for Students who are DHH
- Read Captions Across America Month
- Deaf History Month Celebrated in April
News from RMTC-DHH:
- WWE: Fingerspelling Our Way to Reading
- TA-Live! High-Leverage Practices: HLP 16
- AT in the Classroom: Lesson Integration
- New Resource: Resources to Support Instruction for Students with Disabilities
- Shoutout to Districts for Completing Listening and Spoken Language Strategies: Thinking Outside the [Theme] Box
Expanded Skills Spotlight:
- Famous People who are DHH
- Standards: SP.PK12.DH.1.1a and SP.PK12.DH.1.2b
Teacher Toolkit:
- LiveBinder of Tools for HLPs
- Loan Library Resources
Did You Know?
- DHH Eligibility Rule Development Workshop
- U.S. Department of Education Assistive Technology (AT) Guidance
- Music in Our Schools Month
- UNF’s Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Deaf Education
- ESE Reading Endorsement Tuition Support Program
- NTID National Math & Science Conference
- FEDHH 2024 Save the Date and Call for Paper
Upcoming Events
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HLP 16: Explicit Instruction | |
The theme for this month is based on the 16th practice from the Collaboration for Effective Educator Development, Accountability, and Reform (CEEDAR) Center and Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)’s High-Leverage Practices in Special Education: Use explicit instruction. Keep reading for resources and more! | | | |
Enhancing Learning Through Explicit Instruction for Students who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing | |
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Students who are deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) face unique challenges in the learning environment, often requiring specialized instructional strategies to ensure their academic success. Explicit instruction has proven to be a highly effective approach for these students, providing clear, direct, and structured teaching methods. Explicit instruction involves the systematic and direct teaching of specific skills or concepts, leaving no room for ambiguity.
Archer & Hughes (2011) laid out six essential functions for effective explicit instruction. They are as follows:
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Review. Review of relevant previous learning and learning goals.
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Presentation. Presenting new content in small steps.
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Guided Practice. Students are provided with ample opportunities to practice the skill until mastery is achieved.
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Corrections and Feedback. Provide immediate corrective feedback.
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Independent Practice. Practicing skills until automaticity is reached. Continuous progress monitoring to ensure accuracy.
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Weekly and Monthly Reviews. Reviewing past content to ensure retention of skills.
These six essential functions can be used in conjunction with any Expanded Skills Standard or Speech and Auditory Training Standard lesson. For students who are DHH, clarity and precision in instruction are paramount to bridge potential gaps in language acquisition and communication.

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Read Captions Across America Month |  | |
Read Captions Across America (RCAA) day, March 2, is a collaboration between Described and Captioned Media Program (DCMP) and National Education Association (NEA). This annual event coincides with Dr. Seuss’s birthday and celebrates captioned media as a reading tool for ALL children. Watching captioned media every day may build literacy and boost learning. A free kit to help celebrate RCAA day can be ordered through DCMP.
The RCAA kits includes the following items:
- RCAA Posters
- “Captions Build Literacy” Posters
- "Superpowered Accessible Media" Posters
- RCAA Bookmarks
- RCAA Certificates of Participation
- Dr. Seuss DVD for registered DCMP members only*
The DVD contains captioned Dr. Seuss videos through the order form. You can either borrow this DVD or stream them on demand through DCMP's website. The streaming videos also feature audio description and American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation, but the DVDs do not.
*A free DCMP membership is required to receive the DVD in the kit. Educators and families with at least one student who is deaf/hard of hearing, visually impaired, or dual-sensory impaired qualify for a free DCMP membership.
Embrace the power of captions, foster literacy, and join us in making Read Captions Across America day a memorable celebration of inclusive reading!
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Every April, the Deaf* Community, along with allies and supporters, gathers to celebrate Deaf History Month. This annual observance honors the rich history, culture, and achievements of the Deaf community. Established in 1996 in the United States by the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) and the American Association of the Deaf (AAD), Deaf History Month coincides with the birthdays of two influential figures in Deaf history: Laurent Clerc and Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet.
