Weality Wednesday: Normal sucks

If you have ever listened to Jonathon Mooney or read any of Jonathon Mooney's posts/work, you know he is fabulous. His message is powerful, his approach is real, and he keeps you entertained. I truly recommend you check him out if you have not. So, I stole his quote for this brief Weality Wednesday!
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I had a whole post ready fot today- but then I came across this quote, I changed my whole thought for the day- it is powerful, unfortunately true, and opens up an awesome discussion about the purpose of inclusive education. One of my aims with My Inclusive Classroom is to discuss some of the truths that we face in trying to work towards a more inclusive approach to education. However, My Inclusive Classroom also looks to practical ways to support teachers,  parents, and students with continuous learning about inclusive education. Needless to say, this quote hits the nail on the head with many of today's systems and today's practices. 

Instead of trying to write another post today, I am going to leave you with a few thoughts about inclusive education. Keep these in mind when you are entering school tomorrow or next week. BECAUSE inclusive education is an approach to how we teach, how we create learning communities, and how we support all our learners, it is okay to make mistakes, it is okay to ask for help, and it is expected to work together. 

Things to think about:

1. Inclusion is an approach to society that values all members for what they contribute in society and did who they are.
2. Inclusive Education is an approach that ensures all students are valued for who they are as individual learners so that all students can participate, be present, and learn/achieve/succeed.
3. Inclusive Education is not a means to include vulnerable populations in ‘normal’ classes.
4. All students are good at something, let’s nurture that skill!
5. All students require support at some point, let’s support them.
6. Let’s move away from thinking that makes kiddos feel ‘normal’ or ‘special’ or ‘different’.​
7. Difference is the new normal. Inclusive Education aims to support all students as learners. We need to support our schools in updating their systems to make this approach a reality.

Click on the picture to grab some awesome resources!