Inclusivity and diversity are essential elements that contribute to the holistic development of students. These two are very essential for school environment. We all know that for school admission in Howrah, students come from different places and from different backgrounds. It is the responsibility of school teachers to look after them and to give them the best education.
By celebrating diversity and inclusive practices the top school in Howrah can help to foster a sense of belonging, respect and mutual understanding among students.
What is inclusion?
Inclusion refers to the practice of creating an environment where all individuals, regardless of their differences, are welcomed, valued, and given equal opportunities to succeed.
In a school context, celebrating diversity means acknowledging and respecting the various backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences that each student brings to the classroom. Inclusion involves creating a safe and supportive environment where all students, irrespective of their differences, can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
The major factors impact student learning environment
- Physical: Deciding how the educational environment is physically laid out and designed to support students’ safety and learning.
- Psychological: Creating a trusting educational environment allows students to participate, ask questions, take risks, and receive constructive feedback.
- Emotional: Celebrating diversity, self-expression, and students’ achievement Student perceptions of a safe learning environment:
- Avoid judgment and bias
- Provide ground rules
- Demonstrate comfort with controversy and conflict
- Require classroom participation
- Demonstrate caring for each student
The peers in a safe learning environment should:
- Have good discussion skills and be good listeners
- Share their thoughts honestly
- Be nonjudgmental and positive
- Have a sense of community
- Constructively challenge each other
Teachers can create a similarly safe, inclusive learning environment by:
- Examining their own assumptions about their students
- Learning about their students and helping students get to know one another through activities such as icebreakers or group work
- Using inclusive language that can be understood by all in the classroom and providing definitions of cultural translations as needed
- Providing examples and materials representing diverse backgrounds
- Avoiding asking one individual to speak for a group
- Determining if diverse perspectives are represented in the curriculum
- Providing constructive and frequent feedback to students
- Modelling effective and meaningful classroom discussions and participation
- Conveying care for students
- Establishing guidelines for discussion and classroom behavior
The teachers of Doon Techno School begin their day with the morning meeting model, which is a classroom practice. Adding a morning circle time in class schedule helps set the tone for teachers and students.
Teachers of the Doon Techno School takes care of their students and creates a culture of diversity and inclusivity, and belonging in their classrooms. The teachers of our school believes that students with advanced writing skills are better at critical thinking skills.
How Doon Techno School can promote inclusion?
- Curriculum integration – Our school follows CBSE curriculum and encourage students to learn about different cultures, languages, history and social isues
- Inclusive teaching practices - Teachers play a central role in creating an inclusive classroom environment. CBSE schools can promote inclusion by adopting teaching strategies that cater to diverse learning styles, abilities, and needs. Differentiated instruction, for example, allows teachers to tailor their lessons to meet the individual needs of students, ensuring that every student can learn and succeed.
- Celebrates cultural and religious festivals–Our school also celebrates various cultural and religious festivals. Celebrating festivals are an excellent way to promote diversity. Festivals like Eid, Diwali, Baishaki can be included in the school calendar.
- Promoting festive language and behaviour - It is crucial for Top CBSE schools in Howrah to foster a culture of respect by promoting the use of inclusive language and behavior. Students should be taught the importance of using respectful language, avoiding discriminatory remarks, and embracing diversity in all forms. Schools can conduct workshops or seminars on bullying, discrimination, and gender equality, helping students understand the impact of their words and actions on others.
Conclusion
Celebrating diversity and inclusion is not just a moral imperative; it is a necessity for creating well-rounded, empathetic, and globally-minded individuals. CBSE schools have a unique opportunity to foster an inclusive environment where all students feel respected, valued, and empowered to reach their full potential. By embracing diversity through curriculum integration, inclusive teaching practices, cultural celebrations, and positive behavior promotion, schools can provide a supportive atmosphere for every student.
