These modules focus on inclusive, equitable practices for supporting children ages 2-6 in various settings.
Community
This set of modules provides guidance on how we can create welcoming community environments, establish strong family partnerships, foster a sense of belonging, implement anti-racist and anti-biased practices, and engage in positive and meaningful conversations about disability. These modules aim to equip individuals and organizations with the tools to create supportive, diverse, and inclusive spaces.
1. Building Inclusive Community Practices
This module explores building responsive communities by understanding members’ identities and priorities to create culturally sustaining organizations.
2. Creating Effective Family Partnerships
Relationships are the heart of our work. This module talks about ways to build meaningful relationships and partnerships with families in your program.
3. Fostering Membership & Belonging
In truly inclusive programs, every member should feel a sense of belonging. This module talks about how we can do this for all children and their families.
4. Supporting Anti-Racist and Anti-Biased Practices
This module will talk about implicit bias, and what it means to be anti-racist and engage in anti-racist work.
5. Strategies for Talking about Disability
Many people feel uncomfortable discussing disability, but it’s a key part of inclusion. Programs should talk about disability just like any other aspect of identity. This module offers practical ways to do that.
Learner-Focused Practices
This set of modules offers tips on how we can support all children in different settings. You’ll learn how to create high-quality learning environments, support different communication styles, teach routines, use visual aids, adapt activities to promote engagement, and recognize that all behavior is a form of communication. Plus, you’ll explore ways to provide individualized support, support independence, and collaborate with other team members. The goal is to give you the tools to help every child fully participate in your program.
1. Inclusion: What It Means and Why It Matters
“Inclusion” means different things to different people. This module defines inclusion, highlights its benefits, and explores how to create supportive, welcoming environments for all.
2. Creating High Quality Environments Using UDL
This module explores how Universal Design for Learning (UDL) helps create inclusive spaces and activities. Designing with UDL in mind reduces the need for additional supports, making it easier for all children to participate.
3. Supporting Communication for All Learners
Children with disabilities communicate in many different ways. This module covers the range of ways we can intentionally help all children communicate their wants, needs, ideas, and more.
4. Setting Children Up for Success: Teaching Routines and Expectations
To help children fully participate, it’s essential to intentionally teach the routines and expectations. When children know what to expect, they feel more comfortable and confident. This module offers strategies to set them up for success.
5. Using Visual Supports
Visual supports are a simple and effective way to help everyone understand expectations, communicate needs, clarify information, and boost engagement. In this module, we’ll look at how to use visuals to support your entire group and individual learners.
6. Modifying Activities to Support Active Engagement Part 1
Modifications are quick, easy changes we can make to our environment, materials, and activities, and are a great way to boost participation! This module explains how you can use these to support learners in your program.
7. Modifying Activities to Support Active Engagement Part 2
This module offers tools to help identify which children in your program could benefit from modifications, along with tips for discussing modifications with a group of leaners.
8. Behavior is Communication
It can be stressful when children display challenging behaviors, but it’s important to remember that all behavior reflects an unmet need and serves as a way of communicating. This module discusses ways to understand and support these behaviors.
9. Providing Individualized Support
Even with modifications and supports in place, some children will still need individualized help. This module covers how we can provide extra support to those learners.
10. Building Independence for All Learners in Inclusive Settings
We should always be thinking about how to help learners do things on their own. This module talks about why it’s important to let them be as independent as possible and shares tips on how we can slowly step back our support.
11. Teaming and Collaboration in Inclusive Settings
Inclusive settings rely on the expertise and collaboration of many different people. This module covers ways teams can effectively and efficiently work together, even when we are short on time.
