Research shows that the learning environment encompasses more than just the classroom that learning and teaching takes place. Many factors contribute to a learning environment, including the students, teachers, parents, school staff, policy makers, specialists, support staff, community members and the different learning spaces and resources available. This reflective journal will discuss some ways that teachers can set up the learning environment to maximise teaching and learning and some potential advantages and difficulties for me as a new teacher.
Education systems and services are integral to setting up a learning environment that maximises teaching and learning. I agree with Munro (2009) that being aware of what services, programs and support staff are available will be of great benefit to the learning environment, students and professional learning. I believe that adopting individual education plans, students learning profiles and modifying the curriculum can reduce the concern that some researches express that students are still being segregated from the classroom environment due to their “special learning needs”. These concerns are reduced by developing practices and adaptions that promote inclusion. I also believe that it allows for continual monitoring of students learning and progress and encourages critical reflection of teaching practices. Material and human resources that education systems provide encourage further professional development and practical ways to make adjustments and adaptions to classroom practices. I believe with the support of these systems inclusive education can be integrated seamlessly into my daily practice.
Carrington (2009) highlights the vital role of collaboration, communication and...
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Carrington, S (2009). Home, school and community relationships. In Ashman. A & Elkins. J (Eds). Education for inclusion and diversity (pp. 386-413). Pearson Education Australia.
Cramer, S & Stivers, J. (2007). Don’t Give Up! Practical strategies for challenging collaborations. Teaching exceptional children, 39(6), p, 6-11.
Education Queensland (2009). Assistive technology) https://learning.secure.griffith.edu.au/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab=courses&url=/bin/common/course.pl?course_id=_78878_1&frame=top
Munro, J. (2009). Educations systems and services. In Ashman. A & Elkins. J (Eds). Education for inclusion and diversity (pp. 386-413). 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. Proquest education journals
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
The authors of this article discuss the components of the learning environment and recognize the impact it has on student achievement. Six components are correlated with the teacher evaluation model listed in the article. These six components are security, shelter, social contact, symbolic identification, task instrumentality, and pleasure. These components are necessary in order to have a positive learning environment and if a classroom possesses these, the students will gain the skills they need for careers in life. Students need to feel safe with the atmosphere free from bullying while developing social skills and
Peterson, J. Michael and Hittie, Marie Michael. Inclusive Teaching : Creating Effective Schools for All Learners. Pearson Publishing. (2003)
I believe every student is entitled to a safe learning environment where they can reach their full potential academically and behaviorally. Students will reach their full potential in a positive learning environment. The positive learning environment will be established from the beginning of the year providing a lasting impact on the students academic, and behavior performance throughout the entire year. The positive learning environment will be a classroom setting, which allows students to feel welcomed, safe, and important on daily basis allowing learning to occur to its fullest potential. To ensure my students are in a positive learning environment there must be a behavior management plan clearly explaining the expectations I have for my students. Throughout my behavior management plan I will explain how I plan to implement expectations so students act accordingly. My behavior management plan will be individually tailored to my students allowing me to push them to their fullest potential to by taking into consideration each student’s behavior and personal needs.
Olsen, Glenn W., and Mary Lou Fuller. Home and school relations: teachers and parents working together. 4th ed. Boston: Pearson, 2012. Print.
Assistive Technology or “AT” is a term used in this context to describe an item or technique used to make the navigation of a home, school or play environment more accessible for a child with special needs (Lowenthal & Egan, 2003). This paper is written to explore some of the assistive technology (AT) options available to serve two children with special needs in separate circumstances. Low, mid and high tech options will be addressed with regards to the specific needs and intentions of the parents and teachers in each child’s life. Attached is a table offering options for assistive technology in the classroom to support the educational goals of each child.The first case study addressed in this paper is Savannah, a three-year old student who is wheelchair bound. She has a seizure disorder and has been diagnosed with spastic cerebral palsy. She has limited vision but seems to be able to recognize items presented to her such as shapes and colors. Savannah participates in “social” language. She loves music and cause/effect activities. She knows all of her colors and shapes, is able to recite the alphabet by rote. In written word, Savannah recognizes both her name and those of her classmates. Savannah’s parents have expressed a desire to have her placed in a more restrictive classroom, and her teacher is interested in working more to support Savannah in the areas of writing and organizational skills. Some assistive technology suggestions for use in supporting Savannah are discussed below. Because Savannah’s teacher is working on encouraging Savannah in the area of writing, assistive technology options to support this area of development will be discussed herein. A low-tech ...
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).
Winter, E.D., & O'Raw, P. (2010). Literature review of the principles and practices relating to inclusive education for children with special educational needs. Retrieved from http://www.ncse.ie/uploads/1/ncse_inclusion.pdf
Daniel, K. (1995). The Learning and Teaching Environment. Available: http://tecfa.unige.ch/tecfa/research/CMC/andrea95/node4.html. Last accessed 29 OCT 2011.
The idea of inclusion within a classroom tends to breed controversy from many people. Currently there is no clear consensus on a definition of inclusion (Heward, 2006). There are many different views on how students with disabilities should be handled. Those views ranged from students being fully included, partially included, or not included at all in mainstream schooling. Different descriptions of inclusion tend to reflect the person's own opinions towards it. People who feel students should not be included in the classroom focus on the negative characteristics of inclusion, such as the challenges of developing plans for students as well as the hard work it requires to incorporate those plans. However, studies show that full inclusion has many benefits to the students, for both students with disabilities as well as students without them. Inclusion has shown to improve the student's social skills, encourage communication, inspire laws and regulations, and improve the overall schooling experience (Gargiulo, 2012). Although it will take longer then some would like or have the patience for, full inclusion can be done in the classroom, with its benefits outweighing the hard work that it requires.
The Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a concept that is used at the point of teachers planning. This idea stems from the field of architecture and attempts to design products and environments so that they are usable by all people, in this case students, to the greatest extent possible without the need for adaption or specialised design. (Ashman & Elkins, 2008) The universal design for learning aims to promote access, participation and progress in regular education for all students and therefore has been suggested as a response that meets the needs of students.
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.
Inclusion has become increasingly important in education in recent years, with the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act being passed in 2004 to ensure equality in our system. In summary, inclusion is the idea of there being no child...
In recent times I believe there has been a heightened awareness regarding the necessity to develop Inclusive Classrooms that celebrate difference and cater for a diverse range of learning styles and needs. My belief is reflected in the increasing amount of policies and legislation being developed at both state and Commonwealth levels. These approaches range from Anti-Discrimination Acts, Child Protection, Disability Services and Privacy Legislation. Examples of a few of the most recent approaches designed to promote and support Inclusive Education include: