Special Education

Instructional Excellence in the Classroom

An inclusion classroom requires more organization (of content and delivery) and more differentiation (for different students) from the teacher. Lessons have to meet the needs of all students in the class and work well with any co-teachers. Plus, lessons have to be aligned to grade level standards. The solution is well-crafted, well-taught lessons. They are the key to learning and achievement for all students, including special education students.

Inclusion success includes these classroom strategies:

Systematic instruction
The Systematic Instruction model for special education inclusion features an instructional objective, a review of prior knowledge, teaching in small steps, monitoring student learning, and making instructional decisions.

Reinforcement
Special education students in an inclusion classroom benefit from lessons with built-in reinforcement.

Drill & Practice
Besides learning new concepts, special education students need to develop fluidity in skills.

Strategy-based instruction
When special education students are taught concepts first followed by step-by-step procedures for the skills, they find it easier to understand and execute the skill.

Feedback
In the inclusion classroom, teachers can provide whole class feedback and individual feedback. If the whole class is confused, the teacher re-teaches everyone. Specific strategies can be used for individual students.

Direct Instruction
Direct Instruction means that the new information is coming from the teacher via a well-designed and well-taught lesson.