Inclusive schooling is known as classrooms where all students, regardless of abilities and disabilities, learn in the same contexts. In Canada, inclusive schooling is slowly becoming more popular in the school system. People are beginning to realize the benefits to it, and are accepting the change in a more positive way. However, some people still view inclusive classrooms as difficult environments because of the lack of initial teacher preparation. It is important for the needs of teacher preparation for inclusive schooling to be recognized and improved in order to increase the likelihood of schools participating in an inclusive classroom setting. By having an inclusive school, it allows for all students to be taught on an equal level, which will decrease boundaries between people with abilities and disabilities, and amount to a more positive school environment.
The first article addressing the topic of inclusive schooling in Canada is titled “Canadian Teachers’ Associations and the Inclusive Movement for Students with Special Needs”, which focuses on the teachers’ emotions towards inclusive schooling. The article talks about the movement towards a more positive view on inclusive schooling in Canada over three generations. The first movement started in 1982 when the Canadian Teachers’ Federation first gave consideration to including students with special needs, but by the end of the 1980s a lot of frustration was being voiced from teachers from different provinces. The teachers felt that they had inadequate resources to properly teach classrooms that included students with special needs. The teachers said that there might be “negative social and/or academic consequences for typically developing students” (Winzer & Mazurek, 2...
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...ded that teachers are supplied with the proper resources, support, and preparation, inclusive schooling can form a more positive schooling environment for all students, and eliminate boundaries set by segregated schools. By improving the school environment and eliminating boundaries, the outcomes of students’ schooling experience will be overall more positive, and more successful.
Works Cited
Loreman, T. (2010). Essential inclusive education-related outcomes for Alberta preservice teachers. Edmonton, Alberta: Faculty of Education, University of Alberta.
Loreman, T. (2009). Student perspectives on inclusive education. Edmonton, Alberta: Whole Schooling Consortium.
Winzer, M and Mazurek K. (2011). Canadian teachers’ associations and the inclusive movement for students with special needs. Winnipeg, Manitoba: Faculty of Education, University of Manitoba.
Sands, D., Kozleski, E., & French, N. (2000). Inclusive education for the 21st century: A new
Educators can have strong feelings on the subject because having special needs students in a regular classroom can have a large impact on the classroom community. Those who believe in inclusive classrooms realize that, to be successful, it requires allot of classroom management and differentiated instruction, but feel the benefits are worth the work involved. Those who do not believe in inclusion feel that it leads to “l...
The movement for inclusion in education has advanced since the years of special schools for children with disabilities. Although there have been significant changes to the laws protecting the rights of children with disabilities there remains an underlying debate as to whether these children should be in main stream classes. Most states and territories in Australia practice inclusive education, however this remains a contentious topic with differing attitudes. It is evident whilst many challenges remain, schools should implement and deliver quality programs that reflect best practice policies. Positive teacher attitudes, promoting diversity, modelling inclusion in the classroom and developing a sense of community by working in partnerships
Peterson, J. Michael and Hittie, Marie Michael. Inclusive Teaching : Creating Effective Schools for All Learners. Pearson Publishing. (2003)
Downing, J. E., & Peckham-Hardin, K. D. (2007). Inclusive Education: What Makes It a Good Education for Students with Moderate to Severe Disabilities?. Research and Practice for Persons With Severe Disabilities (RPSD), 32(1), 16-30.
In order for inclusion to be implemented properly it is important that teachers, parents, and administrators to know the definition of inclusion. An inclusion program means that the student spends all or most of their school time in the general education classroom rather than a self-contained classroom. However, the students will still receive the support and interventions they would have received in a self-contained classroom. There are different types of inclusive classrooms where different types of teaching occur. There is co-teaching where there is both a general education teacher and a special education teacher that co teach. Both will work with students that have an individualized education plan (IEP) and the student will receive more support. In addition, an inclusive classroom can have a general education teacher but has the special education teacher as a resource or aid, which qualifies as a collaborative model of inclusion.
Retrieved Feb 6, 2010 from http://www.newsforparents.org/experts_. Inclusion_pros_cons.html Villa, Richard A., Thousand, Jacqueline S. (1995). Creating an inclusive school environment. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. Card, Toby.
