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Inclusion Strategies for Educators

This document contains a one-page synopsis summarizing chapters 1-11 of the book "Feeling Excluded? The Inclusion Teacher's Guide to Surviving the Inclusion Classroom" by Jennifer Landrum. The synopsis discusses the author's original expectations of working in an inclusive classroom, the importance of making students with disabilities feel comfortable, challenges with collaborating with other teachers, and strategies for building trust and inclusion. It also includes a case study about a student named Kyle and strategies for addressing his disruptive behaviors, and a personal experience case study about a student named Connor and a proposed strategy of using a behavior contract and positive reinforcement.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
14 views9 pages

Inclusion Strategies for Educators

This document contains a one-page synopsis summarizing chapters 1-11 of the book "Feeling Excluded? The Inclusion Teacher's Guide to Surviving the Inclusion Classroom" by Jennifer Landrum. The synopsis discusses the author's original expectations of working in an inclusive classroom, the importance of making students with disabilities feel comfortable, challenges with collaborating with other teachers, and strategies for building trust and inclusion. It also includes a case study about a student named Kyle and strategies for addressing his disruptive behaviors, and a personal experience case study about a student named Connor and a proposed strategy of using a behavior contract and positive reinforcement.

Uploaded by

tannerolson3486
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

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3-Part Inclusion Assignment

Tanner Olson

Liberty University

Education 521: Foundations of Exceptionality

Dr. Fred Conner

8/16/2020
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One Page Synopsis:

Jennifer Landrum grew up with very limited experience with people that had

disabilities. Her encounters were few and far in-between; she had many

assumptions and goals when she went into a career of public education. She soon

found out that it wasn’t exactly the world she was expecting. She uses her book

“Feeling Excluded? The Inclusion Teacher’s Guide to Surviving the Inclusion

Classroom” to explain what her original expectations were and how she had to adapt

and overcome to make an impact in the classroom. This one page synopsis will

cover chapters 1-11 of the book and summarize main components.

It is important to make sure that the student we are working with in the

inclusion classroom feel comfortable, that being said sometimes we can feel the

same exclusion they do because we are different then most educators. We have

been through these feelings and know how to handle them (previous school

experience, social life, etc.), our student with a disability does not, we have to be

aware of that and use what we have learned to help them be successful in the

classroom setting. Working with other teachers in their classroom setting can be

difficult at times, we need successful strategies to communicate and collaborate

with them. “It is sad that one of the most difficult and careful aspects of inclusion

teaching is integrating with the general education teachers.” (Landrum).

Unfortunately this is an issue we will deal with a lot. It is important that we listen,

observe and model the behaviors that we are trying to implement when we are

trying to build trust within the classroom. Throughout the process you will need to

incorporate all staff members in order to reach an inclusion classroom. General


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teachers, administrators, counselors, Para-professional, and any one else working in

the classroom setting will have to model the character tics of the inclusive

classroom. We are all professionals and it is important to treat each other that way,

no matter the title. The goal is the well-being and to reach the highest functioning

capability for each child. Parents are vital along the way as well, it is important to

express you goals for their child and that you have their best interest at heart. They

can play a major role throughout the process. Take time throughout the process to

remind yourself why you do this, there will be frustrating times but will be

rewarding in the end.

I really enjoyed reading this book, there was a lot of good information to pull

thing I took most from this is the strategies on building trust with your colleagues

and fellow teachers. Some will be hesitant because they just don’t have much

experience in the field, we have to show them our strategies and begin to build the

trust it is going to require. “You want to be resourceful and you need to put your

strategies in to practice right away so you don’t forget them, so you can fine tune

them, and you can determine which strategies should become a regular in the

classroom.” (Landrum). Always be looking for ways to expand our knowledge and

to gain a new perspective on things. The biggest point I gained from this is to make

sure as a teacher; you have your own space. The students need to know where the

line is and it is important that boundaries are kept.

All and all an inclusion classroom should be the goal of any educator; there

are some steps that need to be taken before this can happen though. Collaboration

throughout the entire classroom and staff will be necessary but very manageable.
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Students with disabilities benefit greatly by being able to stay in the classroom,

which is the least restrictive environment.


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Case Study:

Kyle Conner is a 3rd grader who is 9 years old; he has been labeled with a

significant learning disability as well as a emotional behavior disorder. Kyle has

been know to assault students and teachers and will act out when he struggles with

assignments or is bored in class. He operates on a green, yellow and red behavior

system. He has responded well to reward systems but has failed to sustain the

systems. They have tried time-out rooms as well as a variety of other strategies;

Kyle needs to be capable of staying in a classroom for an entire day.

