Teachers are working on creating more inclusive spaces for disabled students. According to the US National Center for Education Statistics, this is important since students with disabilities spend 80% of their day in general education classrooms. So unless schools actively help these students with their education, they get left out.
Inclusive environments help these students flourish in school. They’re able to comprehend better, listen, learn and follow their peers according to skills level. So how do teachers make this happen? Special education teachers play a unique role in helping students do better, and here’s how:
Table of Contents
1. The Push For Inclusive Curriculums
Curriculums help schools get a structure on which they stand. It provides guidelines on how teachers should conduct a class and make sure students follow closely. Special education teachers can push for an inclusive curriculum. These include measures that can make learning easier for disabled students.
Students can have a sensory overload, inability to follow audio lectures, and need visual demonstrations. Teachers curb all these needs by making updated and comprehensive curriculums.
2. Get The Right Credentials
Teachers who work with special needs students need accredited credentials. They cannot teach these children unless they learn the ropes and earn a degree. So after having a license in teaching, these educators can go for a special education master’s program to get the skills and knowledge required to work in a classroom.
Online platforms are flexible, and teachers can learn about special education self-paced and reassuringly. They also get significant time at home to study research that helps bridge the gap between them and their students.
3. They’re Aware Of Their Needs
Teachers who work with disabled students pay extra attention to them. They’re looking at signs and cues which inform them if a student is struggling. Some students have a unique way of communicating; they can rely more on body language than verbal communication. When teachers pick up that the student is having trouble concentrating, they can shift the gears of the lecture.
These teachers are working hard to ensure students are comfortable. They can bring a momentary pause and help the student calm down. If the student needs to leave the class, under the guided supervision of another trained teacher, the student can go. There is no point in completing lectures if the student cannot follow or comprehend.
Teachers that are working in inclusive educational centres are more sensitive and conscious about the challenges special needs children face. They have to take special certifications and courses that help them understand ways to meet the requirements of such children. To understand what inclusive schools are all about, read more.
4. Teach Students Tolerance
Students may not know what their peers may be going through. If they’re very young, there is a high chance they don’t know about disabilities enough. Teachers must work hard to ensure an environment that promotes acceptance and tolerance. They may educate students on disabilities and their many forms.
They may encourage students to ask questions to clear their doubts. When a conversation gets started within classrooms, it gives students a space to learn. So, ultimately students realize the situation and may work hard to help their disabled peers feel more accepted. An atmosphere of tolerance and acceptance gets felt throughout.
5. Keep Activities That Encourage Growth
Schools need to do more than teach students in classrooms to help them. Students need a holistic environment that they can achieve through extracurricular. Some students need special attention when it comes to their outside classroom activities such as field trips and even arts and crafts, respond well to activities involving water. In contrast, others may need to hyper- fixate on one activity, such as watching others play.
Teachers consider all of their needs and create a list of activities these students can engage in. Each of these pays attention to a student’s requirements without pushing them to try something they don’t like. As a result, the students feel comfortable exploring their skills and exercising their minds without conforming to activities they don’t want.
6. More Inclusive Sports
Sports are a part of a healthy school environment. However, most sports activities are rigid and don’t allow some students to participate.
Examples include dodgeball, basketball, and football. Teachers who step in can push for more inclusive sports. They can suggest games that are easy to follow and don’t cause injuries with minimal rules. They can also recommend a game of basketball for disabled children with practices they can follow. So instead of these students watching from the sidelines, they’re active participants.
7. Advocate For Their Rights
Teachers can help in student advocacy. When these educators work closely with their students, they know what they need. They also know where schools fail to create a safe and inclusive environment, including a building adequately designed for their usage.
Some students have specific needs, and schools can match them if they pay attention. Teachers can push for their equality and fair treatment by informing schools where they lack. They may also notify schools if there needs to be more staff to help with these students’ education. In some cases, these professionals may involve parents to help them understand their child’s situation to accommodate them better.
Wrap Up
Every student has a right to education. But schools that don’t help or understand them deprive some students of opportunities. Teachers play a substantial role in bridging the gap and helping students achieve their goals. They do this by educating themselves, pushing for inclusive curriculums, and advocating for students’ rights. In addition, they help schools work on inclusive models that include sports and teaching so disabled students don’t get left out.
With these measures in place, schools can achieve an excellent educational model free from discrimination and helpful to students. For any progressive school, these factors matter. No school can achieve their goal unless they are inclusive.