INCLUDE Strategy A plan for accommodating students with Special Needs and Culturally Diverse Backgrounds in the general education classroom

INCLUDE Strategy Based on two assumptions: First, student performance is the result of interactions between students and the instructional environment

INCLUDE Strategy Second, by analyzing students needs and demands of the classroom environment, teachers can make appropriate accommodations for students with special needs and culturally diverse backgrounds

INCLUDE Strategy Identify Note Check Look Use Decide Evaluate Identify environmental, curricular, and instructional classroom demands Note students learning strengths and needs Check for potential areas of student success Look for potential problem areas Use information gathered to brainstorm instructional adaptations Decide which accommodations to implement Evaluate student progress

INCLUDE Strategy Step 1 Classroom Organization Identify environmental, curricular, and instructional classroom demands. Classroom Organization Is your classroom organized and neat? Do you have a system for gathering materials, working in groups?

Instructional Methods INCLUDE Strategy Step 1 Identify environmental, curricular, and instructional classroom demands. Instructional Methods Do you have a variety of ways to a teach lesson? How might the instructional approach a teacher uses affect positively or negatively a student from a diverse background?

Academic Skills & Social-Emotional INCLUDE Strategy Step 2 Note student learning strength and weaknesses Academic Skills & Social-Emotional Do you have a copy of the Individualized Education Plan (IEP)? Do you know how to modify the students curriculum and grades? How can you identify a student’s academic strengths if the student’s first language is not English? Classroom conduct Interpersonal skills Personal/Psychological adjustment What are your expectations from students with special needs and diverse backgrounds? How do you evaluate them?

INCLUDE Strategy Step 3 Check Academic & Social-Emotional for Potential Areas of Student Success in both Academic & Social-Emotional Check the strengths identified on the IEP Look for strengths that are outside academics How can you ensure that students have opportunities to demonstrate their abilities?

INCLUDE Strategy Step 4 Look for potential problem areas Student Challenges Including areas of the student’s life outside of school Student learning needs are reviewed Identify potential mismatches If there are mismatches between classroom demands and student skills, how should these mismatches be prioritized?

INCLUDE Strategy Step 5 Use information to Brainstorm Adaptations Bypass Strategies Examples: Spell check ~ Calculator ~ Translation device Which school staff members might be of most assistance in generating adaptations designed to accommodate the learning needs of students? What are some bypass strategies that might help a student who is not proficient in English?

INCLUDE Strategy Step 5 Use information to Brainstorm Adaptations Intensive instruction on basic skills and learning strategies Who is responsible for providing intensive instruction in basic skills to students from special needs and diverse groups who need such assistance?

INCLUDE Strategy Step 6 Decide which accommodations to Implement Select strategies that are age- appropriate, easily implemented, with demonstrated effectiveness How can you balance a high expectation for students with a realistic understanding of their need for instructions adaptations? Develop accommodations that work for your particular curriculum.

INCLUDE Strategy Step 7 Evaluate Student Progress Strategy effectiveness tracked through grades; observations; analysis of student work; portfolios; assessments What are appropriate standards against which to measure student progress? What alternative approaches to traditional paper-and-pencil evaluation procedures might provide a more accurate measure of a student’s learning?

Check Your Understanding —Working with a partner reread the Case Study read to you at the beginning of the period and discuss it with your partner. Decide on plan of how you and your partner would follow the INCLUDE Strategy 7 steps —For each step describe a plan of action. You have the rest of the period to complete the assignment. If you need more time, finish tonight for homework.