EDUC 626: Inclusive Classroom Strategies
In this course, students will investigate instructional practices that can be used in general education classrooms to improve the learning and academic performance of students with mild learning problems and disabilities. We will focus on instruction in the content-are subjects of science, social studies, and mathematics, as literacy instruction is covered in a separate course. Students will learn about educating students in the least restrictive environment (LRE) and by utilizing the continuum of alternative placements (CAP); in addition, students will learn to utilize differentiated instruction (DI) as a means to meet the needs of a range of individuals within a classroom by making the learning appropriate for all.
2 Credits
Instructor: Perrodin
Spring 2013
2 Credits
Instructor: Perrodin
Spring 2013
swot_analysis.docx | |
File Size: | 25 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Artifact Description
The artifact I chose for EDUC 626 Inclusive Classroom Strategies is a SWOT Analysis of the education of the staff at my school on disabilities and needs of students. A SWOT Analysis is a planned method to evaluate the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats involved in an organization. The assignment was to create a SWOT Analysis focusing on the inclusive practices at our school. The school I work at is 100% special education, so I focused the analysis on the education of staff of the various types of disabilities represented at my school so all students can be fully involved and supported as necessary.
Professional Growth
Before this course and assignment, I hadn't taken responsibility or invested in the staff training at my school. I focused on how I can personally help my students be included, rather than how all the staff can be educated so they can feel comfortable and have the skills necessary to make sure all students are included. I had not used the SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) methods of reflecting.
During this assignment, I analyzed the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the training and education of the staff in regards to the different types of disabilities of students served at Chileda. I did this to ensure that students have the best opportunity to be included in all activities at Chileda.
After this course, I offered suggestions about the education of staff to the director of training. I was able to show this SWOT analysis to the administration to explain some of my ideas. I also now use the SWOT analysis method for other areas within my classroom. For example, I recently used it to reflect on a new reading program I started with one of my students. I could map out a clear picture of how well the reading program was working.
Understanding and Application of Standards
CEC Standard 2 Learning Environment: Beginning special education professionals create safe, inclusive, culturally responsive learning environments so that individuals with exceptionalities become active and effective learners and develop emotional well-being, positive social interactions, and self-determination.
Standard 2, Learning Environment, was addressed in this course through the discussion and teaching of ways to accommodate and modify the general education classroom and learning environment to include students with disabilities. We learned how to make the classroom a safe and inclusive environment for students of all abilities, cultures, and learning styles. I applied what I learned about this standard when writing my SWOT analysis in order to create a more inclusive environment at my school.
CEC Standard 7 Collaboration: Beginning special education professionals collaborate with families, other educators, related service providers, individuals with exceptionalities, and personnel from community agencies in culturally responsive ways to address the needs of individuals with exceptionalities across a range of learning experiences.
Standard 7, Collaboration, was applied in this course through learning how to collaborate with general education classroom teachers to make inclusion classrooms more successful for students with disabilities. I learned strategies to improve communication with other teachers and support special education students within a general education setting. Although I don't work at a school where inclusion is used, I am able to use what I learned in this course and apply this standard by collaborating with administration and other teachers to ensure that all students are included in programming - no matter what type of disability they have.
Impact on Student Learning
Since this course and assignment, all students have been more involved at my school. The staff have been better trained and equipped to work with all of the disabilities represented at my school. Because of this, the students are now given the supports they need to participate in activities. For example, one of my student has a very difficult time with transitions. He did not participate in many leisure or group activities because the staff did not know how to support him in those transitions. Now, the staff have strategies they can use to help him get from one place to another successfully so he can participate with the other students. My students have also been more successful within the classroom since this course because I am using the SWOT analysis method within my teaching. By using the SWOT method to analyze the curriculum and methods used in my classroom, my students are now learning with materials that are appropriate for them. This has guided them in making steady progress toward their IEP goals.
The artifact I chose for EDUC 626 Inclusive Classroom Strategies is a SWOT Analysis of the education of the staff at my school on disabilities and needs of students. A SWOT Analysis is a planned method to evaluate the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats involved in an organization. The assignment was to create a SWOT Analysis focusing on the inclusive practices at our school. The school I work at is 100% special education, so I focused the analysis on the education of staff of the various types of disabilities represented at my school so all students can be fully involved and supported as necessary.
Professional Growth
Before this course and assignment, I hadn't taken responsibility or invested in the staff training at my school. I focused on how I can personally help my students be included, rather than how all the staff can be educated so they can feel comfortable and have the skills necessary to make sure all students are included. I had not used the SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) methods of reflecting.
During this assignment, I analyzed the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the training and education of the staff in regards to the different types of disabilities of students served at Chileda. I did this to ensure that students have the best opportunity to be included in all activities at Chileda.
After this course, I offered suggestions about the education of staff to the director of training. I was able to show this SWOT analysis to the administration to explain some of my ideas. I also now use the SWOT analysis method for other areas within my classroom. For example, I recently used it to reflect on a new reading program I started with one of my students. I could map out a clear picture of how well the reading program was working.
Understanding and Application of Standards
CEC Standard 2 Learning Environment: Beginning special education professionals create safe, inclusive, culturally responsive learning environments so that individuals with exceptionalities become active and effective learners and develop emotional well-being, positive social interactions, and self-determination.
Standard 2, Learning Environment, was addressed in this course through the discussion and teaching of ways to accommodate and modify the general education classroom and learning environment to include students with disabilities. We learned how to make the classroom a safe and inclusive environment for students of all abilities, cultures, and learning styles. I applied what I learned about this standard when writing my SWOT analysis in order to create a more inclusive environment at my school.
CEC Standard 7 Collaboration: Beginning special education professionals collaborate with families, other educators, related service providers, individuals with exceptionalities, and personnel from community agencies in culturally responsive ways to address the needs of individuals with exceptionalities across a range of learning experiences.
Standard 7, Collaboration, was applied in this course through learning how to collaborate with general education classroom teachers to make inclusion classrooms more successful for students with disabilities. I learned strategies to improve communication with other teachers and support special education students within a general education setting. Although I don't work at a school where inclusion is used, I am able to use what I learned in this course and apply this standard by collaborating with administration and other teachers to ensure that all students are included in programming - no matter what type of disability they have.
Impact on Student Learning
Since this course and assignment, all students have been more involved at my school. The staff have been better trained and equipped to work with all of the disabilities represented at my school. Because of this, the students are now given the supports they need to participate in activities. For example, one of my student has a very difficult time with transitions. He did not participate in many leisure or group activities because the staff did not know how to support him in those transitions. Now, the staff have strategies they can use to help him get from one place to another successfully so he can participate with the other students. My students have also been more successful within the classroom since this course because I am using the SWOT analysis method within my teaching. By using the SWOT method to analyze the curriculum and methods used in my classroom, my students are now learning with materials that are appropriate for them. This has guided them in making steady progress toward their IEP goals.