ADAPTING LESSON PLANS

Adapting Lesson Plans for an Inclusive Classroom

Adapting Lesson Plans for an Inclusive Classroom

Introduction

The teacher should identify the learning difficulty of the disabled children using diagnostic assessments and classroom testing. Suitable arrangements should be made in the classroom to make the school environment effective for better learning and access for special needs students.

As students move away from self-contained classrooms and into the regular education setting, you as the classroom teacher are not alone in wondering about adapting your school classroom for a disability. Student learning is your number one priority, and accessibility of both the space and lessons can be intimidating. How does one begin? Here, we will cover a few of the basics.

Classroom Management Elements

You should begin by identifying the specific difficulty of the disabled children in your classroom. This may be done by using diagnostic assessments and classroom progress reports, referring to existing IEPs, or simply consulting with the parents and any staff who have had prior interactions with the child. Once the information has been gathered, suitable arrangements should be made in the classroom. Some of the classroom management elements that should be considered by the teacher for effective learning are:

Arranging the physical environment

Organizing the instructional environment

Using educational technology

Managing time and other resources

Arranging the Physical Environment

Obviously, the classroom enviroment needs to be a safe and secure setting for every learner. This becomes even more crucial for children with a disability. Some considerations for arranging the physical environment are:

Ensuring a safe and barrier-free environment by removing objects cluttered on the floor, desks, equipment, architectural barriers, etc.

Proper arrangement of light, noise level, ventilation and attractive furnishings should be there in the classroom for effective learning.

Offering comfortable and attractive furniture in the classroom so that the environment is inviting and enjoyable.

Organizing the Instructional Environment

The instructional environment of the classroom includes the procedures and material performance. The teacher organizes the curriculum, group study and delivery systems for the presentation and practice of skills and information. When it comes to adapting your school classroom for a disability, student needs are best met by consulting with your building specialists. They can assist you in organizing curricular skills and information sequentially, and arranging skills and information according to the subjects and activities of interest to the students.

Using Educational Technology

The current technology of education includes systematic instructional techniques, procedures for changing behavior and technological advances in equipment, media and learning resources. Electronic technologies such as ...