As I've continued to research I have been thinking about how it is important to have inclusion in the classroom. I believe in inclusion and think it is beneficial for not only the students with disabilities, but also the students without. It creates a sense of acceptance and builds social skills for the children. So, I have started to think... isn't it just important we include children with disabilities in extra curricular activities as well?!? A lot of the time people think of extra curricular activities and think of physical sports such as soccer, football, cheerleading etc, but there are other activities teachers can introduce to families, such as theater, book clubs, academic games, chess club, choir etc. I found this website that describes these extra curricular activities and why they are beneficial to children with disabilities. These are even simple activities/clubs that a teacher can create at her school. It wouldn't take a lot of time out of a teachers already busy schedule, and would help with the cognitive, social, and emotional development of children with and without disabilities. What are your thoughts on these extra curricular activities? Do you think it would be something you'd like to get involved with at a school you worked for?
this is the website :) ...enjoy!
http://www.ldonline.org/article/9924/
April,
ReplyDeleteI fully believe that there should be inclusion in the classroom. In my own experience from my internship there was a child who was hearing impaired and we wore a microphone for him as we talked. When we had the students present we also had them wear it so he could hear them. It wasn't anything embarrassing and he was accepted into our classroom immediately. There are all different types of kids whether they have disabilities or not. Inclusion is a very positive thing in the classroom.
If i was working at a school I think I would want to be involved to make sure that there were these extra curricular activities for students who have disabilities to be involved in as well. I wouldn't want to make it seem embarrassing to those students or that I was trying to push them into something. I would also want to make sure that I talk to the parents and know that this is something they would be okay with and transportation for their child. Is there a way you think that if I was a teacher looking into doing this I could do it without possibly singling out the child?