A Guide to Creating Inclusive Classrooms

All children, regardless of ability or circumstances, should feel welcome in their classrooms. Inclusive classrooms allow children with disabilities to learn alongside their non-disabled peers. They also present an opportunity for all children to learn from each other and to develop a more compassionate attitude toward people with disabilities.

Understanding what an inclusive classroom looks like and how to create one is essential for educators who want to provide the best possible education for all children. This guide will give an overview of inclusive classrooms and offer practical tips for creating an inclusive classroom environment.

What is an inclusive classroom?

An inclusive classroom is where children with disabilities learn alongside children without disabilities in the same space. It provides a setting in which all children feel welcome, supported, and valued. 

Inclusive classrooms provide an environment where all preschoolers can learn and succeed. They are based on the belief that all children have the right to quality education and promote values of equality, respect, and belonging. All children can feel that they are an equal part of the class and that their individual needs are being considered and met.

Why is an inclusive classroom important?

Creating an inclusive classroom requires everyone to be open-minded and respectful of others. It takes effort and commitment from both educators and children. However, the rewards are well worth the effort. Inclusive classrooms:

Meet the needs of all learners

All children learn in different ways and at different paces, and in an inclusive classroom, teachers tailor their teaching approach to meet the unique needs of each child. Teachers may introduce strategies specifically designed to help children who need extra support in the classroom, but those additional resources and support can benefit all children. Teachers might incorporate different tools, materials, or visual aids to engage all learners, or utilize small group instruction to address each child’s learning style.

Promote diversity

Inclusive classrooms promote values of diversity, equity and inclusion. Children get the opportunity to learn about what they have in common with one another and celebrate each other’s differences. Exposure to an environment that respects and accepts different abilities helps fight bias and stereotypes and teaches children to value what makes us all unique.

Foster social-emotional skills

When children interact with each other in an inclusive classroom, they develop essential social and emotional skills, including communication, cooperation, and conflict resolution. Learning alongside their peers who are different from them allows children to learn important social skills to support and help others who may be differently abled. Teachers can use an inclusive classroom as a way to reinforce concepts such as empathy, compassion, and treating others with respect.

How to create an inclusive classroom

An inclusive classroom places the needs of all children at the forefront. To create a truly inclusive environment, educators must be aware of their own biases and assumptions and the potential barriers that can exclude certain groups of children.

Here are strategies for creating an inclusive classroom:

Be intentional with your classroom design

A classroom's design and layout should be thoughtfully designed to foster an inclusive environment. Organize the space to reflect the day’s various activities, helping children understand what is expected in each area. For instance, arranging furniture in groups can promote collaboration and communication, while designated quiet zones can facilitate individual work. Offer diverse seating options to cater to different needs, such as bean bag chairs in a calm-down corner or floor cushions and mats for circle time.

Ensure all children have a clear view of the teacher and learning materials. Children with additional needs may benefit from sitting closer to the teacher to receive appropriate support throughout the lesson.

Set clear classroom rules and routines

Establish a daily routine for your classroom so children know what to expect each day. A predictable preschool schedule can reduce challenging behavior, creating a better learning environment for all.

Make clear, concise, and age-appropriate classroom rules and review them with children regularly so they know what behavior is expected of them. Guidelines like “Be respectful and kind” reinforce important, prosocial behaviors. 

Consider your group sizes

Consider changing up your group size for different lessons. Have children complete work in pairs, small groups, or independently. Smaller group sizes can allow you to tailor instruction to the individual needs of each child.

Use developmentally appropriate materials

Use a variety of manipulatives and hands-on materials in your activities to support all children’s learning styles and various levels of development. The hands-on supplies will encourage active participation and best support those children that learn through doing and moving.

Support child development with a tool like brightwheel's Experience Curriculum. This easy-to-implement curriculum system includes digital lessons you can access directly in the app, assessments, and hands-on learning materials that are mailed to you. Teachers can easily adapt each learning experience to match the ages and abilities of all children in your program.

Adapt your teaching methods

An inclusive classroom will also challenge educators to incorporate different ways of teaching a lesson to reach all children. For example, use books, music, props, posters, videos, and charts. You can also find ways to modify or adjust your activities to engage all children. For example, if a child is having trouble sitting still during story time, you could give the child a story-related coloring page to work on as they listen to the story.  

Include visual learning aids

Visual learning aids such as visual schedules, charts, posters, and flash cards will help those children who are visual learners. Visuals can help children understand concepts better and improve engagement in the learning process. Visual cues, such as placing pictures of children performing their end-of-day routine by the classroom door, can help with smooth transitions.

Implement assistive technology

Take advantage of assistive technology and tools available that can help support children as they master essential skills. These can be simple tools such as pencil grips, laminated picture boards, or high-contrast colored paper and pens, or technology based tools such as apps for devices that “speak” words a child selects on the screen, or software that makes books more interactive. 

Model inclusive behavior

Examples of inclusion in the classroom

Here are some scenarios that might arise in a preschool classroom, along with some possible solutions to make your classroom more inclusive:

A child with a hearing impairment is having difficulty following along in class.

Solution:

• Seat the child near the front of the classroom, where they can see the teacher's face.
• Use visual aids, such as posters or hand gestures, to supplement verbal instructions.

A preschooler with autism struggles with transitioning from one activity to the next.

Solution: 

• Use a visual schedule to help the child know what's coming next. 
• Add auditory cues such as a bell or alarm to signal that it’s time for a new activity.

A child has difficulty participating in fine motor activities.

Solution:

• Add grips to crayons or markers or provide larger sized writing instruments.
• Use larger-lined paper.

A child is struggling to verbally communicate their needs.

Solution:

• Use picture cards or other visual aids to help the child express themselves.

• Encourage the use of sign language or assistive communication devices or apps.

A preschooler is having trouble sitting still during circle time.

Solution:

• Allow the child to stand or turn the pages of the book as you read.
• Provide fidget toys or other objects to help the preschooler stay focused.

A child feels overwhelmed by all the noise and commotion in the classroom.

Solution:

• Designate a quiet area in the classroom for children to go if they need a break.
• Suggest noise blocking headphones that can help mute a noisy environment.

• Help them identify coping strategies when they feel overwhelmed, such as deep breathing exercises.

Conclusion

Inclusive classrooms not only benefit children with disabilities, they also offer valuable learning experiences to those without disabilities. When educators create inclusive classrooms, they adapt lessons and materials to suit all ways of learning, set a positive example of compassion and acceptance, and provide opportunities for all children to learn and grow.

Brightwheel is the complete solution for early education providers, enabling you to streamline your center’s operations and build a stand-out reputation. Brightwheel connects the most critical aspects of running your center—including sign in and out, parent communications, tuition billing, and licensing and compliance—in one easy-to-use tool, along with providing best-in-class customer support and coaching. Brightwheel is trusted by thousands of early education centers and millions of parents. Learn more at mybrightwheel.com.