Inclusive teaching in the classroom helps the students to feel comfortable and able to share their ideas and questions with their teachers and peers (“Inclusive Teaching Strategies”, 2016). The best way to include all the students in the classroom is to use the VAK learning styles. Teachers use the appropriate style for the students has learning difficulties and also for advanced learners.
Teachers should use their pedagogy practices and knowledge to develop programs/activities for a class so that all students learn and participate together. Inclusive education benefits all the children in the classroom. It allows them to develop their individual strengths, and goals in the classroom. It also fosters school cultures of respect and belonging.
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The aims of the Australian Curriculum are ultimately the same for all students. All the students have their own individual style of learning. Teachers need to demonstrate and instruct them according to their learning style. According to Tomlinson (2001), “Differentiate instruction by using flexible grouping, providing activities that appeal to various learning-style preferences, giving students choices, and creating alternative activities and assessments” (Land, 2016). The main areas of differentiation are process, content, product and environment. The importance of differentiated instruction is that it gives students a range of ways to access curriculum and instruction. It is based on different students learning styles, strengths, needs and abilities and the classroom activities should be adapted to meet these differences (“Differentiated Instruction”, …show more content…
It provides the teacher understanding of their subject, curriculum content and teaching strategies (AITSL, 2014). With the knowledge of APST’s, teachers know how to support a student’s wellbeing and safety, working within school and system curriculum and legislative requirements. Teachers should follow Standard 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, and 2.4 to enhance inclusion and diversity in the classroom. These standards provide knowledge about how to demonstrate understanding of differentiating teaching strategies to include students from diverse culture, backgrounds, linguistic and religious. Focus area 1.5 helps teachers to demonstrate their understanding of differentiating teaching strategies to meet the specific learning needs of students according to their
The Australian curriculum has been designed for children in their schooling years from foundation to year twelve. Currently the curriculum has covered four learning areas (English, Mathematics, Science and History) from kindergarten to year ten. “The Australian Curriculum describes knowledge, skills and understanding organised by learning areas.” (ACARA, 2010 d). Each learning area contains a: rationale – describing the nature of learning, aims – the intended result of learning from the curriculum, year level description, strands – interrelated broad organisers for the content in each learning area, content descriptions – describe what teachers are expected to teach, content elaborations – content description sup...
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)
The implementation of policy and legislation related to inclusive education, thus being a focus on the diversity and difference in our society (Ashman & Elkins, 2009), would have vast implications on the way society views that which is different to the accepted “norm”.
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.
Inclusion is not a new idea, but has been rapidly gaining momentum within many disciplines internationally. Inclusive education is a term often associated with special education, and children with additional needs. However, inclusive education is about ensuring that educational settings allow for meaningful participation by all learners. Each child has their own unique identity, ways of doing things, strengths and weaknesses. Ministry of Education [MoE] (1998) states that teachers “should recognise that as all students are individuals, their learning may call for different approaches, different resourcing, and different goals” (p. 39, emphasis added).
The importance of having a curriculum that accommodates diverse learners, it allows the child to learn at their own level or ability. A child with emotional and intellectual challenges may not have the verbal or comprehension skills or the ability to control their body as their peers. With this in mind, classes with diverse learners can excel with an adjusted curriculum. An activity for example, using large Legos to teach the entire class their colors or numbers can help the intellectual challenge by asking to build a building by using on certain colors or amounts. By doing this activity the students can have fun and learn at the same time with using very little words. Also in a group activity the emoti...
Many agree that inclusion can be a positive experience for special education students, general education students and educators. Inclusive classrooms provide a diverse, stimulating environment for special education students. Vaughn and Klingner, 1995 found that special education students believe that inclusive classrooms provide them with more of an opportunity to make friends (Turnbull et al., 2004, p.70). Special education students who are included in regular education classrooms become part of a much larger learning community and they are able develop more of a positive self view.
The INCLUDE strategy is based on the theory that what takes place in a classroom can either lessen the impact of student learning or increase it, making adaptations necessary to change, or modify student learning behavior. By evaluating a student’s learning needs and styles, and the demands of the classroom environment, a teacher can accommodate most students with special needs in their classrooms. (Friend & Bursuck, 2006)
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.
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.
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.
“What does inclusive education mean for me as a teacher in 2014 and beyond? “
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.
Prior to Introduction to Inclusive Education, I viewed people with disabilities from the separation perspective. They were the obvious group of individuals, the people motioning down the street with canes, walking with obedient guide dogs, parking within the blue lines, sitting in the reserved seats at the front of the bus, staring in the designated section to see the sign language interpretation, and the people who simply didn’t blend in with the rest. People with disabilities were different and incapable to perform like others; or if they could perform, they needed assistance at all times. I held this viewpoint, not because I wanted to, but because society played a critical role in my outlook.