Inclusion Is The Best Solution

Inclusive education – a term that is often misunderstood or feared. Inclusive education is largely based on an attitude towards teaching students with special needs. Essentially, it does not differentiate between students who are typically developing and students who are not. No two people on the face of this Earth are the same. Just because people support different rugby teams, it does not mean that either one is disabled or challenged (depending on which team they support, wink-wink, nudge-nudge.) Inclusive teaching is exactly the same! It is about educating all students, alongside same-age peers and peers with varying abilities, in a general education classroom.

Inclusive education is reliant on student access to curriculum. Schools must create opportunities using activities, space and materials so that all students can learn. Every child deserves to grow and develop in a stable environment with their friends and school after all, should be like tequila – fun, exciting, challenging and at times a bit intimidating to prepare you for what life can throw at you!

If you, dear teacher, are working in an inclusive classroom or are on the journey to becoming one, here are ten awesome tips to make your classroom more inclusive and a positive environment for learners:

A large table:

There is no piece of furniture more important in an inclusive classroom than a table large enough for small groups of students. Having a table allows the teacher to bring students together and provide them with various types of instructional programming that meet the needs of the group. Plus, you kill two birds with one stone – while working together children also learn social skills and how not to go full-on Al Capone on another when they don’t agree.

Technology:

Technology is vital to the 21st century classroom. Not only does it allow students to keep up with our changing world, it provides accessibility to the curriculum for learners with special needs. Whether it be a computer, iPad, audio/visual equipment or assistive devices, technology can play various roles in the inclusive classroom. It can offer educational software, provide an accessible curriculum to children with special needs and help differentiate lessons. And no parents, this does not permit your children to play Candy Crush while they have to actually learn how to spell properly without using emojis.

Manipulatives:

Inclusive classrooms provide curriculum for different types of learners. For some learners, they prefer a “hands-on” approach to help them understand lessons. Manipulatives can support this process by allowing students to demonstrate their knowledge, develop new levels of understanding and explore deeper concepts. Manipulatives can be easily grouped, placed into plastic containers and put on shelves around the room.

Visual Aids:

Visual aides are, undoubtedly, very important items in the inclusive classroom. They attract student interest, explain an idea or help a student understand a lesson. Visual aids come in many forms and there should be a variety available in a classroom to facilitate inclusion. SMART boards are the new chalk and black board. Make lessons interesting by compiling a slideshow and using pictures to help associate certain components of the curriculum with. Showing movies or music videos on YouTube is NOT constructive teaching #justsaying

Positive behaviour management system:

A positive behaviour management system can support and maintain a safe, optimal learning environment. Since a good smack doesn’t make the cut anymore to instil discipline, make sure you use a system that works for all. The debit and credit system is a good example of this. It allows the teacher to highlight and reinforce the strengths of individual learners. In addition, it provides students with cues to good behaviour.

Job chart:

A job chart serves several purposes in a classroom and no, this is not cheap child labour. Firstly, it helps keep the classroom running smoothly and keeping it clean. Secondly, it enlists the help of the students and makes the workload lighter – unfortunately you cannot include chores like “wash and polish teacher’s car.” Finally, and most importantly, it allows all students to contribute to the successful operation of the classroom. Class jobs are usually rotated weekly.

Popsicle Sticks:

I came across this interesting method while teaching and there was constant moaning. We all know teachers have their little overachiever on who they lean to help with tasks and entrust certain learners with things. But this is not so good when it comes to being “inclusive.” Teachers need to have a method of choosing students for classroom-based activities in a fair manner. There are many strategies for this, but one simple and easy way that ensures all children in the classroom have an opportunity to be included is called Popsicle Sticks. This method involves putting each child’s name on a popsicle stick (found at craft stores) and placing all the sticks in a jar. Whenever the teacher requires students to make teams, complete a task, or answer a question, a popsicle stick is randomly chosen from the jar. This strategy ensures that every child in the classroom has a chance of being asked to complete the task and done so in an unbiased manner.

An inclusive classroom is no different than the actual workplace, you have to accommodate everybody and work with various individuals with different levels of capabilities. The sooner children learn that everybody is different with varying needs, the easier they will be able to deal with the real world and you will forever be their hero!