Laurent Clerc, a Deaf Frenchman, co-founded the first school for the Deaf in the U.S., the American School for the Deaf in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1817. Collaborating with Clerc was Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, a hearing American educator. Together, they laid the foundation for Deaf education and the development of American Sign Language (ASL).
Deaf History Month is a time for reflection and celebration, offering a chance to acknowledge the rich tapestry of Deaf Culture and its contributions to the global community. As we commemorate the achievements of the past, it is also an opportunity to look forward to a future that embraces equal opportunities for all, regardless of hearing ability. Through education, awareness, and advocacy, Deaf History Month plays a pivotal role in breaking down barriers and fostering a society of belonging.
*Using capitalization for “Deaf,” “Deaf Culture,” and “Deaf Community” is common for individuals who are deaf and culturally identify with the Deaf Community.
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Working with the Experts: Deaf/Hard of Hearing - Fingerspelling Our Way to Reading | |
Please join the Resource Materials and Technology Center for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing (RMTC-DHH) and the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind (FSDB) for Working with the Experts: Deaf/Hard of Hearing - Fingerspelling Our Way to Reading. This day-and-a-half workshop will provide in-depth, hands-on practice of the intervention. The training will be conducted in American Sign Language (ASL). Fingerspelling Our Way to Reading, created by the Center on Literacy and Deafness (CLAD), is an evidence-based literacy intervention specifically designed for students who are deaf/hard of hearing (DHH) in grades K-2.
When?
April 8, 2024 - 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. ET
April 9, 2024 - 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. ET
Where?
Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind
Kramer 2nd Floor
207 San Marco Avenue
St. Augustine, Florida 32084
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In the TA-Live! series, RMTC-DHH is diving deep into the Collaboration for Effective Educator Development, Accountability and Reform (CEEDAR) Center and the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)’s High-Leverage Practices in Special Education and how teachers of the DHH can utilize these practices through the lens of their specialized knowledge of students who are DHH.
Before the next scheduled discussion, participants will be encouraged to*:
*Unable to complete the homework? Please still feel free to join RMTC-DHH staff for a discussion on resources and tools Florida educators utilize related to the HLP discussed.
When?
The next TA-Live! session will be March 20, 2024 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET (1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. CT). With a watch party of the homework starting at 1:45 p.m. ET (12:45 p.m. CT).
|  | For March's TA-Live! discussion session, RMTC-DHH will be joined by the Problem Solving Response to Intervention project (PS/RtI). Have questions for PS/RtI you would like to submit before the discussion session? Please fill out this form. | | |
AT in the Classroom: Lesson Integration |  | Teachers of the DHH and other professionals providing instruction to students on Access Points are invited to register for Assistive Technology: Lesson Integration. The PS/RtI: Technology and Learning Connections (TLC) project in collaboration with the ACCESS Project and RMTC-DHH are pleased to offer AT (Assistive Technology) in the Classroom: Lesson Integration. This day-long event offers an opportunity for attendees to increase their AT knowledge and put to practice what they've learned. They will experience, program, and troubleshoot a vast array of low- and high-tech devices aimed at improving accessibility and communication in educational environments. This event is staffed by discretionary project personnel with opportunities for consultation, technical assistance, and discussion. Participants are limited to those serving students with the most significant cognitive disabilities, including teachers for students who are DHH serving this population. The next opportunity is April 12 in Winter Garden. | | |
Shoutout to Districts for Completing Listening and Spoken Language Strategies: Thinking Outside the [Theme] Box
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We thoroughly enjoyed creating theme boxes to implement listening and spoken language strategies with students who are deaf/hard of hearing (DHH) in our workshop Listening and Spoken Language Strategies: Thinking Outside the [Theme] Box! Special thanks to our partners at the UCF Listening Center for their collaboration in making this workshop engaging and interactive. Shoutout to the following districts who participated in this workshop:
- Brevard
- Citrus
- Columbia
- Hardee
- Highlands
- Hillsborough
- Manatee
- Marion
- Orange
- Okeechobee
- Osceola
- Pasco
- Pinellas
- St. Lucie
- St. Johns
- Sumter
- Wakulla
We look forward to hosting this workshop again in the 2024-2025 school year. Stay tuned for future events!
