As a new teacher preparing to embark upon what I hope will be a long-lasting, rewarding career in education, I want to create an inclusive, stimulating and collegial climate in my classroom. I plan to make sure that all my students feel valued, and contribute actively to the knowledge, interactions, learning and interests shared by the class. However, I appreciate that as a new, inexperienced teacher I could encounter or unintentionally create barriers that undermine my vision of an inclusive classroom. Although systems will operate in any school setting that can help or hinder inclusive practices, I believe it is my responsibility to ensure that every student in my care has high aspirations, and experiences success at school regardless of the school context. In order to give myself and my students the best chance at success in the classroom I will attempt to find out as much as I can about each one of them before I set up the learning environment. Current and comprehensive information on students’ likes, dislikes, experiences, skill, understanding and development is imperative to create the best possible learning environment (Daniels & Perry, 2003). Communicating openly and often with stakeholders to help gather good information requires positive collaboration with families, staff and most importantly the students themselves. Frequent, targeted assessment before, during and after learning also provides data that supports the design of teaching and learning experiences offering each student opportunities to be challenged and moved forward (Koppang, 2004). Although time and effort are necessary to obtain this information, it may help to prevent mismatched or misdirected teaching efforts that waste valuable resources, contribute ... ... middle of paper ... ...amer, S., & Stivers, J. (2007). Don't give up! Practical strategies for challenging collaborations. Teaching exceptional children, 39(6), 6-11. Daniels, D. H., & Perry, K. E. (2003). "Learner centered" according to children. Theory into Practice, 42(2), 102-108. Koppang, A. (2004). Currculum mapping: Building collaboration and communication. Intervention in school and clinic, 39(3), 154-161. Mc Tighe, J., & Brown, J. L. (2005). Differentiated instruction and educational standards; Is detente possible? Theory into Practice, 44(3), 234-244. Munro, J. (2008). Education systems and services. In A. Ashman & J. Elkins (Eds.), Education for inclusion and diversity (3rd ed.). Frenchs Forest, NSW: Pearson Education Australia. Pisha, B., & Coyne, P. (2001). Smart from the start- the promise of universal design for learning. Remedial and special education, 22(4), 197-203.
Sands, D., Kozleski, E., & French, N. (2000). Inclusive education for the 21st century: A new
Peterson, J. Michael and Hittie, Marie Michael. Inclusive Teaching : Creating Effective Schools for All Learners. Pearson Publishing. (2003)
Throughout much of U.S. history, the separate and unequal schooling of diverse groups has been reinforced. Ethnicity and class have been perhaps the most obvious basis for discrimination, but other student characteristics, such as gender and disability, have also been used to separate students and place them into appropriate courses regardless of their potential or interest (Rossi, 1994). Soon, reform movements, dating back to the 19th century, to provide all students with a common and equal education that cut across differences in class, ethnicity and religion became a focus.
Teachers from the inclusive classrooms should communicate and collaborate with the student's current teachers and gather
Inclusion is where children classified as Intellectually Disabled (ID) are put into a regular classroom instead of a special education classroom. Previously called mental retardation, ID, as defined by the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY), is a term used to describe a child with certain limitations in mental functioning, and in skills such as communication, personal care, or social skills. (2011) These limitations will cause a child to develop more slowly than a typical child. These children are able to learn, but do so at a reduced rate. They usually take longer to grasp certain concepts, while other concepts may never be learned. This research will discuss inclusion practices in VISD elementary schools and if inclusion is really the right environment for ID children.
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).
In this essay I will reflect upon the inclusive learning environment, i intend on reflecting this by researching, reading, extending my own knowledge and a recent exemplar visit. The main issues i have chosen to cover throughout this essay are inclusion, children’s learning and the environment. Issues i will also cover are Special Educational Needs (SEN), Every Child Matters (EMC), Diversity and legislations. I intend on doing this by arguing, analyzing and discussing the inclusive learning environment. Inclusive learning environments can be varied from the school environment to the home environment. Both having a significant impact to a child’s learning. The environment within schools needs to be stimulating, creative and enjoyable for all children to learn in. Effective classroom organization, interaction between both staff and children are essential to the inclusive learning environment.
Instruction. These two strategies are approaches that address classroom diversity in general education settings, and inclusion classroom settings. The idea of UDL is that instructional lessons, strategies, and assessments are planned with supports, which are more likely to be well-suited for students with special needs. The supports minimize the need for adaptations at a later time. Properly designed classrooms require fewer adaptations for students with special needs, is an ass...
Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education, Volume 2, Number 4 Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education, Vol. 2, No. 4 (Spring/Summer 2009), Article 4, Spring 2009, “Creating a Warm and Inclusive Classroom Environment: Planning for All Children to Feel Welcome”, Jessica L. Bucholz Ed.D.jbucholz@westga.edu, Julie L. Sheffler, Julie.Sheffler@palmbeachschools.org http://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1102&context=ejie
Pisha, B, & Coyne, P. (2001). Smart from the start: The promise of Universal design for learning. Remedial and special education, 22(4), 197-203. Proquest education journals
...d evaluating their teaching. Parents and the students themselves are vital in the process. They allow for IEPs to be moulded to the student and for aims to be specific and as clear as possible. To enable students to develop fully, their individual needs must be considered and dealt with.
United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation. (1994). The Salamanca Statement and Framework for Action on Special Needs Education. Retrieved from http://www.unesco.org/education/pdf/SALAMA_E.PDF
I’m a firm believer in maximizing the educational experience through effective classroom design to maintain conflict prevention, increasing time on task and being an added tool for content material; but now I also believe effective classroom design can be used effectively to build a inclusive arena for students to learn in. By consciously focusing on improving the inclusiveness of culture into my design of the classroom, student’s can develop a stronger link to the classroom and school community. This can allow students who may have felt culturally excluded from their environment to develop a stronger connection to their learning and improve their performance not only as academic learners but as members of their school
The introduction of policies and legislations in regards to inclusion within the classroom demands teachers to reassess their learning environments in order to cater to the diverse range of students within our classrooms. As a teacher it is our responsibility to set up our learning environment to maximise student learning and teaching providing varying strategies to cater to our students’ differences.
Did you know our educational system is faced with a new enemy? The enemy has teachers, administrators, and counselors working around the clock trying to figure out how to get classrooms across the nation back in line. The name of this new, but familiar, enemy is called, “behavior problems”. Behavior problems, first, reared its ugly head in students who were in gangs, on drugs or just bullies. Now in the 21 century, classrooms are being filled more with students from diverse backgrounds. These students are presenting major behavior problems to teachers and other students, not because they are bad children but because they are dealing with disabilities. In this paper, I will identify and explain some of the disabilities teachers are facing in the classroom. I will also be giving a list of practices that will create an inclusive classroom for that particular behavior and how I will integrate the practices into my classroom.