What does inclusion mean to you?What does inclusion mean to you?

Why do we include?Why do we include?

Why do we include?Why do we include?

...all students in a school, regardless of their strengths ...all students in a school, regardless of their strengths and weaknesses become part of the class community. and weaknesses become part of the class community.

……all students feel a sense of belonging in the all students feel a sense of belonging in the classroom. classroom.

……the goal of the inclusive classroom is to have all the goal of the inclusive classroom is to have all students working with similar curriculum content and students working with similar curriculum content and similar materials.similar materials.

What is Inclusion?What is Inclusion?

Inclusion is the practice of:Inclusion is the practice of:welcoming all students to their neighborhood school. welcoming all students to their neighborhood school. educating all children in age-appropriate, heterogeneous educating all children in age-appropriate, heterogeneous

classrooms.classrooms. including parents when planning for students.including parents when planning for students.working together as a staff to better meet the learning needs of working together as a staff to better meet the learning needs of

each and every student. each and every student. designing programs for children with special needs that rely, as designing programs for children with special needs that rely, as

much as possible, on the learning objectives and practices of the much as possible, on the learning objectives and practices of the regular classroom. regular classroom.

(-page 6 Learning in Safe Schools)(-page 6 Learning in Safe Schools)

Why value it in school?Why value it in school?

Forms a community that works, learns and Forms a community that works, learns and feels together.feels together.

Students learn both social and academic Students learn both social and academic modeling from age peers.modeling from age peers.

Education is more than an academic process. Education is more than an academic process.

Non-identified students learn about Non-identified students learn about acceptance and differences.acceptance and differences.

All members are respected and valued.All members are respected and valued.(-page 6 Learning in Safe Schools)(-page 6 Learning in Safe Schools)

What are the beliefs?What are the beliefs?

All children can learn, albeit in different ways and at different rates. All children can learn, albeit in different ways and at different rates. All children have strengths. All children have strengths. Learning is a developmental, active, continuos, constructive process building on the prior Learning is a developmental, active, continuos, constructive process building on the prior

experiences of the learner. experiences of the learner. All children can be included. All children can be included. Parents are part of our educational team. Parents are part of our educational team. School should be a place where all students and staff enjoy a sense of belonging. All need School should be a place where all students and staff enjoy a sense of belonging. All need

to feel valued.to feel valued. Teachers, students, administrators, and paraprofessionals will grow personally by working Teachers, students, administrators, and paraprofessionals will grow personally by working

together to meet diverse needs. together to meet diverse needs. Successful inclusion practices are possible. Successful inclusion practices are possible. The more we know about inclusion the less fearful it is.The more we know about inclusion the less fearful it is. Children are the province of the whole school, not one teacher.Children are the province of the whole school, not one teacher.

-page 7 Learning in Safe Schools-page 7 Learning in Safe Schools

What does inclusion in the What does inclusion in the classroom look like? classroom look like?

“ “It is always exciting to walk into a classroom and have to search It is always exciting to walk into a classroom and have to search to find the child who is working on an adapted program because to find the child who is working on an adapted program because that student is using the same materials as the rest of the that student is using the same materials as the rest of the students.”students.”

(-pg. 81 Learning in Safe Schools)(-pg. 81 Learning in Safe Schools)