Use different approaches and try to cater to many different learning styles so that all students can learn. Teach to Different Learning Styles: Vary the learning styles you target. If you see having special needs students in your classroom as a growth opportunity and a positive, your students will too. Have a Positive Attitude: As the teacher, your positive attitude about inclusion sets the tone for the rest of the class.
The “ I do, We do, You do” approach is especially beneficial to kids with special needs it gives them the support they need to keep up with traditional classroom activities. We challenge those that are ready for more and provide extra support to those that need it.Įxplicit Teaching and Modeling: Model for students and gradually turn the responsibility over to the student. We watch our students and constantly assess slowing down when they don’t understand something then speeding up when it’s clear they’ve already got it. It is especially helpful for kids with special needs.Īdapt: Teachers are masters at adapting. Make Objectives Clear: Posting and reviewing objectives in age-appropriate language helps all students achieve the desired objective of each lesson. These teaching strategies help students of all backgrounds to be successful in the regular education classroom.ĭifferentiate Instruction: When teachers differentiate all students can participate and work at their current ability. Help kids develop their strengths and see that kids with special needs have strengths too. Strengths-Based Approach: Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. Education leads to understanding which then leads to compassion and connection.Įncourage Interaction: Give students opportunities to interact with each other so they can build friendships and a sense of community. Do they depict children from a variety of backgrounds and with varying abilities? How do books, videos, and other materials portray children with special needs? Celebrate the diversity in your classroom and teach your students to do the same.Įducate Yourself: Educate yourself about the specific disabilities any of the students you work with have. This can be accomplished by greeting them each at the door, asking them about their interests, and using genuine praise in the classroom.Ĭelebrate Diversity: Pay attention to the materials you use in class. But how?īuild Relationships:It is important for teachers to foster a one-on-one relationship with each of their students as much as possible. The more kids with special needs are included the more their peers start to see the kids for who they are.Ĭhildren from inclusive classrooms have more opportunities to develop tolerance for differences and empathy for others.įor inclusion to work well, schools and classrooms need to foster inclusive environments. Increased Tolerance: Inclusion is better for kids without special needs than keeping kids with special needs isolated. It is important for kids to have as normal a school experience as possible. Kids social and emotional needs also must be considered. Social and Emotional Development: School isn’t just about academic needs. They get an opportunity to learn acceptable social behaviors and to learn from their peers. Role Models: Inclusion is better for kids with special needs because they can see other ‘typical’ kids and emulate them. The advantages of inclusion far outweigh any drawbacks, however, and the drawbacks can often be mitigated. What are the advantages of inclusion? Some would argue that being in the regular classroom is too frustrating for kids with special needs because they can’t keep up. With increased understanding and technology now, more than ever, children with special needs should be included in the regular classroom. In our current society, we have a plethora of information at our fingertips to help us understand the variety of special needs students have. Unfortunately, though laws have changed not all schools have adapted to be inclusive. Today we are mandated to educate students in the least restrictive environment, which means that, hopefully, kids are spending as much of their days as possible in the regular ed classroom. First schools opened special education units with children having little to no contact with their typically performing peers. Improvements in inclusion have been incremental over the years. For many years children with special needs were either sent to their own schools or left out of education altogether. The history of inclusion in the US school system is quite brief.
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