After reading the case study involving Kyle, it is important to try to achieve

the best solution for Kyle’s behavior, but we must also take into account the other

students safety. Behavior that disrupts a classroom is one thing but when it affects

others students well being, it’s another story. I believe the best approach to Kyle

would be a tiered approach. “What outcome is this student trying to achieve? If you

determine this, you now have the power to help this student change its behavior.”

(Landrum, Pg. 78). Kyle is trying to get attention for his actions, he know when gets

attention that he does not have to do the work that is in front of him. If he can

deflect the attention from his work then he will not have to struggle at

understanding the concept. Creating a tier reward based system will allow Kyle to

see the benefits of following instructions, and controlling his actions. He can earn

things as well as have things taken away. This way the deeper into the system he

gets the more he has to lose, I hope this sets into context the accountability for his

actions.
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“Dive into the situation-conference with the student, talk to the parent, and

make detailed observations and record the data.” (Landrum, Pg. 79). The parents

will need to be on the same page but if a reward based system was set up to reward

him with, a break from work, to lunch with the teachers, etc. This will all be based

on his behavior and can be taken away at any time based on his behavior. He will

get taste of what he desires and if he cannot control his behavior, he will lose it and

hopefully drive him to work harder. The parents hopefully will hold these same

guidelines at home in order to show some consistency within the program. Record

the behavior outburst or positive reactions and try to associate them with a moment

during class. There is most likely a information processing issue taking place and he

is deflecting from it by acting out.


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Case Study: Personal Experience

Overview: Connor Mathews, age 15, 10th grade student with SLD, both parents are

extremely helpful and frustrated by the situation. Takes medication for his ADHD,

suppose to take it during lunchtime with food. No siblings, Ben have an average IQ

and are restless in class.

Problem: Connor struggles with focusing for extended periods of time, he is always

looking for ways to get out of assignments and more specifically out of class. He will

sneak out when the teachers not looking, he makes rude comments to teachers and

students and is always looking for food. Connor is capable of doing the work but has

done only 20% of the total work this year. Always looking for food.

Strategy: Behavior contract, meeting with parents and Connor, reward system,

administrative intervention

“Praise hard work and thorough work whenever the moment arises. The

time you take out of your lesson to praise now, will provide time back to you in the

future when you aren’t correcting the opposite behaviors.” (Landrum, Pg. 81). I

believe that Connor needs to be positively reinforced; he has heard a lot of

negativity the last couple weeks. We need to take time to reinforce the positive

things that he is doing in order to build some trust with him and strengthen those

positive habits. Connor is always looking for ways to get his hands on food,

sneaking out of class, and sometimes just ditching. If we had some snacks on hand

in the classroom (healthy options/parent approved) I really believe that we could


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motivate him to focus for extended periods. It will take his mind off the focus of

getting out of class to find food if he knows he can find it here.

The next step after trying to positively reinforce his behaviors is to set up a

behavior contract. This behavior has gone on for a while and there haven’t been

many successful attempts to counter it. His parents are on board and would like to

see a behavior contract next and how he responds to it. “After recording

observations and having a conversation with the parents, other teachers, and the

students, sit with the student and together, compose a contract that works for all of

you. Discuss the reasoning behind the behaviors, and discuss alternate methods for

attaining the desired outcome.” (Landrum, Pg. 84). Ben needs to see some

consequences if he’s not able to make adjustments to his behavior. He is almost a

junior in high school and needs to learn how to function in a classroom.


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References:

Landrum, J. (n.d.). Feeling Excluded? The inclusive teacher’s guide to surviving the

inclusion classroom.

Common questions

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Factors impacting the success of inclusion classrooms, according to the discussed sources, include effective communication and collaboration among educators, the creation and maintenance of trust, and the active involvement of parents . Educators must be resourceful and practice strategies quickly to ensure they are effective and sustainable . The ability to model desired behaviors and maintain professional respect across various roles and titles within the school setting also plays a crucial role . Parental involvement is vital to ensure consistency between home and school expectations and interventions . Additionally, documenting observations and understanding individual behavior dynamics can help tailor interventions that suit specific needs . Ultimately, the integration of these factors determines the efficacy of inclusive education practice.

The potential benefits of using a tiered approach to behavior management in inclusion classrooms include providing a structured framework that aligns interventions with student needs. This system can effectively motivate students by showcasing the positive outcomes of meeting expectations, often using a reward-based framework . The approach allows for personalized and scalable interventions depending on the severity or frequency of behavior, facilitating more individualized support . However, the challenges include ensuring consistency in application and maintaining student engagement with the system over time, as some may initially respond well but fail to sustain changes . Additionally, educators must thoroughly comprehend each student's specific behavior triggers, which requires meticulous documentation and analysis of observations . Thus, careful planning and execution are essential for the tiered approach to be successful.

