S2 E6: On practical strategies for building inclusive classrooms

In this episode, we are joined on the couch by John, Assistant Principal - Inclusive/Special Education, who has over 15 years of experience teaching across Schools for Specific Purposes (SSPs) and support units within comprehensive schools. To dive in, we question what ‘inclusivity’ really means in a school context. For John, it’s about providing every student with access to learning and social connections in a space designed to meet their unique learning needs. Tune in to hear about practical strategies for fostering inclusion in our school communities, from setting up collaborative classrooms and sensory rooms to ideas for tailored planning and programming.We’ll share some of the inclusive language that John has embedded within his school to help his students feel empowered as well as ideas for co-curricular activities beyond the classroom (yes, even film directing!).We hope you enjoy this episode.We acknowledge that this episode of the Teach NSW Podcast was recorded on the homelands of the Darug people. We pay respect to Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples listening to the Teach NSW Podcast today. Connect with usIf you would like to provide feedback or suggestions for future episodes, please contact ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get in touch with the Teach NSW Podcast team. Follow the Teach NSW team on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠X (Twitter)⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠ to be the first to know when new episodes are released.Resources and useful linksTeach NSW - become a teacher in a NSW public school and find out how a career in teaching can open doors for you.Enhance your career - explore the program opportunities to retrain as an inclusive/special education teacher with the NSW Department of Education. Film By, The Arts Unit - Film By empowers both teachers and students with the art of storytelling through filmmaking, offering a comprehensive program that encompasses festivals, workshops, and professional learning opportunities.Inclusive Education Statewide Staffroom - connect and share advice, resources and learnings with other inclusive/special education specialists in NSW public schools.