Videos
Teacher Sue Grady facilitating a discussion about a playground fight
Some kids got into a fight at playground time. Rather than implementing punishments Sue got the kids together in a circle and they discussed what happened and what could be done. One of the children said “I felt left out”. “Let’s stop right there. Two kids are running and one felt left out. What could have been done then? What could have happened had you used an ‘I’ message?” Pay close attention. Look at the kids. They are totally engrossed in the discussion. They are literally learning a key process in building community - solving differences and hurt feelings. Note that Sue asks two the two kids who were involved in the fight to come up with activities for the entire class that will prevent fights in the future. Pay close attention to the rest of the video. What are the children learning?
9 Apr 2026
Halina & Jonathan
This is a very short video. Jerome (not his real name) often causes problems in the classroom. Note how he is standing and moving around a lot. But Halina gives him space while talking with him in a very respectful way. Her allowing him opportunity to move, which he needs, assures his attention. The problem behavior does not grow. What does this tell you about one way of dealing with
9 Apr 2026
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Mishael Hittie deals with behavior challenges
This video starts with Mishael Hittie engaging in a discussion with her class regarding some student doing more and others less than their share. Note how she takes a suggestion of one of the students. Note the respectful way this conversation occurs.
9 Apr 2026
Co-teaching in middle school social studies class
Here you see a class where students are working on projects and a teacher and special education teacher are working collaboratively to teach Can you tell who is the social studies teacher and who is the special education support teacher?
9 Apr 2026
Co-teaching a high school social studies class
In this video you see a general education teacher and special education co-teaching a high school social studies class. First is some discussion about the class and then work with partners. Watch to the end. Which person is the special education teacher; what is that educator doing?
9 Apr 2026
Small group with math games
In this video you see a small group working on a math game. One of the students has a cognitive disability. Who do you think this is? Why? A special education teacher joins the group. What is she doing?
9 Apr 2026
Speech therapist co-teaches in reading workshop
Most of this video has the speech therapist who is co-teaching reading workshop describing what is happening and how she works with the general education teacher.
9 Apr 2026
Special education teacher co-teaching
Here you see a special education co-teacher working with a small group of children in what the teachers call learning centers.
9 Apr 2026
Support personnel talking about their role
In this video a special education teacher and speech therapist discuss their role in co-teaching in general education classes. They talk about how they have learned to work with one another. There is much that they learn from each other.
9 Apr 2026
Boy with special needs and book reading group
This short video shows a Kent (not his real name) in black sweatshirt who has special needs participating in singing a song, searching for shapes in the classroom, and reading with a partner. and reading with peers. Note how intent he is reading with a partner. You wil also see book reading group organized by the children themselves featuring one boy who has difficulties reading to other students.
9 Apr 2026
Reading and writing workshop
This fourth grade classroom has some 6 students who have special needs including 2 with a cognitive disability. First students must create a list of pros and cons regarding drilling for oil in a Russian lake and discuss the issue in writing. This open-ended assignment allows students to function at their own level of challenge. You will get to see work of several students. Note how students can sit and work along and in groups. Later students give each other a comprehension test after finishing a book.
20 May 2026
Community building pictures
These pictures in video illustrate various scenes in which Mishael Hittie, 4th grade teacher, implements activities that help build community in her classroom.
20 May 2026
Reading workshop and frozen worlds
In Mishael Hittie’s 4th grade class students are reading alone and in pairs. You then see them doing research on frozen worlds. Look at the various styles of student work. What do you think about how Mishael engages in a discussion with the students. Note they are all sitting on the floor rather than in desks. This is what workshop learning looks like.
20 May 2026
Discussing how kids work at different ability levels; understanding US geography
In this movie clip Mishael Hittie leads a discussion regarding how the students function at different levels of ability but they are all part of the class. She then begins a lesson on US geography and state. Note how she makes finding different states a fun activity, Kids place themselves where different states would be if the classroom were a map. They then talk about this. Look at the next activity which is about learning something about other students.
20 May 2026
Shawnessy in 4th grade
This movie clip follows Shawnessy, a blind student. Note how other children help her as needed. What do you think about how she is fitting into the classroom?
20 May 2026
Go over syllabus with professor
Micah attended Oakland University classes, a university north of Detroit. In this short video he talks about going over the syllabus with the professor in one of his classes before school started.
20 May 2026
Friend taught me how to ride the bus
In this short video Micah tells how a friend taught him to ride the bus to various locations including Oakland University.
20 May 2026
Micah’s coach in cross-country
Here Micah’s coach in track talks about Micah’s participation in this sport over the last 3 years. He describes what Micah is getting out of track and field. He talks about how people cheer for me. He ends with “I am glad he was on my team”.
20 May 2026
Micah in high school ceramics class.
Here you see Micah in a ceramics class. Watch him interact with the teacher. The teacher then discusses having Micah in his class. What do you think about what you see?
20 May 2026
Special education teacher talks about Micah
Here Sharon, the special education teacher co-teaching in Micah’s classes, talks about her observations about Micah. What do you think about what she says?
20 May 2026
Micah and going to college
Here you see Micah talking about the prospects of going to college. What questions do you have?
20 May 2026
Micah running 200 yard race
Here you see Micah competing in a 200 yard race. Note the people in bleachers cheering for him.
20 May 2026
Gym teacher talks
Gym teacher discusses her amazement that students accept students with disabilities.
