Blog #2 Lindsay Smith

 Building an Inclusive Classroom 

Supporting Diversity and Family Engagement in Special Education

    During my internship in a middle school special education placement, I have had the opportunity to observe how my mentor teacher creates an inclusive and supportive environment for all students. Special education classrooms naturally require a high level of differentiation. My mentor meets the students where they are and prioritizes both student success and family engagement.

Creating an Inclusive and Diverse Classroom

    One of the key strategies my mentor teacher emphasizes is reducing the stigma around accommodations. In her classroom and during her time in the general education classroom, she ensures that all students see her as a support system for all students, not just those with IEPs or 504 Plans. This helps create a more inclusive environment where students do not feel singled out for receiving extra help. She also focuses on using positive language, emphasizing strengths over challenges.

    Another way she supports diversity is by being mindful of students levels of background knowledge. Instead of assuming that all students have the same prior experiences, she uses scaffolding techniques to provide the context before diving into lessons and to gage where her students are. This is particularly important in a special education setting, where students may have different levels of exposure to specific topics. she also uses a platform where she can see there screen in real time offering her support and checking in with them without always having to say something. She uses adaptive materials where students can access texts in different formats like audio books, large print or simplified versions. Though from what I have seen so far she doesn't always have control over the content she always tries to create connections to students as individuals and allows them to share their experiences and express themselves in different ways. For example, she encourages students to share personal stories or perspectives related to lesson topics, helping to validate their backgrounds and make learning more meaningful.

Family Engagement and Communication

    Engaging families is another priority. She makes a point to ensure parents feel welcome and most importantly heard in IEP meetings by encouraging their input and giving them opportunities to actively participate in discussions. She also provides regular updates on student progress and celebrates their achievements, ensuring that communication with families is not just focused on their students challenges but also on their successes.

    One of the most impactful tools she uses is "TalkingPoints", a messaging platform that allows her to communicate with parents in their preferred language. This has been a game changer for engaging families whose first language is not English, as it makes communication more accessible and fosters a stronger home-school connection. Additionally, she utilizes phone calls and emails, finding that phone calls are especially effective in building relationships with parents on a more personal level.

Changes and Challenges in Family Involvement

    When discussing family engagement, my mentor mentioned that involvement levels have fluctuated. While some families are highly engaged, others may be harder to reach due to work schedules, language barriers, or other challenges. However, using multiple forms of communication and ensuring that parents feel valued in their child’s education has helped bridge some of these gaps. This has been a different experience so far compared to my last placement because it is middle school and they have a lot more classes and expectations then in elementary school. they also do a lot more independent work. Also because I am in a special education placement there is more family engagement because connecting with parents and keeping them in the loop is essential for understanding the student from all perspectives, fostering student success and ensuring a collaborative support system both at school and at home.