Crawford Plains School, K-6: Maximizing Resources, Maximizing Learning in Inclusive Ed Classrooms

Crawford Plains School, with 300 students and a dedicated staff, creates a village-like atmosphere where everyone feels a sense of belonging. The school is characterized by hard-working staff, student artwork, and an encouraging environment where students help each other. They emphasize a community where all skills are respected, and everyone, regardless of background or special needs, is included.

The school has implemented the Inclusive Educational Planning Tool (IEPT) initiative, which shifts the focus from strictly curriculum-based planning to understanding and addressing the individual needs of students. This approach ensures that teaching methods and strategies within classrooms are tailored to students' learning styles, benefiting all students, including those with specific needs.

Teachers like Sean Troock employ emotional instruction, vocabulary development, reading skills, and mathematics support. The school uses assessment for learning, where students actively participate in setting goals and understanding criteria, promoting a collaborative and reciprocal learning environment. Collaborative writing lessons involving multiple classes and peer encouragement are also highlighted.

A lead teacher facilitates the inclusion project by providing relief time for teachers to collaborate and plan. The school structure allows for common planning sessions across grade levels. Educational Assistants (EAs) play a crucial role, becoming more skilled and empowered through a cohort system where they share strategies and ideas, extending their support to all students in the classroom, not just those with specific needs.

Technology, including computers and iPads, is utilized to engage students and provide personalized learning experiences. Programs like Raz-Kids allow students to read at their own levels independently. The 'Students Willing Assist Technology' (SWAT) team, composed of Grade 6 students, supports teachers with tech tasks. Technology also helps students with special needs express themselves and develop vocabulary, while tools like Zooma chairs aid in managing attention deficits.

The school incorporates the Seven Habits, encouraging student responsibility and recognizing individual learning styles. Monthly assemblies celebrate these habits, boosting student confidence. Students take on various leadership roles and jobs around the school, learning responsibility and teamwork. Older students serve as buddies, modeling social skills for younger students and those with autism, fostering compassion and celebrating diversity.

The video highlights John, a 12-year-old student with Down Syndrome and oppositional defiance. His successful integration is attributed to consistent support from multiple EAs, individualized instruction, and incentive-based learning. The school uses a 'green choice/red choice' system to teach decision-making. Planning for John's transition to junior high involves school visits and collaboration with his mother, underscoring the comprehensive support system.

Frances Scully shares the 'Welcome to Holland' analogy, emphasizing the importance of appreciating the present reality instead of wishing for a different one. The school's philosophy is to enjoy and maximize the potential of where they are. Inclusion is defined as not just sharing space but having the necessary supports in place for success. The school embraces diverse needs with diverse teaching, aiming for continuous improvement and providing tools for all students to succeed.