Mara Sapon-Shevin's Widening The Circle: An Analysis

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Imagine. You are a student once again and you are struggling to feel like you fit in. Everyone in your class seems to be smarter, faster, and better than you. You feel like you do not belong and are a loser. Now switch gears. You are the teacher and you see that one student struggling with those emotions; ask yourself, how can you help? As an educator, you can help a student feel included by accommodating their needs and making sure they know they are important, asking them their views on class issues, and by not underestimating their abilities as a growing, working brain. In Mara Sapon-Shevin’s short story, Widening the Circle, she uses the dinner party scenario on how she can use inclusion and make sure each person is accommodated for. This piece is an exact replica of what one would want to use in their classroom. For example, Shevin recalls that she gave her shy, quiet friends, a job to do to make them more engaged in the party and not feel left out. …show more content…

This means that children with all different types of a disability are accessible to public education and learning through professional educators and through their peers. Another important legislation that has been established in 1975 is the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) that includes all ages of children and their rights to learn. Both of these movements helped shape what special education is today and assisted in bringing inclusion into the classroom. They both made it possible for students with disabilities to be integrated into general education classrooms, while getting the assistance they need as well. These acts are what made it possible into what my field of study is and I intend to push the boundaries of getting my future students in these general education classrooms and making them feel apart of something

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