Conversations about Inclusion

Robert Abel, School Psychologist

Marguerite Brown, Special EducationTeacher

Joan Kern, Compliance Facilitator

Mesa Public SchoolsJuly, 2010

MESA

P U B L I C

S C H O O L S

Objectives

• Deliver information on history and rationale of inclusive education

• Supply real world methods and techniques for the practice of inclusion

• Provide venue for discussion and problem solving re: inclusion in MPS

“Let me get this straight: I’m behind … and I’m going to catch up by going slower

?"

Legal basis for inclusion…

1964 -- Civil Rights Act

1968 -- Architectural Barriers Act

1973 -- Rehabilitation Act (Section 504)

1975 -- Education for All Handicapped Children Act (PL 94-142)

1988 – Civil Rights Restoration Act.

1990 -- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

1990 -- Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

1994 -- Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act

1997 -- Amendments to IDEA

2004 -- Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004

Inclusion =

accommodation social equality diversification expectations opportunity adaptationintegration

access

Inclusion =

specializationsegregation separatismexemptionexclusion isolation

Special Education is a

not a

Place

set of services

We may have all come on different ships, but we're in the same boat now.

~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

How can diverse learners possibly be educated effectively in one classroom?

1. Authority 2. Motivation3. Ability

Authority and Motivation…

Authority and motivation…

Authority and motivation…

?

Never underestimate that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world; indeed it's the only thing that ever has.

~Margaret Mead

Collaborative partnership

A partnership between two or more people that gives structure and organization for planning, thinking, and working together to accomplish a common goal

Role of school principal in school-wide inclusion implementation…

• Vision and agenda

• Structure and organization

• Staff training

• Allocation of resources

• Ongoing support

Role of special education teacher in school-wide inclusion implementation

An Expert In…..

Learning Styles

Behavior Modifications

Learning Strategies

Diagnostic/Prescriptive Teaching

Accommodation/modification

Home/school communication and the IEP process

Activities of special education teacher in school-wide inclusion implementation

An Expert In…..

Interpreting HighlightingSummarizing

IdentifyingSimplifying EmphasizingCondensing EnlargingParaphrasing Clarifying

Role of general education teacher in school-wide inclusion implementation…

An Expert In…

Content AreasScope & Sequence of CurriculumKnowledge of Curriculum StandardsManagement Strategies of Large GroupsAcademic & Social DevelopmentPacing, delivery, inspiration and motivationOrganization of massive amounts of

materials

4 Approaches to Team Teaching*

• Supportive Teaching

• Parallel Teaching

• Complementary Teaching

• Team Teaching

* From Deer Valley School District materials

Supportive Teaching

One teacher takes the lead instructional role

2nd teacher rotates among the students

providing support to all students

Parallel Teaching

2 or more teachers work with different groups of students in different section of the classroom

Co-teachers may rotate groups

Co-teachers teach area of strength

(If new to team teaching – this is the mostcomfortable place to start)

Complementary Teaching

All teachers are lead teachers, contributing to the lessonor lecture

1 teacher may paraphrase what other teacher is saying or ask clarifying or summarizing questions

Each teacher focuses on his/her area of expertise

1 teacher may pre-teach a skill to a small group

(As comfort levels increase, the complementary and team teaching models are more effective)

True Team Teaching

2 or more teachers do what one traditional teacher has always done

All Plan the lesson

All Teach the lesson

All Assess student progress

All Assume responsibility for ALL students

(This is the ideal model for co-teaching and sustained inclusive education)

For example…

1st co-teacher is… 2nd co-teacher is…

Lecturing Modeling Note taking on board

Passing out papers Reviewing directions

Taking roll Collecting/reviewing homework

Checking understanding

with whole group

Checking understanding

with subgroup(s)

Concluding a lecture Asking clarifying or summarizing questions

Many hands make light work…

Modify tests/quizzesCreate alternative projectsGenerate curriculum modificationsCommunicate w/ related servicesFacilitate peer support & friendshipsRecruit and train peer tutorsTrain and assign IA’sSchedule/Facilitate team meetingsAssign gradesCreate advanced organizersDevelop units, projects, lessonsConduct IEP related meetingsother – specifyother - specifyother - specify

Ms. A Mr. B Ms. C

The special education teacher as an Inclusion Facilitator….

Modified gradingA fair grading system…

-provides an opportunity for high grades to be earned

- provides meaningful grades that reflect a student's experience in the classroom

- includes flexibility as needed to meet individual needs of students

Quantity Time Level of support

Input Participation Output

Difficulty Alternate GoalsAlternativeCurriculum

The Nine Grid (Problem solving process)

Language makes a difference…

“The difference between the right word and the almost-right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug”

~ Mark Twain

IEP issues:Accommodations/modifications:• Adjust evaluation criteria for

assignments• Adjust evaluation criteria for grades on

report card• Adjust quantity and/or difficulty of

homework assignments• Allow extra time for deadlines• Allow extra credit and/or alternative

projects for credit• Allow re-taking of tests• Use visual aids (pictures,

transparencies, charts, maps)• Provide frequent feedback• Emphasize major points/main ideas• Allow others to take notes when

extensive notes are required (NCR paper).

• Extra set of books for home

IEP issues:G. STATEMENT OF SPECIAL

EDUCATION/RELATED SERVICES

Reading Comprehension• General Education 2.00 hours

per week• Special Education .5 hours per

week

Math Calculation and Math Problem Solving

• General Education 2.00 hours per week

• Special Education .5 hours per week

LRE

Inside Regular Class 80% or more of the day

Inclusion Myths

• Inclusion (or resource or self-contained) is the best model of service delivery for all students

• Inclusion requires fewer special education teachers/instructional aides

• Students always increase academic skills when taught in inclusion classrooms

• Successful inclusion takes little time and effort from school staff and can be implemented quickly and with few mistakes on the first trial.

Comfort Zone

GrowthZone

Panic Zone

What barriers to inclusion do you see in your school?

Where to start?

“In the end, we considered inclusion successful if the student no longer stood out because of his disability.”

- Mrs. HughesTeacher

Concluding activity…

Websources1…

• http://www.inclusiveschools.org/• http://www.kidstogether.org/• http://www.uni.edu/coe/inclusion/• http://www.ucp.org/uploads/Inclusive

%20Education.pdf• http://www.peakparent.org/

conferences.asp• …and many, many more to Google.

Websources2…Resources from Deer Valley District:

• https://www.dvusd.org/docs/StuSupportSvcs/Shared_Teaching.pdf

• https://www.dvusd.org/docs/StuSupportSvcs/Inclusive_Education.pdf

• https://www.dvusd.org/assets/pdfs/department_education/Disability_Awareness.pdf

Books…

• The Inclusion Facilitator’s Guide by Cheryl Jorgenson, Mary C. Schuh, and Jan Nisbet

• A Guide to Co-Teaching by Richard Villa, Jacqueline Thousand, and Ann Nevin

• Collaborative Teaching in the Secondary Schools by Wendy Murawski

• Inclusion Strategies That Work! Research-Based Methods for the Classroom,Second Edition by Toby J Karten

• Collaborative Teaching in the Elementary Schools by Wendy Murawski

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on your way out.

Happy trails