3 Inclusive Classroom Ideas to Implement This Fall
It is safe to assume that no classroom is one-size-fits-all. Not all students will learn the same, and not all teachers will teach the same. Some students are advanced, and some are a little behind. In today’s blog, we are going to cover three ideas on how you can create an inclusive classroom this fall season. These ideas can be adapted according to your specific class, the abilities of your students, and your teaching style.
Idea 1 - Create a Flexible Learning Space
The first idea is to create a flexible learning space. You may find that your students are distracted by the things in their backpacks or on their desks. This, in turn, causes them to be less focused on you or your lesson. When you set up your classroom at the start of the school year (or change it part way through), keep these ideas in mind. Depending on the grade and the size of your classroom, you will need to adapt accordingly.
If your students tend to be distracted by the things they bring to school, try switching from desks to shared tables.
Create a designated space for backpacks in the back of the classroom. You can hang hooks on the wall or find a shelving unit with individual spaces.
Move the students to the floor during lessons so they can focus on you. Arrange desks or tables in such a way to allow ample space.
Keep paperwork and books organized. Clutter can be overwhelming and distracting for students trying to learn.
Create a ‘safe space’ in the classroom. This can be a special chair in the room with books to read, coloring pages, etc. If you have a student who is overwhelmed and needs a few moments to themselves, they can visit the ‘safe space’ until they are ready to join the class again.
Idea 2 - Incorporate Small Group Learning
It won’t take you long to recognize which students are struggling and who are excelling. One strategy you can implement in your classroom is small group learning. If you are teaching a new math principle, it will be hard for some students to pick it up if they are still struggling to learn the last math principle. In this example, you can teach the lesson and then pair students up and allow them to help and teach each other.
Another way to use small groups is for you as the teacher to visit each group and teach a short lesson. While you are with one group, the others can be working on something you’ve previously arranged for them, such as educational games or homework. In this example, it will be up to you to decide how best to arrange the small groups based on needs and the lesson.
Idea 3 - Adapt Adapt Adapt
Creating a different and inclusive approach in your classroom will take time, dedication, and trial-and-error. You may find something that works for a month and then suddenly stops working. If you are doing something that you feel is no longer working, make a change. Change does not always have to be major. Small and subtle changes may work just as well as something big. You are not alone in the effort to create an inclusive classroom. Collaborate with fellow teachers. Share ideas of what currently works, what did work but no longer does, and what your goals are. As you collaborate with other teachers, you can encourage and uplift each other to continue your efforts. Talk to your student’s parents. If you are struggling to reach specific students, reach out to their parents. They may be able to give you new ideas or tell you what works for them. Parents want their children to succeed in school and can offer you support as you are getting to know their child. The insight you can receive from the parents will be invaluable to you as you work to include each child in your classroom.
