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An inclusive classroom climate refers to an environment where all students feel supported intellectually and academically, and are extended a sense of belonging in the classroom regardless of identity, learning preferences, or education.
An inclusive learning environment is less focused on the teacher and formal instruction and more focused on the learning that is taking place. It is student-centered. This is important because research has shown that children do not all learn the same way.
A more inclusive learning approach involves focusing on learning needs rather than ‘special needs’. All learners are special. Specific support and interventions for particular needs can be both supportive for individuals with these needs and for all learners at the same time. Let’s celebrate diversity!
Inclusive teaching strategies refer to any number of teaching approaches that address the needs of students with a variety of backgrounds, learning modalities, and abilities. These strategies contribute to an overall inclusive learning environment in which students feel equally valued.
An inclusive classroom is a general education classroom in which students with and without disabilities learn together. It is essentially the opposite of a special education classroom, where students with disabilities learn with only other students with disabilities.
Creating an inclusive learning environment is an extremely important aspect of modern education, which, according to Gravells (2008: p18), ensures that “[…] all learners are entitled to be treated with respect and dignity. … When setting up an inclusive learning environment we need to focus on individual differences.
1) Rigorous Learning; 2) Problem-Based Learning; 3) Personalization of Learning; 4) Career, Technology, and Life Skills; 5) School Community and Belonging; and 6) External Community. The remaining two are supporting and contributing Elements: 7) Staff Foundations and 8) Essential Factors.
A culturally inclusive environment requires mutual respect, effective relationships, clear communication, explicit understandings about expectations and critical self-reflection. In an inclusive environment, people of all cultural orientations can: freely express who they are, their own opinions and points of view.
“Inclusive learning and teaching recognises all student’s entitlement to a learning experience that respects diversity, enables participation, removes barriers and anticipates and considers a variety of learning needs and preferences.”
Creating an inclusive environment will not only help those students with learning differences – it will also support those students that don’t have a learning difference by making them more aware, tolerant and understanding of each other.
The teacher’s role is not only to teach the subject but also to provide other training such as mobility training, self-care training, preparation of teaching material according to the needs of the disabled children, training in use and maintence of aids and so on.
The five major approaches are Constructivist, Collaborative, Integrative, Reflective and Inquiry Based Learning ( 2C-2I-1R ).
The Principles of Inclusion promote equity, access, opportunity and the rights of children and students with disability in education and care and contribute to reducing discrimination against them2.
Inclusive Practices for K-12 Students
Best practice in inclusive education requires access to and implementation of three major components: academic inclusion, social inclusion, physical inclusion.
An inclusive preschool system integrates special education and related services into all aspects of its program. … Teachers in an inclusive preschool should be both general education teachers and special education teachers working together with any paraprofessionals to support the unique learning needs of all students.