Strategies in Professional Development for Inclusive Education

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Inclusive education refers to integrating children with disabilities into a standard classroom setting with their peers. This model allows children with disabilities to be in the same setting with other children in their age group. Since children with disabilities often have different educational goals, teachers may find it difficult to organize their classrooms to give each child the opportunity to reach her full potential. Professional development that provides teaching strategies can alleviate many of the concerns of teachers new to inclusion. Explaining the benefits of inclusion also can motivate teachers to put in the extra effort.
  • Understanding Inclusion
Provide teachers with a thorough understanding of the inclusion model. In an integrated classroom, children with special needs might not be working on the same materials or at the same pace as the other students, but they are given access to the standard curriculum and are full members of the class. Students with disabilities often have Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) that define their learning goals. For example, most students may be coloring a picture and writing a sentence under it, while a child with a disability might simply be coloring in a shape or writing his name. The classroom lesson is the same, but the goals and requirements for students may be very different. The makeup of an inclusion classroom varies and can involve one teacher and teaching assistants or two teachers co-teaching a class.
  • Promoting Inclusion
Teach teachers that everyone involved in inclusive education benefits. Students with disabilities have the chance to be around kids their own age instead of in a separate setting. This gives them the same opportunity to develop relationships as their peers. All children learn at a different pace. By creating learning opportunities for the child with disabilities, it becomes easier for a teacher to create lessons at different levels for all of the children within the classroom. Another benefit is that children in a classroom who are not identified as having "special needs" learn that everyone is different, and that it is okay to be different. They learn that while people are different, they also have a lot in common. Children also learn tolerance, as they form bonds with other kids they might not otherwise have been exposed to if they were not in an inclusion classroom.
  • Tips
Teachers can do many things to ensure that inclusion is a positive experience. Being aware of resources, such as whom they can turn to for advice or support, is a good start. In a co-teaching model, each teacher should be given specific responsibilities and know what role she will be playing each day. If possible, support staff should be rotated so they are sometimes working with the child with disabilities but still allowing the teacher to work with the child as well. All adults should model the behavior they want from all of their students. Treat all the children fairly and respectfully. Be familiar with each student's IEP so that you can instruct them within the context of the overall plan for the larger group.

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