26 Mar 2026
Two students reading together
In this class the teacher has divided the class into reading buddies. In this clip, you will see a special education teacher, who co-teaches, giving the students some pointers. You’ll then see them reading together. The two students are at very different reading levels. The teacher says that more able students helping other students helps them deepen their own skills.
24 Mar 2026
Student with severe disability welcomed by peers
In this video we see a student with a significant disability making her way to the gym. Note how the other students welcome and help her.
24 Mar 2026
Building community in 3 elementary classrooms
This video shows 3 classrooms with students of a great range of skills. We start with a boy talking about how he has been of help to a classmate who has a severe disability. We then see a class discussion about politics and moving around. Note how the special student is a part of all. We then see Sue’s class in morning meeting. Then to Mishael Hittie’s 4th grade class. She has a discussion regarding how you show someone you are listening to. Then a boy in Sue’s class who is telling the class what upsets him. Then back to Mishael’s class where students have written info about themselves. They then literally throw this at each other. The goal is to find the person to whom the note belongs. Just a fun way to interact.
24 Mar 2026
Circle of Friends Meet
This video is from Mishael Hittie’s 4th grade class. These students have agreed to be part of a circle of friends for a student who needs help. In this video the children discuss how to help the target student with help from the teacher. Note how she encourages and facilitates discussion.
24 Mar 2026
Morning meeting in first grade
In this video we see Sue facilitating a morning meeting that she does every day. Sue is exemplary in how she works to build community in her classroom, where students act as helpers to one another. They start by turning to a classmate one at a time with a positive welcome and shaking hands. A couple of students then share something going on in their lives followed by the class singing together. Continuing singing they stand and clap each other’s hands. Then a fun singing game. Think about how building mutual care and enjoyment of each other can help students who are having emotional and academic difficulties as well as high achieving students.
24 Mar 2026
Having conversations with respect
In this video the teacher, Mishael Hittie, is having a conversation with kids about different shapes. Note how respectful here conversation is with the students. She asks questions, listens to their answers often restating what they just said. Clearly, children in this class feel they are heard by their teacher. Note the discussion about “How can someone tell if we are listening?” Rather than fussing at children for what they are not doing she facilitates a learning
24 Mar 2026
Whole Schooling photos-part 1
This movie shows a series of photos picturing practices with children that illustrate the principles of Whole Schooling. What principle does each photo illustrate?
1 Dec 2025
Whole Schooling photos-part 2
This movie shows another series of pictures that exemplify quality implementation of the principles of Whole Schooling.
1 Dec 2025
Arts in Academics, Detroit
This movie shows good Whole Schooling practices in a magnet school in Detroit called Arts in Academics. The teacher reads a picture book, engages students in a fun exercise, and has students line up to go out of the room. We then see students reading together in small groups.
2 Dec 2025
Seeing and Discussing Multi-level Teaching
We think you will find this interesting. The 4th grade teacher, Mishael Hittie is co-author of the book called Whole Schooling. She is leading a discussion regarding how students learn in her class being challenged at their own level - eg. multi-level instruction. “Am I expecting the same thing from everybody?” Mishael asks. In unison many students respond, “Nooooo”. “Well why is that?” the teacher asks. There is more. Watch with care. Keep watching as another teacher has a similar conversation. At students work together, note how engaged they all are.
2 Dec 2025
“Let’s tell a story together!”
The teacher Nancy engages her students in creating a story, one person at a time. Note how each child contributes at their own ability level and all is good. Note also the person interpreting with sign language for a deaf student in the class. Note how the teacher asks questions about the unfolding story and how smiles and laughter let you know the children are “into” the story they are creating. The children then go to tables to write and illustrate their personal story. Note that they room is organized to engage pair and group work.
9 Dec 2025
Children organize a read-aloud of story books to one another.
This was a bit amazing to see. The students had choices of what to work on. And some 10 kids decided to organize a read-aloud. Different students read including one student who is struggling. Note how the other children react to and encourage him.
9 Dec 2025
Reading workshop: Reading together
Here elementary children in grade 4 are involved in reading together in pairs and sometimes small groups. Once again note how engaged they are. Note also how they arrange themselves in the room most on the floor, some under tables. No sitting at desks all day long for these students!!
9 Dec 2025
Math games and a student with a cognitive disability
Here we have students working on math by playing math games. One of the children has a cognitive disability and needs a bit of extra help.
3 Dec 2025
Sydney engaging with students and working on her moose project
This movie shows photographs of Sydney, a student with a cognitive disability, working on what she called "My Moose Project". Students were asked to discover different types of information about their animal of choice. In the photos you see her interactions with other students as all work on their projects.
3 Dec 2025
Tanya teaching an inclusive bilingual 1st grade class.
Here you see the first-grade teacher Tanya involved in a read-aloud with students in a bilingual class. Note the hand waving celebration for a student in her lap. The teacher describes how students are working on a variety of projects of their own choice. Observe what we have learned to call “learning noise”, students really involved in their learning activities. The teacher describes her role in the class. This is a class obviously set up for students to perform at their own ability level but with support from the teacher or other students as needed.
9 Dec 2025
Watching a read-aloud where Gina has a very severe disability
Watch as the read-aloud progresses. Is Gina disrupting other students or actually helping them to focus as they seek to help her. What do you think about what you see?
9 Dec 2025