magazine project

TEACHING
TIMES

An education magazine

ISSUE 1

ISSUE #1

PUBLISHER: BY HANNAH RIGBY
WRITER: HANNAH RIGBY

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: HANNAH RIGBY
CREATIVE DIRECTOR: HANNAH RIGBY
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: HANNAH RIGBY

COPY EDITOR: HANNAH RIGBY
EDITORIAL PROJECTS DIRECTOR: HANNAH RIGBY

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR- 2
ABSTRACT- 3

TEACHING TREND ARTICLE: INCLUSIVITY IN THE CLASSROOM- 4
REFERENCES- 5

STUDENT INTERVIEW- 6
PARENT INTERVIEW- 7
TEACHER INTERVIEW- 8
PROFESSOR INTERVIEW- 9
PRINCIPAL INTERVIEW- 10

BACK COVER- 11

My name is Hannah Rigby. I am twenty-two up in Queen Creek I attended school in a
years old and I live with my family in district with very little funding. Class sizes
Wichita, Kansas. I grew up in a small town were between 35-45 students, we only had a
in Arizona called Queen Creek. I am an handful of AP classes and extracurriculars
elementary education major and love living offered, and almost none of my classes had
with my three best friends up at school. textbooks available for use. Once my family
When I am not at school, I teach swim moved to Kansas, I was able to see my
lessons and coach swim team in Wichita. I sisters attend a well-funded high school as
absolutely love swimming and spending well as volunteer at the refugee center, both
time with kids in the pool and seeing the of which have influenced my teaching
way they can improve and learn new skills. philosophy. I believe that all children should
This greatly influenced me to pursue an have the opportunity to attend adequately
education degree, as well as the long line of staffed and stocked and funded schools, and
teachers that I come from. Outside of school that teachers have the responsibility to
I like to spend time with my friends provide the skills and information necessary
watching movies, shopping, eating for kids to be successful in their lives.
barbeque, and going on road trips. Growing School should be a safe place for all students

and a teacher should have high expectations
of their students and help provide solutions
to their shortcomings and places where they
struggle.

Abstract classroom. Recently in schools all across the
country more and more general education
Teaching Times Magazine is all classrooms are being integrated with
about education and the way it affects not students with special needs that are
only the students and teachers in the differently abled. Inclusivity means that all
classroom, but also parents, administrators, students, regardless of their abilities, are to
and the world around us in general. It be included in their classroom and that those
attempts to emphasize the fact that there are who are differently abled are able to receive
many ways to be a good and competent the resources and support that they need for
teacher, and that no two students are the their success. Legislation, such as the
same. Our philosophy is that every student Education for All Handicapped Children
should have the same opportunity to attend Act, has been put in place to ensure that
adequately staffed and stocked and funded students with disabilities have a free and
schools, and that teachers have the accessible education with the resources they
responsibility to provide the skills and need. This trend of inclusivity in the
information necessary for those students to classroom is most likely here to stay. It is
be successful in their lives. School should be supported by research and studies that have
a safe place for all students and a teacher come out recently that suggest that all
should have high expectations of their students, both abled and those who have
students and help provide solutions to their special needs, benefit from an inclusive
shortcomings and places where they classroom. Inclusivity is a teaching trend
struggle. In this issue of Teaching Times, we that benefits all and is worth learning more
cover a new teaching trend, inclusivity in the about.

Inclusivity in the Classroom: A Current receive high quality instruction,
Teaching Trend interventions, and supports that enable them
to meet success in the core curriculum”. All
Inclusivity is a current teaching trend across the country classrooms are working
that is not only picking up steam as it makes to ensure that students with disabilities,
its way across the nation into public schools whether they be physical or mental, are just
but is a trend that seemingly will stick as much a part of the classroom as able-
around. Research has shown that including bodied students. This can lead to differently-
differently-abled. Previously passed abled students to be able to successfully be
legislature has ensured handicapped members in their schools and their
students’ entitlement to certain resources, communities, during and after their
but it has not been until recently that such a education.
push for such inclusivity until now, mostly
due to new research that shows that both Much of the movement to promote
handicapped and non-handicapped students inclusivity in the classroom related to
benefit from interacting together in schools. legislation previously passed. It is estimated
So what does it mean to have an inclusive that around eleven percent of the children in
classroom? our public schools have disabilities that
require special provision in the educational
According to Lilla Dale McManis, program. The Education for All
PhD writing for Concordia University, Handicapped Children Act, passed by
“When all students, regardless of any Congress in 1975, “all handicapped children
challenges they may have, are placed in age- have available to them a free, appropriate
appropriate general education classes that education and related services designed to
are in their own neighborhood schools to

meet their unique needs”. It included the students in public schools with
concepts of IEPs (individualized education settings that are as normal as
programs), mainstreaming, least restrictive possible to ensure that the student
environments, zero reject, and progressive can fit in and achieve success in that
inclusion. placement.