...d Inclusive Education in Ontario Schools: Guidelines for Policy Development and Implementation . Toronto, Ont.: Ontario Ministry of Education.
Slee (2001) argues that inclusive schooling demands schools to recognise all types of difference from disabilities, ethnicity, gender, class and sexuality. Furthermore, he challenges schools to accept difference, to encourage and promote flexibility thus benefiting not only the curriculum and pedagogy, but the community and students themselves (Slee, 2001).
Inclusion is the main issue within the inclusive learning environment, if a child doesn’t feel included within their environment then their learning will be effected by this. The Oxford English Dictionary defines inclusion as “the action or state of including or of being included within a group or structure” (Oxford English Dictionary 2011: Inclusion) This means that every child should feel involved and included, no matter of there different learning abilities or levels. This can mean children who have special educational needs, such as dyslexia, physical disability or metal disability. Inclusion should provide opportunities for all children, no matter of their age, race, gender, disability, religion, ability or their background, to be involved within their learning environment. Each child should feel like they belong and feel like they are...
The true purpose of school is to prepare children for their future in becoming lifelong learners and global citizens. For children with special needs, special education services prepare and provide support for them in dealing with the challenges they face daily. Laws such as Individuals with Disabilities Education Act has enforced schools to provide education to all children and reinforces the purpose of the school, which is to provide children the Least Restrictive Environment to help them develop to their optimal potential. There are myriad of concerns regarding inclusion’s effect on typical developing students, yet a research done by Bui, Quirk, Almazan, and Valenti shows that “[p]resence of students with disabilities results in greater number of typical students making reading and math progress compared to non-inclusive general education classes” (p. 3). Therefore, inclusion not only benefits children with disabilities, but it also benefits typical developing student’s academic skills and allows them to learn acceptance and respect for students with disabilities.
Inclusion in classrooms is defined as combining students with disabilities and students without disabilities together in an educational environment. It provides all students with a better sense of belonging. They will enable friendships and evolve feelings of being a member of a diverse community (Bronson, 1999). Inclusion benefits students without disabilities by developing a sense of helping others and respecting other diverse people. By this, the students will build up an appreciation that everyone has unique yet wonderful abilities and personalities (Bronson, 1999). This will enhance their communication skills later in life. Inclusive classrooms provide students with disabilities a better education on the same level as their peers. Since all students would be in the same educational environment, they would follow the same curriculum and not separate ones based on their disability. The main element to a successful inclusive classroom, is the teachers effort to plan the curriculum to fit all students needs. Teachers must make sure that they are making the material challenging enough for students without special needs and understandable to students with special needs. Inclusive classrooms are beneficial to students with and without special needs.
1. Prior to entering into the field of special education, I served as a teacher within the regular public primary school system. This experience has provided me with some background knowledge, which allows me to relate to possible strengths and challenges within the general education inclusive setting. I believe that with a collaborative effort and the encouragement of a positive school climate and school culture, much can be achieved for the success of all students Differentiated teaching methods were a significant aspect of my special education training.
In first being able to define inclusive education, it is necessary to understand the diversity of the student population. Disability comes in my varying forms and can be physical, sensory, intellectual, mental health and emotional, developmental, and non-visible (e.g. asthma). If disability was the only agent to consider in the diversity scenario things would be easier for teachers but there are a number of other classifications of students to consider: Gifted or talented; English as a second language (ESL); Indigenous students; and many other classifications which fall under the societal/family/personal heading (Ashman & Elkin, 2012).
For over 25 years society’s attitudes towards people with disabilities have changed significantly. As a result, education for students with disabilities has made a prominent transformation. Particular social and historical events, both international and national, have played an integral part in influencing the development of inclusive education in Australia (Thomas and Loxley, 2007). Furthermore the history of society’s attitudes towards difference has had a major influence towards the formation of policies and legislation related to inclusivity, as well as impacted the way society accepts difference today. This critical reflection aims to identify the underlying values of inclusive education policies and legislation, and the influence they may have on society’s attitudes towards accepting difference. I will also reflect on my broadened understanding of what it means to be inclusive and how this has impacted my future implications for teaching.