Kyle Conner's case study illustrates the application of a behavior system that uses a tiered approach to address his learning disabilities and emotional behavior disorder . The system operates on a green, yellow, and red behavior scale that Kyle responds to, although he struggles to sustain behavior improvements. The approach attempts to determine the outcomes Kyle seeks from his behavior and uses this understanding to help modify his behavior by implementing reward-based systems . This strategy is designed to shift attention away from disruptions and towards positive reinforcement, allowing Kyle to see the benefits of following instructions and controlling his actions . The case highlights how a structured behavior system can be employed to both encourage desired behaviors and manage negative ones in an inclusion classroom.

Jennifer Landrum recommends that educators balance the need for authority with collaborative practices in an inclusion classroom by clearly establishing their own space and professional boundaries while actively engaging and working with colleagues and students. She suggests that maintaining authority involves being resourceful, practicing strategies promptly, and modeling behavior expected from both teachers and students . Simultaneously, collaboration is fostered through listening, observing, and mutual respect among all stakeholders, including educators, administrators, and parents . This dual approach ensures that while educators maintain control over their classroom environment, they are also open to input and cooperation from others, which is fundamental in achieving the goals of inclusion.

Jennifer Landrum identifies several challenges in integrating into an inclusive classroom setting. One of the main difficulties is working collaboratively and effectively with general education teachers, which requires careful planning and communication strategies . Landrum emphasizes the importance of building trust with colleagues, many of whom may be hesitant due to a lack of experience in inclusive settings . Additionally, maintaining professional respect among various staff members, including para-professionals and administrators, is crucial to fostering a successful inclusive environment . Landrum also stresses the necessity of involving parents actively, as they play a vital role in the inclusion process . Overall, the process is described as demanding but ultimately rewarding.

Connor Mathews' case provides valuable insights into support strategies for students with ADHD in inclusion classrooms. His experience underlines the effectiveness of positive reinforcement and behavior contracts . Connor, who struggles with staying focused and often acts disruptively in pursuit of food, benefits from strategies such as providing healthy snacks to deter disruptive behavior and increase focus in class . The case illustrates the importance of direct intervention strategies such as behavior contracts that involve explanation and agreement on desired behaviors and consequences . Additionally, parental involvement is crucial, and regular meetings should be held to align home and school expectations and interventions to ensure consistency . Overall, personalized and structured strategies prove essential for managing ADHD symptoms within an inclusive learning context.

Jennifer Landrum proposes several strategies for building professional relationships in an inclusive classroom. She underscores the importance of listening, observing, and modeling desired behaviors to build trust with general education teachers and other staff members . Landrum also highlights the significance of being resourceful, putting strategies into practice immediately to refine and determine their efficacy . Additionally, she emphasizes the importance of maintaining professional respect among all staff involved in the classroom, ensuring collaboration and mutual support . Landrum's approach involves active communication and the use of professional boundaries, alongside cultivating a shared understanding of goals among teachers, administrative staff, and parents .

According to Jennifer Landrum, parents play a significant role in the inclusion process by actively engaging with educational strategies and supporting consistent implementation of behavior management practices at home . She highlights the importance of communicating openly with parents and expressing the goals for their child's education . Landrum also notes that parents need to be on the same page as educators, particularly in supporting reward-based systems and other interventions used in the classroom to ensure consistency and reinforce positive behaviors . Overall, parental involvement is depicted as essential for the success of inclusion efforts.

Educators can learn that observation and data recording are critical components in managing classroom behavior as they provide necessary insights into patterns and triggers of student behavior. Landrum suggests that documenting detailed observations allows educators to identify specific incidents of behavior, which can illuminate underlying causes, such as information processing issues that might be contributing to disruptive actions . This data-driven approach facilitates the development of tailored interventions and helps educators communicate effectively with parents and other school professionals about necessary adjustments . Moreover, detailed records support the implementation of consistent behavior management strategies and enable educators to measure progress over time . Thus, systematic observation and data recording are indispensable for crafting effective behavioral interventions in inclusive classrooms.

As per Jennifer Landrum’s guidance, maintaining boundaries in classroom management is essential for establishing and reinforcing expectations and order within an inclusive setting. She stresses the importance of having a defined personal space as a teacher, which helps set boundaries for students and clarifies the line between acceptable and unacceptable behaviors . By maintaining clear boundaries, teachers help students understand structured environments and promote a learning atmosphere that supports both discipline and personal growth. This approach is particularly significant in inclusion classrooms, where diverse needs must be managed coherently without compromising the focus on inclusivity .

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