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Celebrating Inclusive Schools Week

Newark Public Schools: Stand Tall Sit Up for Inclusion

Celebrating InclusiveSchools Week Newark Public Schools: Stand Tall Sit Up for Inclusion

Inclusive Schools Week December 4-8, 2017

Inclusive Schools Week is an annual event sponsored by the Inclusive Schools Network (ISN) and Stetson & Associates, Inc., which is held each year during the first full week in December. Since its inception in 2001, Inclusive Schools Week has celebrated the progress that schools have made in providing a supportive and quality education to an increasingly diverse student population, including students who are marginalized due to disability, gender, socio-economic status, cultural heritage, language preference and other factors. The Week also provides an important opportunity for educators, students and parents to discuss what else needs to be done in order to ensure that their schools continue to improve their ability to successfully educate all children.


This year, the Inclusive Schools Week’s theme focuses on standing up for inclusion. This is particularly fitting because in our world today, we are embracing changes necessary to protect the practices in education and society essential to making a positive difference for all. In schools where inclusive education flourishes, there is an inspirational, more positive culture. This year, we will focus on how and why each person should stand up for inclusion.


Inclusive Schools Network http://inclusiveschools.org/

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Team Initiated Problem Solving Workshop

On 11/27 and 11/29 various staff members from the 12 Inclusion Schools Project met to engage with a Team Initiated Problem Solving workshop provided by Fred Buglione and Kristy Ritvalsky from New Jersey Coalition of Inclusive Education. Student support staff, child study team members, teachers, vice principals, principals, staff from the Office of Student Support, Office of Special Education and Literacy engaged in the learning of TIPS. Use of TIPS procedures can help team members identify, address, and resolve student's social and academic behavior problems. Team-Initiated Problem Solving is a conceptual model for problem solving that has been operationalized into a set of practical procedures to be used during meetings or school-based solving teams such as Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBSIS).


PBSIS https://www.pbis.org/training/tips

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Arts High School engage in a 2-part series on Universal Design for Learning

The workshop was designed to deepen teachers’ understanding of inclusive teaching through theoretical principles and practical applications of Universal Design for Learning for increased student access, engagement, and participation. The second workshop is on January 31. Teachers at Arts High School will bring student work to showcase their implementation of UDL strategies.


Session One Agenda

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Roberto Clemente Elementary

"The Inclusive Practices Implementation Team" utilized school data as well as input from the full faculty to develop an "action plan" for improving inclusive practices at the school. This year the group meets regularly to implement the plan's targeted activities designed to help Roberto Clemente Elementary maximize it's opportunities for students to be education in the least restrictive environment and for all students to receive the academic and social-emotional supports to be successful. The Implementation Team is cross representative of the school and includes teachers, CSTs, Literacy Coach and Administrators to Stand Tall and Sit Up for Inclusion." This after attending a workshop on Co-Teaching, the school has since formed an Inclusion PLC that focuses on development of best practices for co-teaching. (see this week's offering on the topic of co-teaching below)


Co-Teaching 101

Thursday, Dec 7, 2017

This workshop will review the various Models of Co-Teaching and is designed for teams who are not familiar with these strategies. This workshop is designed for both the general education and special education co-partners.

Registration

10 Ways to STAND UP and SIT TALL for Inclusion

10 Ways to
STAND UP and SIT TALL
For Inclusion

  1. Notice and embrace your peers' abilities- give someone a heartfelt compliment.

  2. When given the opportunity, find someone you haven’t worked with in class and ask them to partner up.

  3. Introduce yourself to someone you may not know and make an effort to include them in your day.

  4. Notice someone struggling? Offer to help them!

  5. See someone alone during free play time? Ask them to join you and your friends.

  6. Be a leader! Stand up and set a good example to everyone even if it is difficult.

  7. Sit by a new person at lunch at least twice this week or invite someone new to sit at your table.

  8. Learn at least three new things about someone in a different grade level.

  9. High five or give a big smile to 5 new people this week!

  10. Learn about a new culture and their holiday traditions and share your traditions!

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Newark Public Schools Office of Special Education

Executive Director Carolyn Granato