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New Resource: Resources to Support Instruction for Students with Disabilities | |
Looking for a quick handout on supporting students with disabilities? This document lays out resources for supporting instruction for students with disabilities, including resources for lesson design, accessibility considerations, specially designed instruction (SDI) resources, and more!
This document was created in collaboration with several discretionary projects:

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Famous People who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing | |
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Resources:
In order to keep all the resources in one place, RMTC-DHH has created a LiveBinder that is categorized by the twenty-two “High-Leverage Practices for Students with Disabilities” from the CEEDAR Center and the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC). To see the resources available by each category, check out the LiveBinder!
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Resources from the RMTC-DHH Media and Materials Loan Library:
The below resources from the Media and Materials Loan Library*.
*Florida stakeholders may borrow these and many other resources from RMTC-DHH's Media and Materials Loan Library, for FREE. Each material comes with a return label, making even the shipping at no charge to the borrower.
Resources related to Deaf History Month:
- Keith Wann's: My Deaf Experience Different - ASL Comedy (Catalog Number: 9) (DVD)
- Through Deaf Eyes (Catalog Number: 75) (DVD)
- A Handmade Treasury of Deaf Folktales (Catalog Number: 363) (DVD)
- Introduction to American Deaf Culture (Catalog Number: 1856) (Book)
- No Dad, It Does Not Involve a Hippopotamus! (Catalog Number: 1858) (Book written by our very own Mark Keith!)
- El Deafo (Catalog Number: 1955) (Book)
Resources related to HLP 16: Explicit Instruction and Students who are DHH:
- Advocacy in Action - A Self-Advocacy Curriculum for Students who are DHH (Catalog Number: 1938)
- C.O.A.C.H.–Self-Advocacy & Transition Skills for Secondary Students who are DHH (Catalog Number: 1939)
- Building Skills for Independence in the Mainstream (Catalog Number: 1940)
- Steps to Assessment - A Guide to Identifying Educational Needs for DHH Students (Catalog Number: 1943)
- Building Skills for Success in the Fast-Paced Classroom (Catalog Number: 1958)
- Steps to Success (Catalog Number: 1959)
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DHH Eligibility Rule Development & Workshop
The March 1, 2024 BEESS weekly memo announced a notice for rule development:
The following rule will have a rule development workshop on March 14, 2024, 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., ET. Participants may join via the virtual link listed in the notice. To submit comments for the following rule, go to the FDOE State Board Rules Under Review web page.
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Rule 6A-6.03013, F.A.C., Exceptional Student Educational Eligibility for Students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
The Notice of Development of Rulemaking states:
A RULE DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:
DATE AND TIME: March 14, 2024, 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., ET or upon inclusion of business, whichever is earlier.
PLACE: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMuce-vqzssG9O8eDgh-UCv4D7r9YKGw0DY
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT AND A COPY OF THE PRELIMINARY DRAFT, IF AVAILABLE, IS: Alice Schmitges, Bureau of Exceptional Student Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400, (850)245-0475. To comment on this rule development, please go to https://web02.fldoe.org/rules or contact: Chris Emerson, Director, Office of Executive Management, Department of Education, Christian.Emerson@fldoe.org.
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U.S. Department of Education Assistive Technology (AT) Guidance
In the BEESS Weekly February 2, 2024,
The Office of Educational Technology and the Office of Special Education Programs recently shared the following guidance in support of children with disabilities who need AT devices and services for meaningful access and engagement in education.
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A Dear Colleague Letter on the provision of AT devices and services for children with disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
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Myths and Facts Surrounding Assistive Technology Devices and Services (PDF) is designed to increase understanding of the IDEA’s AT requirements, dispel common misconceptions regarding AT, provide examples of the use of AT devices and services for children with disabilities, and highlight the different requirements under Part C and Part B of the IDEA.
