Inclusive Education: A Practical Guide to Supporting Diversity in the Classroom

by Tim Loreman

A practical guide to integrating students with special needs into regular primary and secondary school classrooms.

One of the ongoing challenges faced by school teachers at all levels is including students with special needs in regular classrooms. This is a practical guide to working with primary and secondary students who need extra attention because of disabilities or giftedness.

The authors outline the principles behind educational diversity and inclusive policies, and discuss the range of different needs teachers can expect to encounter in an inclusive classroom. They explain the practical issues involved in assessment, planning and implementing an inclusive curriculum. They also offer strategies for managing the classroom and promoting positive social relationships. The emphasis is on ensuring that students with special needs receive worthwhile educational experiences, without compromising the needs of other students in the classroom.

This is a guide for classroom teachers and pre-service students rather than for those teachers who have specialist training in working with students with special needs. The strategies the authors provide are well-tested and easy to implement.

Genres: Education, Nonfiction

273 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2004

About the author

Dr. Tim Loreman is a Professor of Education, Vice-President Academic and Provost at Concordia University College of Alberta in Canada. He received his Ph.D. in Education from Monash University in Australia in 2001 and, following a number of years as a classroom teacher, worked there until 2002, thereafter moving to his current position at Concordia. Dr. Loreman has to his credit numerous peer-reviewed articles and books primarily focused on the subject of inclusion and childhood including Love as pedagogy (2011), Inclusive education: Supporting diversity on the classroom, 2nd Ed. (with Joanne Deppeler and David Harvey, 2010), and Respecting childhood (2009). Tim holds and has held a number of major Canadian research grants, and continues to write, research, and present at major international and national conferences.

Reviews

[snapp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Useful overview and reference tool for teachers wanting to create a more inclusive classroom. Has some relevant information about creating Individual Learning Plans which I found particularly helpful.