The main way that I worked towards creating an inclusive lesson was through the classroom dynamics, technology, and pacing of the class.

  • Classroom dynamics
    • I highlight the importance that learning takes patience and time and that each person has their own strengths. This emphasizes that each person is going to have their own entry point into the learning and their own path through the learning. Some may be shorter or longer than others, and some may require more support to make it to the destination.
  • Adaptations
    • I think that including adaptations can be done seamlessly in a classroom, and benefit more than just the students with an IEP.
    • In this case, the adaptations that I use was the implementation of graphic organizers, short summary of specific topics or learning goals, and frequent reviews.
    • So, assigned work was presented in a list of must be completed, should be completed and extension questions. This way, there was no obvious exception and gave students the choice in what they wanted to accomplish.
    • Students with dyslexia were also given a filled in version of the note packages, and extra time on assignments and tests.
  • Technology
    • There were a variety of technological resources that would have been used in an ideal world. But these really depend on what is available in the school.
      • Speech to text / scribe for assignments, spell check, and reading uploaded into Kurzweil.

Overall, I think that being an inclusive teacher requires more attention, dedication, and just more effort into our teaching practice to create learning experiences and supports that allows all students to enter the same learning. In addition, I think that this work is essential to giving each student the opportunity to feel important enough to deserve that effort.