Every student present in a classroom, regardless of their background or culture, deserves an equal chance to learn and grow. If you agree with this statement, this blog post is just for you.
It has become more important than ever to include diversity in a classroom. However, all too often, the education system in our country reinforces the same inequalities that it had been designed to overcome. By promoting equality in a classroom, we can remove barriers and ensure all students can succeed in their academics and life. And, when students are presented with the right resources, the entire classroom can thrive and be the best version of themselves. So, our leading CBSE school in Kolkata has prepared this blog post with some steps to take to ensure you create an equitable classroom that encourages holistic development for all.
Creating an Inclusive Learning Environment: Strategies for Equal Opportunity and Holistic Growth
It is important for us to cater to the varying needs of students. Follow these steps to create an inclusive classroom fostering holistic development of all students.
- Engage Students and Families
Engaging students and their families in decision making and schooling is a foundational aspect as they know their interests and contexts best. And, their experiences should result in conversations on the improvements and changes that are required to support the overall well-being of the students. Hence, both the student and their family should take part in making decisions on various issues. This can be done in common areas where educators, students, family members and other educational leaders come together to discuss matters and make decisions based on how they affect everyone.
Furthermore, there should be communication between parents and teachers. Regardless of how minor or major the issue might seem; they should work together to come to the best possible conclusion. By building a connection between teachers and parents, it ensures they understand the student’s background and circumstances. This can further enable students to improve their ability to learn.
- Focus on Experiential Learning
Some of the leading CBSE schools in Kolkata that focus on experiential learning provide hands-on learning experiences for students. For example, students are encouraged to work in groups with one another and explore varying learning styles. This enables educators and students to determine which learning style is best-suited for their abilities. By incorporating holistic experiential learning methods, students also learn problem-solving. In time, these students will be better equipped to create innovative products and also address and solve community issues.
- Accommodate Various Learning Styles
Every classroom in leading CBSE schools in Kolkata has specific ways to accommodate learning. Some of these methods may be formal such as assistive technology and educational assistants while others may be informal such as providing one-to-one support and moving around to ensure everyone can hear. However, to effectively promote equality in classrooms, it’s vital to understand how students learn and what appeals to them the most. And, while this may be more difficult when teaching remotely, you can connect with parents and students to understand their strengths and weaknesses. It’s vital to focus on how things can be accessible for their requirements. For instance, videos, audio recordings, editable documents and live lessons among others are some of the best practices to achieve this effectively.
Remember, building equality in a classroom doesn’t just benefit some students but it’s advantageous to all. So, it’s a great idea to check whether or not the programs being used have the required degree of impact on every student. This will support every learner’s unique mind and ensure they are all on the same page.
- Introduce Flexible Grouping Styles
Another effective way to encourage equity in a classroom is to normalize flexible grouping styles for learners with different requirements. This goes a long way in ensuring they can collaborate with one another and provide support in numerous ways. For instance, a student who is a moderate learner can become a mentor to someone who may be academically weaker than them. This will also boost both of their morale and build leadership skills from an early age. There’s nothing like the feeling of responsibility for the success of another. Moreover, having a flexible seating approach where students choose who they sit with can also help then take ownership of their learning. This allows them to have the power to make the best decisions for themselves.
- Consider Game-Based Learning
This is a great way to provide opportunities to students to experience deep learning while also developing their cognitive skills. Game-based learning motivates students to learn more. Remember, when children are engaged in games, their minds are opened to learning something new. And, this can help them retain the information that is presented to them in a better way. It’s an effective way to introduce new concepts, ideas and knowledge to them and motivate them to continue learning. They will also be more competitive and want to perform at a much higher level than they are at. So, they will strive to improve and put in the effort required to do so.
The children of today require more than simple academic learning to accommodate holistic development. And, by creating an equitable classroom, they will build a functional and healthy relationship with learning. It will also help them understand themselves, their emotions and emotional duress too. Over time, they will go on to achieve greater heights in their academics and careers and become upstanding citizens in their communities.
