Inclusion Is Worth The Effort
- lperry94
- Nov 12, 2020
- 3 min read
Updated: Nov 21, 2020
I love these images around equality verse equity. You can see how easy it is to just move a few blocks and everyone can enjoy the game, (enjoy the classroom environment). One has to think a little bit differently and be aware of others and their needs to make this change happen. In the image below it shows how you can add some other supports, such as assistive technologies to accommodate everyone in that environment.
As shared in previous blog posts around inclusion, fair/equity is not everybody getting the same thing but rather fair/equity is everybody getting what they need in order to be successful.
In the past, our school system was designed for the average person, the so-called majority. This old school system, we now know has failed many individuals’ academic needs, self-efficacy and self-esteem, over the decades, as the majority is not average. “The pillars of self-concept: self-esteem and self-efficacy” is a fantastic easy read, taking a brief look at the definition of self-concept. https://www.excelatlife.com/articles/selfesteem.htm
In the past, students with visible academic or physical challenges were treated differently and even had to go to different schools. The expectations for their level of contribution to society was lessened, which was a great dis-service to them and to everyone else!
NOW…presently, there is growing awareness of the value of ALL people, and that we all have differences in how we learn and experience life. There is a growing desire to better serve one another and empower everyone to contribute to society. We all have something valuable to contribute.
As you have seen in the previous post, around differentiated instruction (DI) and universal design (UD), there are many new ways of teaching and classroom management. Times are changing and will continue to change as we grow in awareness, understanding and acceptance around exceptionalities.
Shelley Moore, an outstanding teacher from British Columbia, has created an amazing resource blog and you tube channel for educators, and everyone, to keep our hopes up and the momentum towards change going. We absolutely love her energy and the metaphors she uses to educate us on inclusivity in the classroom. We have included a couple of her links here that are empowering and inspiring. They are no more than 5 minutes long as she recognizes the importance of time management. Please check the videos out to gain more understanding around the importance of working towards more inclusive classrooms.
Shelley Moore:
The Evolution of Inclusion: The past and future of education
Great overview of where we were with inclusion to where we want to go with inclusion and why we want to.
Infrastructure of inclusion: Compost Kate saves the earth!
Shelley shares how it was hard for her to start recycling but through structural supports, as well as other supports she was able to change her ways. She, of course, connects this to how to we need to provide structural supports within our school and curriculum to better practice inclusion.
The end of average? Disrupting the green of education.
Shelley emphasizes on how our average model for schooling is indeed out of date. Great building of an airplane metaphor implying how we need to teach to the range of abilities not the average.
Transforming Inclusive Education
Shelley goes bowling—great example of why we need to support our students in the classroom with universal design for learning through differentiated instruction, adaptations, accommodations and modifications.
United: Inclusion AS Unity
How we are now evolving from inclusion that is just addressing exceptionalities to the concept of Unity where all students needs are being appreciated and addressed. We become united.
There are so very many Awesome Videos from Shelley Moore. These are just a few.
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