- For questions, contact Janet Good at jgood@usf.edu, PS/RtI Technology and Learning Connections.
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Music in Our Schools Month
The National Association for Music Education (NAfME) celebrates Music in Our Schools Month in March. Check out the following resources for information on making music accessible to students who are deaf and hard of hearing:
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University of North Florida’s Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Deaf Education
University of North Florida’s online Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Deaf Education program is designed for professionals (e.g., teachers, paraprofessionals and interpreters) who are currently working with or aspire to work with deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) students and have not yet completed the FDOE K-12 Deaf or Hard of Hearing Professional Certificate. In order to enroll in the program, applicants must have completed a bachelor’s degree (education degree not required). The content in the Certificate in Deaf Education program, is designed to help post-baccalaureate students prepare for the Florida Teacher Certification Examination Deaf or Hard of Hearing K-12 exam. The certificate program contains only five online courses, four deaf education courses and one elective. The program can be completed in one year; however, students can choose to move through the program more slowly. The certificate program has rolling admission, meaning students can join the program during any semester. For more information about the program, go to Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Deaf Education or contact deafeducation@unf.edu.
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ESE Reading Endorsement Tuition Support Program
The purpose of the ESE Reading Endorsement Tuition Support Program is to provide financial assistance to add the reading endorsement for exceptional student education (ESE) teachers who need the endorsement for their teaching assignments.
The program provides up to $1,400 per course for tuition support.
To be accepted into this program, the applicant must:
- have a Florida Educator Certificate in any Exceptional Student Education area,
- be currently employed in a Florida public school,
- be prepared to enroll and register in a college or university, and
- have received their Statement of Eligibility from FLDOE specifically for the reading endorsement requirements.
Upon completion of the program, recipients must add the appropriate endorsement to their professional certificate and agree to teach students in a Florida public school for a minimum of one year.
Please scan and email your completed application to esesupport@fiu.edu.
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NTID National Math & Science Conference
October 28-30, 2024
Rochester Institute of Technology/National Technical Institute for the Deaf
Rochester, NY
Open to teachers of deaf and hard of hearing students from middle school through community college classrooms and anyone interested in mathematics and science in deaf education. Attendance is free, but registration is required. Visit bit.ly/3SzuB9x for more information and to register.
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FEDHH 2024 Save the Date and Call for Papers
Are you ready to blast off into a galaxy of learning and networking opportunities? Join FEDHH for the 2024 FEDHH conference.
The conference will take place on November 8-9, 2024, at the Hilton University of Florida Conference Center Gainesville, located at 1714 SW 34th St, Gainesville, FL 32607.
The conference will include:
- Inspiring keynote speaker and breakout sessions on topics such as technology, literacy, inclusion, advocacy, transition and more.
- A chance to connect and collaborate with fellow educators, researchers, students, parents, and service providers.
- A fun and interactive vendor hall, where you can discover the latest products and services for the deaf and hard of hearing community.
FEDHH would like to invite educators of students who are DHH to submit presentation proposals that address effective practices, strategies, innovations, and tools for services provided to students who are deaf and hard of hearing. Your valuable insights and experiences can contribute immensely to the success of this event. The deadline for submission is April 19th, 2024.
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RMTC-DHH provides Tech Notes as a free resource to teachers, professionals, and families around the state in order to pass along potentially useful information and expand the knowledge and opportunities available to educators and families of children who are deaf/hard of hearing. This email was funded by the Florida Department of Education Bureau of Exceptional Education through federal assistance under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Part B funds. The information included does not reflect any specific endorsement by any parties involved. | |
Suggested Citation:
Resource Materials and Technology Center for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing [RMTC-DHH]. (2024, March). High-Leverage Practice 16: Explicit instruction. Tech Notes. https://www.rmtcdhh.org/tech-notes-archive/
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