[Inclusive Education in Canada] HOW WE DO SCHOOL B.C. Ep4: Teaming Up

Summary

The discussion focuses on the importance of inclusive education, highlighting how teachers collaborate with support staff to address the diverse needs of students. The key to success lies in co-teaching, co-planning, and defining roles to create a supportive learning environment. The integration of educational assistants (EAs), specialists, and district staff like psychologists and therapists plays a crucial role. The emphasis is on teamwork and shared responsibility, ensuring all students, including those with special needs, receive personalized and effective support in the classroom.

Takeaways

• 😀 Teachers learn strategies to manage students with diverse learning needs, often through support from educational assistants (EAs) and specialists.
• 🤝 Collaboration is crucial in inclusive education, involving not just teachers but specialists, support staff, and even other teachers to address the needs of all students.
• 📚 Inclusive education is not necessarily more work, but it involves different work that requires thoughtful planning and collaboration.
• 👩‍🏫 Teachers can co-teach, co-plan, and co-assess to better support students with special needs, ensuring diverse learning approaches in the classroom.
• 👥 The school featured has 533 students, with 60 identified as having special needs and supported by 18 educational assistants.
• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Educational assistants are assigned to classrooms to support not just individual students but the entire class, assisting with general needs as well as specific ones.
• 🧑‍🏫 Collaboration with district staff like psychologists, speech therapists, and occupational therapists is shifting towards a consultation model, allowing school staff to apply effective strategies independently.
• 🎯 Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) are designed collaboratively by teachers and parents, with educational assistants helping to implement and support these plans.
• 🔄 The approach promotes integration between general and special education, emphasizing shared responsibility rather than separating roles between mainstream and special needs educators.
• 💡 The success of inclusive education lies in ongoing communication and collaboration between staff, educators, and specialists to meet the diverse needs of all students.

Q & A

What challenges do teachers face in classrooms with diverse learning needs?

Teachers face challenges such as managing behaviors, addressing varied learning needs, and ensuring all students receive the necessary support to succeed. Having children with different learning requirements can be demanding, especially when some students might act out.

How do teachers cope with children who may have behavioral challenges in the classroom?

Teachers cope by learning strategies to manage behaviors, receiving training, and having support from educational assistants (EAs) and other specialized staff. Collaboration with these support personnel helps teachers meet the needs of all students.

Is inclusive education considered more work for teachers?

Some people misunderstand inclusive education, thinking it requires more work. However, the speaker believes it's not necessarily more work but different work. It involves designing lessons that cater to all students and requires collaboration with specialists and support staff.

Why is collaboration important in inclusive education?

Collaboration is crucial because no single teacher can design a curriculum that meets everyone's needs. Working with specialists, support teachers, and even other classroom teachers helps create more effective and inclusive programs.

What types of collaboration are offered in the school mentioned in the transcript?

The school offers several collaboration options, including co-teaching, co-planning, and co-assessing. These forms of collaboration help teachers define roles and responsibilities before entering the classroom, ensuring everyone knows how to provide support.

How is the school in the transcript structured in terms of support for students with special needs?

The school has 533 students, 60 of whom have Individual Education Plans (IEPs) for special needs. The staff includes 55 people, with 18 educational assistants (EAs). These EAs and support teachers collaborate to devise programs for students.

What role do educational assistants (EAs) play in the classroom?

EAs provide support to all students, not just one individual. They collaborate with classroom teachers to implement programs and assist students with tasks such as using hearing aids or managing materials for those with specific needs.

What outside support does the school receive to help students with special needs?

The school receives district-level support from psychologists, speech and language pathologists, occupational therapists, and physical therapists. These professionals provide consultation and strategies to help teachers and EAs support students.

How does the school manage students with different levels of special needs?

The EAs are typically assigned based on the needs of students. Those with more severe needs, such as Down syndrome, may have dedicated one-on-one support. Students with learning disabilities that allow for more independence are given less intensive assistance.

How has the approach to inclusion evolved in the school system discussed?

The approach has evolved towards more thoughtful planning, with attention given to curriculum development and educator preparation. Collaboration between general education and special education systems has become a key factor in the success of inclusive education.