Making Sound Preschool LRE DecisionsFact or Fiction: Do We Agree?
In this activity, participants explore important attitudes and beliefs about inclusion, including facts, fictions, and myths, culminating with a discussion of the research that supports the facts. Understanding the facts on inclusion is critical in Making Sound Preschool LRE Decisions for each and every child, especially for children who have been historically underrepresented and underserved. (45–60 min.)
Materials
- Brief Summary: Fact Sheet of Research on Preschool Inclusion
- Mechanism for sharing discussion statements (for example, Google Docs, PowerPoint, flip chart, Padlet, Jamboard)
Activity Process
Facilitators will review the Brief Summary: Fact Sheet of Research on Preschool Inclusion, choosing the most meaningful statements for group discussion. The discussion statements below have been altered from the fact sheet, in order to prompt discussion. Make clear to participants that the statements are only intended to prompt discussion.
Divide into small groups, and present the statements with the following instructions. You may wish to use additional facilitators to document the comments. Ideally, each group would have the opportunity to discuss each of the chosen discussion statements. Let each group drive its own conversation, and do not encourage them toward any particular comments.
Participant Instructions
- As a group, discuss each statement, and document the the group's thoughts.
- Is the statement rooted in facts or myths?
Discusson Statements
- Special education services in regular early childhood settings for preschoolers with disabilities is increasing.
- Inclusion benefits all children.
- Inclusive settings are high-quality.
- All children with disabilities can be educated in inclusive programs.
- Parents and teachers influence children's values regarding inclusion.
- Embedded instruction can be used to teach all children.
- All families have positive views of inclusion.
- Inclusion is more expensive than separate programs.
- Inclusion happens when the special education teacher is in the classroom.
- Outcomes for inclusion are for children with disabilities to participate in regular early childhood programs.
- Children with disabilities do not need to be "ready" for some programs.
When the dicussion is complete, debrief the statements with the entire group. End the discussion by reviewing the Brief Summary: Fact Sheet of Research on Preschool Inclusion together.
Note to Facilitators
Stress the importance that Making Sound Preschool LRE Decisions is implemented for each and every child, especially those children with disabilities and their families, who have been historically underrepresented and underserved.
Options and Related Activities
Practices in Action
Have small groups discuss and describe what each fact looks like in practice or how it's operationalized. Document and share the practices.