- Least restrictive environment means Inclusive classrooms have also picked
that children with disabilities are up steam because of the science behind it.
with their peers without disabilities For example, a study published in the
to the maximum amount possible Journal of the American Academy of
while realizing that not all Special Education Professionals in 2006
individuals can do all of the same focused on verifying the impacts of
activities in the same environment. inclusive classrooms on their students. Their
results found significant positive impacts on
- Zero reject means that no one can be both students with disabilities and those
totally rejected because of their without. Students with disabilities reported
disability. higher self-concept and liked school and
their teachers more, as well as felt more
- Progressive inclusion says that motivated to work harder on their
students with disabilities should have assignments and learn. Students without
the opportunity to progress and disabilities also followed these patterns and
experience most of the mainstream had significantly better attitudes and
of our schools and their programs. academic achievement, and also had a much
higher tolerance of students with disabilities.
- Mainstreaming means that students
with disabilities must have
opportunities to integrate with other

It is important to understand that there crucial to being a good teacher and truly
most be a lot of thought and preparation in being a help to students.
having an inclusive classroom. An inclusive
classroom does not mean that any student So, if inclusivity is so important,
with special needs is thrown into any how do we make sure that we are
classroom without careful planning and fostering an inclusive environment?
support, which could disadvantage the When children are able to have a sense
student, nor does it mean that the teacher is of belonging in their environment, they
expected to spend a disproportionate amount are less likely to struggle with school
of time teaching or adapting the curriculum work or at school in general. Teachers
for the special needs student, which could should encourage their students to
neglect other students in the class. It is also contribute to their environment and set
crucial to emphasize the fact that an clear goals as to how they want their
inclusive classroom does not mean that classroom to look and identify what it
students are all expected to do the same will take to achieve those goals. There
work with the same resources and support are many ways to promote inclusivity,
and have it be considered “fair”. All students and here are five ways that you as a
learn at different paces and in different teacher can do your part.
ways, and the teacher should be able to meet
them halfway and help them to succeed. - Arrive early to greet your students
Flexibility and the ability to adapt are each day and interact with them
before the school day officially starts
and act as an example of how all are
welcome in the classroom.

- Embrace the diversity. Just like the with disabilities living and thriving
way all students look different, they in the real world. Showing that
all learn differently and struggle in disabilities are real and valid can
different ways- and that’s okay! encourage students to have a positive
Emphasize to your students the value mindset towards those different from
of strengths and weaknesses instead them.
of overemphasizing or ignoring
them. Inclusivity is a teaching trend that
most likely will not stay a trend but will
- Do your research. Make it a point to soon become mainstream and widely
learn about a student’s disability so accepted and practiced. Both students
that you can be sensitive and with disabilities and those without
educated in your approach to their greatly benefit from inclusive
learning. classrooms- they have better attitudes
towards their teachers, are motivated to
- Encourage student interaction. If work hard, and have more tolerance for
students feel included in the those around them. While legislation
classroom they are more likely to protects those who are differently-abled,
succeed, so switch up seating charts it is important as educators to make an
and groupings so that students will effort to learn about the resources
have the opportunity to interact with available to help those students succeed.
those outside of their every day
friend groups and cliques.

- Look for representation. Find books
and learning aides that show people

References

Gabriel, Kathleen F., (21 May 2018). Five Ways to Promote a More Inclusive Classroom.
Retrieved from https://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/teaching-and-learning/five-ways-to-
promote-a-more-inclusive-classroom/

McLeskey, James and Waldron, Nancy L. (2019). Examining Beliefs, Attitudes, and
Understandings as Inclusive Schools are Developed. Retrieved from
http://www.ascd.org/publications/books/100210/chapters/Examining-Beliefs,-Attitudes,-and-
Understandings-as-Inclusive-Schools-Are-Developed.aspx

Dupuis, Bonnie, Barclay, Joyce W., Holmes, Sherwin D., Platt, Morgan, and Shaha, Steven H.
(2006). Does Inclusion Help Students: Perspectives from Regular Education and Students with
Disabilities. Journal of the American Academy of Special Education Professionals. Summer
2006 version. Page two. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1140208.pdf

