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Initial Discussion Sentence Stems for Co-Teachers

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5 Things Parents Need to Know About Inclusion

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5 Things Parents Need to Know About Inclusion

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Parents of school-age children can often become bewildered by today's education system and it's expectations. Its quickly evolving nature makes it hard to keep up with the latest teaching methods, the many types of tests our children are receiving, and the technology they are using in the classroom.
Parents of school age children with special needs however, have even more information to sift through - they need to also understand Individual Education Plans, special education acronyms, and different types of services that are available in special education. In short, the education system can completely overwhelm even the most knowledgeable people!

Inclusive education is one such term that is often used in special education as it is considered by special education experts to be the ideal situation for educating children with special needs. Sadly, however, the concept of inclusive education is often misunderstood. If you are a parent of a special needs child who is in an inclusive classroom or being considered for inclusive placement, this article will give you a brief overview of inclusive education and 5 things you need to know.

ALWAYS TOGETHER - A truly inclusive environment is one in which a special needs child is a fully active member of a general education classroom - not just for PE, Art or Music - but for all subjects. An inclusive school provides equal access to school routines and programs. Lunch and recess are together, students participate in assemblies and extracurricular activities are timed to include as many children and families as possible. Inclusion is a way of interacting with one another, not a place to go to for an hour every day.

ALWAYS PARTICIPATING - Inclusion promotes social interactions between students, teachers, parents and school. Relationships develop and are strengthened in an inclusive environment.

ALWAYS SUPPORTED - Support services for children with special needs are brought

to the child in the classroom through paraprofessionals and resource staff. Parents are also included in this process! Inclusive classroom teachers have a significant understanding of the various needs that students have and use resources, support staff and assistive technology to meet those needs.

ALWAYS LEARNING - Inclusion provides opportunity and equal access to schooling regardless of child's ability level. Inclusive practice benefits ALL learners in the classroom. It involves accommodating and modifying the curriculum to reach all learners. Students become more engaged, feel more successful and develop confidence in their ability to learn. Inclusion promotes a greater understanding of diversity and the world in which we live.

ALWAYS WELCOME - children with special needs are welcomed in the inclusive school, regardless of ability, age and needs!

Inclusive classrooms are places where all students can learn and thrive. The decision to place a special needs child in an inclusive class is best made between parents, teachers and the school. Parents can support this process by educating themselves on the social, emotional and intellectual benefits of inclusive education. However, parents should stay involved with their child's education throughout the school year (through communication with teacher, volunteer work, and/or attendance at school events) to help ensure that their child is continuing to receive the best education possible.

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5 Things Parents Need to Know About Inclusive Education

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An education blog with strategies, tips and information for teachers about teaching students with disabilities in the inclusive classroom.

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As Pinterest becomes a popular way for teachers to share and find resources for their classroom, I would like to give you a list of my favorite Inclusion boards!

The number of boards dedicated to inclusive education is growing daily and I'm sure I have missed out on some very noteworthy mentions. For that reason, please let me know in the comment section below, of any pinners or boards that you find very helpful. However, for the time being you can't go wrong following these Pinterest boards, where you will find so many ways to enrich and enhance your inclusive classroom!

1. 2. - Lisa's Inclusion board is a collaborative board where several inclusion advocates (including 3. 5. 6.
Brenda Schottmuller - The mother of all inclusion boards, Brenda's Pinterest board has over 3500 pins related to inclusion! You'll be sure to find lots of tips, advice and
information for all age levels here. Give yourself a lot of time to look through it!
Lisa Friedman
The Inclusive Class) pin their favorites in one place. You will see a variety of pins here, including blog posts and articles that make you think about inclusive practice. - This board is focused on inclusion in the early years. Melina pins ideas for hands-on activities, books and classroom management. Melina Nafarrate
4. - Ariel's board has over 700 pins with a combination of inclusive activities, information about special needs, practical ideas and quotes. Although many of the pins are geared towards the elementary years, some can be adapted for middle and high school.
Ariel Glassman - Brookes is a leading publisher of books about inclusive education. Therefore, most of the pins on this board are books about inclusion that Brookes has published. It's a great board to help you keep up with hot topics in inclusive education and recent research.
- On Kerri's Inclusion board, you will find some very user-friendly charts, checklists and graphics that can be used in the inclusive classroom. Data sheets and IEP worksheets are also pinned to supplement the necessary Brookes Publishing
Kerri Haycook

documents that an inclusion teacher needs.

7. Whitney Fazier - Numerous charts and visuals that can used in the inclusive classroom are the highlight of this inclusion board. There are ideas and suggestions that can be used in both elementary and middle school classrooms. Since many learners need visual supports, this board will be useful for any teacher.

8. 9. Glitter Apples - As the title of this board indicates (Special Needs and Inclusion), it has pins about special needs as well as inclusion. Close to 500 pins describe various learning disabilities, physical, developmental and neurological issues. This is a fantastic resource for any inclusion teacher to refer to when planning for lessons and support in the classroom.
Lindsey Ding - Lindsey's board is dedicated to the Common Core and how it relates to inclusion. It is a resource

that elementary teachers will find very helpful when planning inclusive lessons that meet Common Core expectations. Hand-outs, lesson plans, and activities line this board.

10. Don't forget to follow The Inclusive Class on Kathleen McKlaskey - Kathleen is known for her resources and knowledge of technology to support learning and "level the playing field". On this board, she has numerous pins with suggestions for apps that can be used for special learners. Save yourself some time and refer to Kathleen's board when looking for educational apps in your classroom!
Do you have any boards to add to this list? Leave a comment below!

Facebook/ Twitter/ Pinterest for more resources about inclusive education!

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10 of the Best Pinterest Boards About Inclusion

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An education blog with strategies, tips and information for teachers about teaching students with disabilities in the inclusive classroom.

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The Most Powerful Inclusion Begins with Belief Systems

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The Most Powerful Inclusion Begins with Belief Systems

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The Most Powerful Inclusion Begins with Belief Systems

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Supports, Modifications, and Accommodations for Students — National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities

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Supports, Modifications, and Accommodations for Students — National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities

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Supports, Modifications, and Accommodations for Students

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Differentiating content, process, product, learning environment 

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Differentiating content, process, product, learning environment 