TL;DR:
- 3 key beliefs to guide your instructional practices include differentiation, accommodation, and modification.
- Build in structures to your instructional practices so students can have more opportunities for voice and choice.
“Equity and Inclusion Just Got Better” Blog Reflection Questions:
- What is the one thing you will try to do in your classroom to make it inclusive?
- How does being inclusive align with your believes as an educator?
- Write down one thing you can do after reading this blog to bring equitable practice into your classroom?
I do believe that, if held to high expectations, all students can be and will be successful in attaining their potential in their school setting.
When we as educators believe in our students then we help them achieve their potential so they can reach their goals.
Work with all the students you have in front of you this year, not the students you wish you had or hoped for since they have amazing potential to be kind, considerate, and passionate advocates for you as educators as they go through the education system.
When we as educators believe in our students then we help them achieve their potential so they can reach their goals. Click To TweetIncrease student voice and choice as you teach daily. And consider these 3 elements in your instructional practices.
1. Differentiation
Always differentiate so that you individualize programing for all students in your classroom so that each student can accomplish individual success.
- Give options so students can pick how to send in their work.
- Offer alternative choices on projects so they are personalized.
- Encourage students personalized choices and opportunities to voice their opinions.
2. Accommodation
The easiest way to describe it is to ensure that student-driven instructions are provided to attain a successful completion.
- Extra time to complete task.
- Flexibility on assignment completion/due dates.
- Use of translation into first language.
- Having a dictionary available.
- Flexible seating choices.
3. Modification
Modify expectations so that the student can achieve learning goals for the task by completing it with careful considerations at their own pace.
- Fewer questions but targets with high expectations.
- The Grid Method: letting students establish their own pace in completing tasks.
- Giving choice on how students can hand in work according to their learning styles.
I attached my backwards planned unit for Animal Habitat’s in grade 2 with a science focus that is integrated so that you can see one unit of action and work with the template to develop your lessons. Encourage all students to bring in their interests. Developing their plans is the ultimate goal to ensure success and genuinely reach a culturally rich audience in your ever-growing diverse classrooms. I would love for you to connect with me on social media and share your ideas and work if you design your classroom program in this way to ensure all students are successful.
Yours in Education,
Nilmini
References
Hammond, Zaretta. 2015. Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain: promoting authentic engagement and rigor among culturally linguistically diverse students.
About Nilmini Ratwatte-Henstridge
Nilmini Ratwatte-Henstridge teaches in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. She was born in Sri Lanka and immigrated to Canada with her family. As an elementary school teacher who is passionate about equity, social justice, and human rights in education, she enjoys teaching the younger generation to be global-minded citizens.
Discovering the world by connecting with others is an opportunity that we have today in our society today and she loves meeting new people! She is always learning while traveling to understand the inter-connectedness of this beautiful earth we live in! Nilmini LOVES cooking great meals, watching movies, and the latest fashion trends! Family and friends are close to her heart as she looks forward to balancing social media and navigating professional learning communities in education to network globally this year!