Student: Anne Perkinson, Senior at down for me. We go through
Mountain View High School in Mesa, question by question and he
Arizona reteaches me what I didn’t
understand. It’s kind of expensive for
1. What do you think is the greatest my parents but it’s made a big
challenge that students face today? difference because I personally
needed it. Also, teachers that let you
Answer: Distraction or time retake or make up tests.
management, like with phones and
media. For me, its hard for me to not 3. What is something that you wish
watch a movie or not play on my teachers would understand about
phone, then its like 11:00 and you’re being a student?
like oh shoot I still have all my
homework. And it’s the same thing Answer: That we also have jobs and
with time management, like if you extra curriculars and other
can’t manage your time then you get responsibilities outside of school and
stuck with all your homework at the that it’d be good if they were more
end of the day late at night. flexible with deadlines and stuff like
that.
2. What is the best resource that a
teacher has given you? 4. What do you like the most/least
Answer: Teachers that have extra about school?
help hours or advisory for students, Answer: I like the social aspect. I
especially in math. I also have a tutor love school and seeing all my friends
that comes to my house and helps me and people at school. Activities like
review for tests and breaks stuff

football games or dances or clubs or 5. If you could change or fix anything
whatever. I love being a senior, I just about your current school/classes
feel like I know more people and feel what would it be?
more confident and sure of myself Answer: If I were to change anything
than I was as a freshman. about my school it’s that my school
is very cliquey. Like for years and
Least favorite would probably be years and years classes (grades) stick
math. But other than that, probably to their own groups. And it’s kind of
like the time that we’re there and the snobby and rich. Don’t act so stuck
repetition. We do the same thing up and better than everyone. We’re
over and over every day, so maybe not. We’re not that great. I don’t
having an AB day schedule would have that many complaints though, I
help. Also, the homework. I feel like really love school. I’m happy here
I always have a lot of homework but ready for a change and to
which is annoying. I would enjoy graduate and go to college and go on
learning so much more if I knew I a mission. Also, AP teachers are so
didn’t have to worry about taking a much better. They’re more invested
test after, like I would probably learn and have risen to the top while the
so much more if I wasn’t spending general teachers are like coaches and
time stressing about a test. stuff. That’s a problem because the
in-between kids that aren’t stupid
and don’t struggle in school but
aren’t smart enough or don’t want to

do AP should still be able to get
good teachers and be challenged.
And tests, don’t make tests worth so
much of our grade so it doesn’t ruin
us if we mess up on one.

Parent Interview: Barb Smith, Athens, resources that have helped my kids
Georgia. in school so I guess a little of both. It
can be good in certain situations
1. What is the best resource a teacher when it’s controlled.
has given you to help your children? 3. How can a teacher ensure a
I think that the best resource a successful year for your child?
teacher has given me to help my kids Like I said, communication is key. I
is being open and willing to need to know that my kid’s teacher is
communicate. I don’t always know just as willing to work with her as I
the stuff they’re covering in their am so I want to know I’ll get quick
classes so a teacher who responds to responses when we’re having
emails and phone calls quickly is problems. A lot of teachers have
super helpful, also PowerSchool so times when they can go in and get
that I can stay up to date and check extra help or make up tests too so
their grades whenever I want. that’s super helpful.
4. How do you motivate/encourage
2. Do you think technology does more your child to work hard in school?
harm or good in the learning I stay very up to date on their grades
process? and if they are not working hard and
I think it does both. Kids these days getting their assignments done they
are so distracted by their phones and lose privileges. Like I’ll pay for their
video games and I think that can get gas if they have straight A’s, or they
in the way of school work, especially can’t go hang out with friends if
when they have their phones out in
class. But there are also a lot of great

they’re failing a class. But mostly we
try to emphasize that it’s just
important to work hard in school and
actually try.
5. At the end of the year what do you
hope your child says about their
experience during the school year?
I hope that my kid feels good about
their school year! And that they feel
like whatever effort they put in was
worth it and they saw the end results
they wanted and expected and that
they’re ready for whatever the next
school year will bring.

Amy Clark, Teacher Education Professor Idaho program to increase the quality of
childcare and preschool in Idaho. I found
1. What made you want to be a teacher? that I enjoyed sharing my knowledge and
I worked for an airline thinking it would be experience and loved helping people grow
adventurous. That job turned out to be professionally. When my youngest child
neither adventurous or fulfilling. At the went to kindergarten, so did I; I went back to
same time, I was teaching primary in my teaching kindergarten in the public school
ward. I loved the challenge and the system. From there I taught first grade then
fulfillment I experience from this third grade. While teaching I had many
calling. That led me to continue school to opportunities to mentor other teachers and
become a teacher. found that I really enjoyed mentoring. That
desire to share my knowledge and
experience let me to BYU-Idaho.

