Shelby Simpson

May 15th, 2017

Ed 2500 Reflective Writing 2 Inclusive Education

TQS: Establishing Inclusive Learning Environments.

Applying Foundational Knowledge (First Nations, Metis, Inuit, Special Education)

Reflection: What does inclusive education mean?

Walking through the halls and through the classrooms of the elementary school I see walls that
are covered with work inspired by diversity. This made me begin to wonder what strategies Fish Creek
Elementary (FCE) utilizes in order to offer inclusive education. As I looked at the work on the walls, I
began to think of how it was completed by a diverse population of students, students who come from
different ethnic backgrounds, different religions, different countries, and different socio-economic
statuses. They are different ages and have a wide variety of strengths and talents. The academic levels
of the students vary, some students have special needs, some students speak English as a second
language, others live with physical impairments. How do I see this diversity embraced through inclusive
education? What is inclusive education and how visible is it in my life?
To me, inclusive education means creating a space in which all students, with all of their
different challenges, abilities, backgrounds, and personalities can come together to learn in a safe,
positive, and supportive environment. I believe inclusive education should promote inclusion and
collaboration between students regardless of their differences. Perhaps this belief stems from the
values taught to me by my parents all my life, specifically, that each and every person is valuable,
important and deserving of respect and kindness. Students are alike in that they are all vibrant and
creative learners with a vast amount of potential and they should be treated as such.
Within the grade one class in which I am placed I work with a very diverse set of students, each
with very different backgrounds, abilities, and personalities. However, I have noticed that the classroom
serves as the the mediator in which they are able to work together, to learn from each other, and to
grow as learners. Students are taught with different strategies which are suited to their own individual
needs in order to help them achieve the greatest degree of growth possible. I was able to read a
document written for my TA about a specific child who has multiple difference when it comes to
learning, both academically and socially. This document provides multiple strategies aimed to
accommodate the curriculum to this students needs with the aim to help create a learning environment
that will promote the greatest amount of growth and success. It did not define the inabilities of the
student, rather, it shared information regarding the students strengths and how he might be best able
to demonstrate his understanding of class material. This, I feel, is a good example of inclusive education
and it reminds me of the card activity we did in our seminar class. In this activity, we were shown the
importance of seeing the multi-faceted nature of students, to accept them and care for them as they
are, but to look at them with eyes that can see their strengths and potential.