Special Needs
Creating an inclusive environment where each student feels safe and supported in an engaging and appropriately challenging environment is rarely an easy feat, yet essential to educating the whole child. Regardless of strengths and challenges, each student needs and is deserving of full membership within the classroom and school community. While each student benefits from this inclusive environment, it is critically important and often challenging to ensure for students with special needs.
From the Whole Child Blog
The Path to Inclusion
In any group of young people, you will find a range of physical, cognitive, social, and emotional skills and abilities. No two students have the same strengths and challenges. Classrooms in an inclusive school may have students with a wider range of skills and abilities than in traditional classrooms, but staff and students respect, support, and build on those diverse needs and strengths.
This benefits not just students with special needs; inclusive learning environments prepare all students for citizenship, employment, and further study where they will need the skills and understanding to interact and collaborate with diverse individuals and groups. By preventing young people from experiencing and participating in an inclusive environment, we fail to prepare them for the reality they will face outside of formal schooling.
Whole Child Examples
High School Example
Staff Commitment Turns School Environment Into a Place of Learning
Changing the culture of a large, diverse high school from a place of teaching to a place of learning requires determination and the commitment of the entire school staff.
All Special Needs Examples
High School Example
Individualized Education Helps Support School’s Diverse Student Population
Elementary Example
Elementary Example
A Common Message and Sense of Belonging
High School Example
Building a Positive School Culture for Diverse Students
High School Example
Related Posts
Pet Pals: Teaching Resilience With Man’s Best Friend
September Strategies to Foster a Successful Classroom Community
Podcast
Inclusive Learning: Meeting Each Student's Special Needs
In this episode of the Whole Child Podcast, we focus on creating inclusive learning environments that develop students at all levels.
