inclusion
Academic inclusion in education is an approach to educating all students all together. It is not individualized lesson plans. It is planning from the beginning with every student’s needs in mind and creating an environment where all students are welcome. It requires you to know your students inside and out.
In universal design, we look at how we can build a room that accommodates the needs of as many users as possible. Educators have developed a different approach for evaluating universal design for learning beyond those of architecture. In the Three Block Model, Jennifer Katz outlines Burgstahler’s eight important factors to consider when planning for students. These factors include: class climate, interactions among students and between students and teachers, the physical environment, instructional standards, differentiated instruction, information, recourses and technology, regular feedback, and assessment.
The Daily 5 Math is designed and is implemented with the needs of all students in mind. It follows Burgstahler’s eight important factors to consider when planning for students. The Daily 5 Math also implements “Inclusive Instructional Practice” which is Block Two of the Three Block Model by Jennifer Katz. It includes integrated curriculum, differentiated instruction, planning with assessment in mind, discipline based inquiry, cooperative learning, flexible groupings, and most importantly, student choice.
Our math centres and activities are developed for maximum student participation and engagement. Students need to be engaged. According to Dr. Jennifer Katz research, students in UDL classrooms spend 44 out of 60 minutes actively engaged. Students in controlled classrooms only spend 19 out of 60 minutes actively engaged.