As an educator, you should understand both the inclusive practice definition and how you can apply it the classroom. Promoting equality and diversity in childcare settings is essential for ensuring children grow up as accepting, well-rounded, and kind individuals. Early years are a time when children are most in need of support. During these years, children are beginning to learn about themselves, other people. They are discovering their identity. However, they are also most vulnerable particularly if they consider themselves to be ‘different’.
Adapt Your Content
Diversify your lessons and adapt them towards your students. If you have a new student who has just immigrated from Mexico you could spend some lesson time learning about Mexican culture, looking at pictures of monuments, and learning some Spanish words.
Illustrate your points with examples that reflect diversity. For instance, using an example of a disabled child in one of your exercises. Ensure that you teach your class about different cultures, religions, countries, disabilities, and communities.
Meet Their Needs
If you have disabled children in your classroom, then you will need to make reasonable adjustments. This basically means that you should remove or minimize disadvantages that they may face because of their condition.
This can include changing rooms or reading materials, or can be something much more specific. For example, regularly breaking up activities for a child with ADHD, allowing a break for a diabetic child to eat, or arranging a sporting activity that a child in a wheelchair.
Review Your Likes and Prejudices
By assessing your teaching methods, you should think about any opinions that you might hold towards certain people. This includes any empathy and prejudices that you might have. For example, you may have an affinity for a student who reminds you of your own child, or you may have a prejudice towards a child who reminds you of someone you previously taught.
Embrace Variety
- Working in pairs, groups, and individually.
- Working on computers and out of books.
- Making posters and other creative materials.
- Reading books.
- Story writing.
- Role play.
- Sports
- Musical activities.
Assess Your Teaching Methods
Your educational background, upbringing, personality, likes and dislikes, and opinions all affect your identity.
Start to consider how your identity affects the way you act, how you deliver your lessons, and how you design and choose your resources. For example, do you read books at the start of every day because that’s what you did at school? Do you base your activities on what you believe the children will like? Think about how you plan your lessons, the reasons behind them, and whether they are equal and accessible for all students.