2. Did you teach a lower grade level before 3. What is your favorite/least favorite part
becoming a professor? If so, what about your current teaching job?
influenced you to make the transition into My favorite part about teaching at BYU-
becoming a professor? Idaho is the relationships I build with
My background is in early childhood special students and being able to incorporate
ed. I taught kindergarten until my children gospel teaching into lessons and invite the
were born. Then, I stayed home with them Spirit into the classroom. Along those lines,
and taught preschool in my home. While in developing relationships and mentoring
teaching preschool I became a trainer for an students, I am often involved in helping

them with challenging aspects of their 6. What is the most challenging/most
personal lives. Hearing about their rewarding part about being a
heartaches and seeing how those challenges professor?
affect their lives is my least favorite part of
the job because it breaks my heart to see The most challenging parts of being a
students I care about hurting so badly. professor, for me, is remembering names
and keeping up with grading and
4. How do you motivate your students to be emails. Having such large classes makes it
active and engaged learners? hard to do those things. The most rewarding
I try to use total participation techniques in is the relationships I develop with students
the lessons I teach to engage students in and seeing students’ progress and develop
active learning. Along with using active their teaching skills. Because I teach several
learning, I try to help students understand literacy classes, I often teach the same
why they are doing what they are doing and students for multiple semesters. It is a joy to
help them apply that activity to their future get to know students over time and watch
teaching. Students are more likely to be them develop as teachers.
active and engaged learners when they see
value and purpose in what they are asked to
do.

Michelle Lloyd, Principal at Cascade and meeting goals and just finding ways to
Elementary, in Orem, Utah. Masters of support them. We focus on PLC-
Education with an administrative certificate professional learning committees.
(K-12) and K-8 teaching certificate.
3. How would you describe your
1. What led you to becoming a leadership style?
principal- do you have teaching
background? I would say it’s I have an open office open
door policy. I’m very much open to
I taught fifth grade for eight years and I feedback, when I have meetings, I want
never wanted to be a principal but lots of people’s opinions. I’m a social person. I
people said I would make a good principal think teams are better than working alone.
based on my leadership skills, so I thought The more people we can get input on things
I’d give it a try. I took a sabbatical and got the better.
my masters in a year at BYU and loved it. I
had three internships to be an assistant 4. What do you look for when
principal at a junior high and then two interviewing teachers? What advice
elementary schools for three months and would you give to a first year
then applied and got hired at an elementary teacher?
school at the end of the year.
I would say the first thing (which I learned
2. What would you say gets the bulk of as a teacher) is “with-it-ness”. Basically, you
your attention during the school day? can teach someone the content and how to
If you could reallocate that, what teach math, but you have to have some with-
would you like to be able to focus on it-ness, someone who can be at the front and
more? be engaging and is confident and has social
skills and personality- you can’t teach that.
Probably student needs, I spend a lot of time You have to have some self-confidence and
and try to be in the lunchroom and the poise. Doesn’t matter what age group you
playground. I’m also in the front of the teach you have to be engaging.
school in the morning and end, that’s my
first goal of the day. I also spend a lot of I would say every minute that you invest
time doing administrative stuff- Independent upfront in management will pay you back
Learning Plans, meetings, lots of admin throughout the year. Establish routines and
stuff, always paperwork to do. Emails to practices for the first few weeks and then
respond to. If I could reallocate my time, I you can spend the rest of the year not
would spend more time in classrooms with worrying about managing and can focus on
teachers and supporting teachers. I go learning. I used to coach new teachers and
around and check in with my teachers every the teachers who could teach routines could
day, but I would spend more time with go on to work on lessons. You can be great
teachers. Not even spending time watching at teaching but if you can’t keep their
them but spending more time looking at data attention, forget it.

5. What is the most challenging/most
rewarding part of being a principal?

Most challenging would be trying to keep
everyone happy, like parents in particular. I
know they’re advocating for their kids, but
they don’t always get the whole story. Being
with kids is the most rewarding. That’s why
I try to spend time in the cafeteria and the
playground and greeting them. I love to see
kids and their energy. When I was a teacher,
I was more worried about getting kids to
learn and having enough time to teach it all.
As a principal I feel like that’s mostly what I
saw.

The work of a teacher — exhausting,
complex, idiosyncratic, never twice the

same — is at its heart an ethical
enterprise. Teaching is the vocation of

vocations.

― William Ayres