The Inclusive Class

How can K—12 educators break down the barriers to full inclusion and teach all learners effectively? Curriculum modifications are the key!  You'll start with  a big-picture guide to creating an inclusive culture  in your classroom and school, with invaluable guidance on key topics like team collaboration, universal design for learning, co-teaching, social-emotional supports, and accommodations. Then you'll get  40 specific, teacher-tested strategies to modify your curriculum  for students who work below grade level. Ready to use in your classroom right away,  each strategy comes with student goals, simple step-by-step directions and implementation tips, suggested interventions and extensions, and samples of authentic student work that illustrate the strategy in action.  Equally useful as a beginner's guide to inclusion and a goldmine of practical ideas for experienced teachers, this must-have book will help make your curriculum “possible and...

Originally written for the Friendship Circle of Michigan. For more articles about children with disabilites go to www.friendshipcircle.org . Inclusive classrooms are becoming far more common in our public schools. There are greater numbers of students with disabilities receiving their education in general education classrooms. The  National Center for Education Statistics  notes that the number of students with disabilities who spend most of their day in the general education classroom has gone from 33 percent in 1990 to 62 percent in 2014. Transitioning students with disabilities from self-contained special education classrooms to inclusive general education classrooms is not an overnight process. It requires thoughtful planning. Teacher training, appropriate student supports, resources, personnel, and a meaningful individual educational program need to exist prior to the new class placement. It’s also important to remember that if the child with ...

If you think that the beginning of a school year is something that only students get anxious about - think again.  Teachers also worry about what their class will be like, how they will get up and get to school on time, and what they will eat for lunch!  One of the biggest worries a teacher has is having to try something new. Whether it is a new grade level, a new reading program, a new grading software, or even a new school wide initiative, teachers have a myriad of concerns. Will it benefit my students? Will there be enough time? Will I be able to teach it? Teachers can also worry about teaching students who are perceived as "different" from the general education population. They aren't sure how to include the student in their classroom activities and routines. They wonder how they will teach the student according to his or her learning needs. They are stressed about potential disruptions to the classroom curriculum and other students. When asked t...

I've just finished the edits on a book I've been writing for the past 2 years! Throughout the research and writing, one of the aspects of inclusion that has struck a chord (and I always knew, but took for granted) is that for successful inclusion to occur it must happen at every level of the education system.  I've always said that inclusion doesn't happen in isolation . Truly inclusive environments don't take place in just one classroom. Inclusion must exist at all levels of education - from daily lessons to community support. You simply can't have one without the other. Much like a Russian stacking doll, inclusion is embedded deep within the system. Inclusion must occur in: 1. The Community - Community attitudes and values shape the expectations of local schools. For inclusive schools to successfully operate, communities must demonstrate acceptance and support of all students in their local schools regardless of cultural, physical, or personal be...

Have you made any New Year's Resolutions for 2017? I have and one of them is to continue to share great content, ideas and tips for making your classrooms more inclusive! Plus, I hope to have my book published this year -- but more on that later :) So, to kick off my resolutions (one of them, at least), I have compiled my top 5 posts about inclusive education. Hope they help you continue to develop and deliver outstanding inclusive programs for your students in 2017!! 1. Is it Inclusion? A post (with a handy checklist) to help you determine if you are really providing an inclusive education. 2. 10 Easy Changes Teachers Can Make to Facilitate Inclusion Use the list in this post to make quick and easy changes to your program that will make it more inclusive. 3. 10 Ways to Teach Social Skills in Your Classroom From recess to class meetings to pen pals, learn how to faciliate inclusive behavior between your students. 4. ...