Inclusive Schools Week: Two new books on inclusive practices

Happy Inclusive Schools Week!

This week is celebrated annually the first full week in December by families, schools, and organizations across the world to highlight and celebrate the progress schools have made in implementing inclusive practices to ensure a quality education for an increasingly diverse student population.

This year, we’re celebrating #ISW2020 by sharing resources from inclusive educators across the nation and giving a shoutout to those who have found creative, innovative teaching strategies to ensure a fully-inclusive environment.

We will feature one highlight and recognize educators each day of this week on our blog and social media channels. Be sure to check in every day so you don’t miss out!

We’re open to sharing inclusive resources and tips with everyone. Feel free to email team@njcie.org with suggestions.

Day 1: Check out these two recently published books on creating inclusive learning environments

1.     #AllIn: 18 Ways to Create Inclusive Virtual Classrooms

Recently, Dr. Paula Kluth and a handful of contributors quickly put together an amazing new book on creating inclusive virtual classrooms.

All we have to say is, “Wow.”

The speed at which Paula wrote this incredible book filled with resources and helpful tips is amazing. Time has certainly not been our best friend during this pandemic, and now we’re finding ourselves always trying to figure out what the next steps are.

Paula’s book reassures that our students can still be included in the virtual classroom—even if they’re physically apart from each other. Inclusive education can still happen despite the setting!

Here’s what our President and CEO Fred Buglione had to say about it:

#AllIn: 18 Ways to Create Inclusive Virtual Classrooms frames virtual learning as an opportunity to support inclusion. This book highlights the potential that exists for positive collaboration, communication, and most importantly, student success, when schools and families work together to make online learning accessible to all students. This hopeful tone is paired with concrete ideas and strategies that support student learning across grade levels and subject areas. During this paradigm shift in education, #AllIn serves as a reminder that while students are learning apart, they are not learning alone.

You can purchase this book on Amazon.

2.     Leading for All: How to Create Truly Inclusive and Excellent Schools

Recently, we met with Jennifer Spencer-Iiams, Assistant Superintendent for Student Services in the West Linn-Wilsonville School District in Oregon who co-wrote a book from an administrator’s perspective on creating an inclusive learning environment for a school district. She also spoke at our book launch event for Paula Kluth in November.

Her new book is another great read for school leaders as the authors “share lessons learned from spending nearly a decade building district schools where all students are served in their neighborhood school and in classrooms with their general education peers.”

In her book, there are three focus areas: Creating Inclusive Cultures, Improving Instructional Practices, and Increasing Student Voice.

Other features in this book include: seven components of inclusive and equitable learning communities; supporting resources for promoting inclusion throughout the school day, including co-curricular activities and transportation; and stories of real students and teachers and the actions that impacted their success.

You can purchase this book through the publisher.