Classroom Management in Inclusive Settings

I enjoyed and definitely agreed with the portion of this article subtitled “Facilitating Friendships.” I am a firm believer that once of the greatest things students learn while in our classrooms is social skills. The skills are further strengthened and expanded in an inclusive classroom. Not only are students learning skills for interacting with those of differing racial, religious and socio-economic background, but how to relate to those who are different on a fundamental cognitive level. During our lifetimes, we will interact with others who are different than us on at least a daily level. Our checker at the grocery store may have different color skin, the mailman may sport a star of David around his neck, that differs from my own cross necklace, the driver who you cut off this morning may take medicine to combat his ADD, while you can sit and focus for hours on your own – these are all possibilities. The way most of us gain our so called “life skills” is in the classroom, whether we know it or not. We learn here how to interact with others, wait our turn, reconcile differences, and even gain factual information on others’ beliefs and cultures. I agree with Soodak’s assertion here that friendships “provide students the opportunity to develop important skills and attitudes”.