A novel unit places demands on reading stamina, written expression, and organization, which can be especially challenging for students with learning differences. When assigning an essay on More Than You Can Chew by Marnelle Tokio, teachers need to honor IEP and 504 accommodations while maintaining rigorous expectations. The goal is to remove barriers that are unrelated to the skills being assessed. Done well, this makes grades more accurate rather than less.

Begin by reviewing each student's plan before the unit starts and noting accommodations that affect writing tasks. Common examples include extended time, speech-to-text tools, graphic organizers, chunked assignments, and reduced emphasis on spelling. Plan how each will be implemented so that no student has to ask repeatedly. Proactive preparation shows respect and prevents delays.

It is crucial to distinguish between accommodations and modifications. Accommodations change how a student accesses or demonstrates learning, such as allowing dictation, while modifications change the expectation itself. Unless a plan specifies modified standards, the same rubric applies to everyone. Keeping the rubric constant ensures that grades remain meaningful and comparable.

Align the rubric with what you intend to measure

If an essay is meant to assess analysis, penalizing spelling or handwriting contradicts the purpose. Review the rubric to ensure that conventions carry appropriate weight and that accommodation-related issues do not leak into other rows. For students whose plans specify lenient scoring of mechanics, apply that consistently. Documenting these decisions protects both the student and the teacher.

• Review accommodations in advance and plan how each will be implemented
• Keep the rubric the same unless a plan formally specifies modified standards
• Score ideas and analysis separately from mechanics and handwriting
• Provide graphic organizers and chunked deadlines for multi-step essays
• Offer feedback in the format the student can best use, such as oral or visual

Adapt feedback to how students process information

Some students find long written comments overwhelming, while others benefit from detail. Consider offering feedback in smaller chunks, using bullet points, or delivering it through a brief conference. For students with attention challenges, a single clear priority is more useful than a long list. Checking in to ask what format works best often yields helpful answers.

Use concrete language and examples. Instead of telling a student to organize their paragraphs better, show them a model paragraph and mark how it follows the claim, evidence, explanation pattern. Visual cues, color coding, or templates can make abstract ideas tangible. These tools often benefit the entire class.

Use technology to support access

Assistive tools such as speech-to-text and text-to-speech can level the playing field for drafting and revising. Teachers should ensure that any grading or feedback platform works well with these tools. AI-assisted systems like GraideMind can provide rubric-aligned comments quickly, which helps students receive timely feedback in a consistent format. Teachers can then adapt that feedback to individual needs.

Be mindful of privacy when using technology with students who have plans. Follow district policies on student data and make sure that sensitive information is not shared unnecessarily. Clarify which tools are approved for use with accommodations. Compliance protects students and the school.

Collaborate with the support team

Special education teachers and case managers have valuable expertise about how to support individual writers. Share the essay assignment and rubric with them early so they can prepare scaffolds and suggest adjustments. After grading, communicate results and any concerns so that the plan can be refined. Regular collaboration builds a coherent support system around each student.

Document how accommodations were used and how the student performed. This record can inform future plan meetings and demonstrate compliance. It also helps identify which supports are most effective. Over time, the information leads to better decisions and better outcomes.