Creating an inclusive classroom isn’t about checking boxes or throwing support staff in a room and hoping it works. Inclusion means that every single student, regardless of learning style, diagnosis, or background, feels seen, supported, and like they belong.
Inclusion isn’t a setting. It’s a mindset.
And in this post, I’m breaking down what that actually looks like in the classroom with practical strategies you can implement right away.
Whether you’re a gen ed teacher trying to do right by your students with IEPs, or a SPED teacher navigating co-teaching chaos, these tips will help you build a learning environment that works for all your students.
1. Inclusion Is a Culture, Not a Location
Inclusion doesn’t mean “the EC student sits in the front.” It means they are a fully engaged part of the classroom community with the supports they need to access the same content.
Ask yourself:
Does every student feel safe to participate?
Do they see themselves reflected in the classroom norms and materials?
Are they getting the support they need: proactively, not reactively?
Action Steps:
Replace language like “my SPED kids” with “my students.”
Reframe classroom rules to offer flexible, inclusive participation.
Start your weekly plans by reviewing how students will access the lesson, not just what they’ll complete.
2. Scaffolds Aren’t Extra — They’re Essential
Let’s stop treating scaffolding like a modification. Scaffolds don’t change the goal — they help students reach it.
Examples of Effective Scaffolds:
Visual directions
Sentence stems or writing starters
Step-by-step graphic organizers
Checklists for multi-step tasks
Partner models or group discussion frames
Instead of: “Write a five-paragraph essay.”
Try: Break the essay into steps across multiple days with guided checkpoints.
If a student can’t access the task, they won’t engage in the learning.
3. Universal Design Benefits Everyone
What helps one student often helps many. This is the heart of Universal Design for Learning (UDL).
Universal Tools to Implement:
ClassroomScreen for visual timers, cues, and directions
Calm Corners with sensory tools and reset strategies
Visual schedules posted daily
“Grab-and-go” tools like fidgets, pencil grips, sentence stems
Choice boards for demonstrating understanding in multiple formats
Set up systems where students don’t have to ask for support they can just use it.
4. Inclusion Takes a Team
You do not have to do it all. I’ll say it louder: You are not meant to do this alone.
Support staff — EC teachers, paras, therapists — are your collaborators, not your backup plan.
How to Collaborate Intentionally:
Share lesson plans ahead of time via Google Drive
Keep a living “student needs doc” where support staff can comment
Invite EC staff to lead small group or whole group instruction
Plan accommodations together, not as an afterthought
Co-teaching doesn’t have to be fancy. Even a 10-minute tag-team on guided practice can make a difference.
5. Let IEPs Guide Instruction — Not Just Paperwork
IEPs are more than legal docs. They’re roadmaps. And if you’re not using them to plan instruction, you’re missing out.
How to Make IEPs Part of Daily Practice:
Highlight each student’s goals and keep them visible in your planning system
Align small group tasks to IEP objectives
Track progress with checklists, Google Forms, or quick rubrics
Review accommodations weekly — don’t “set it and forget it”
Need help? My IEP Planner and Present Levels Writing Toolkit are perfect for this: templates, tracking, and everything you need to stay on top of student goals.
6. Representation Isn’t Optional
Students should see themselves, and people different from them, in your curriculum and materials. That includes disability, neurodiversity, race, gender identity, and more.
Ways to Increase Representation:
Feature books and media with disabled or neurodivergent characters
Use diverse names and backgrounds in examples and assignments
Avoid “inspiration porn” — highlight lived experiences, not pity stories
Add posters showing kids using AAC, wheelchairs, and sensory tools
Representation shouldn’t be a one-time lesson. It should be woven in.
7. Structure = Safety (Especially for Neurodivergent Students)
Predictability reduces anxiety. Clear expectations reduce meltdowns. That’s the real secret to behavior management in an inclusive classroom.
Structure Ideas That Work:
Visual daily schedule (posted on the board or ClassroomScreen)
Predictable transitions with timers or verbal countdowns
Calm corner or “reset spot” with expectations clearly posted
Consistent rules and routines taught, practiced, and revisited
My fave? The Cell Phone Hotel: phones charge by the teacher desk, zero distractions, no theft worries.
8. Let Students Choose How They Show What They Know
Flexibility is power. Inclusive classrooms offer students more than one way to demonstrate understanding.
Try This:
Let students draw, record audio, build, or present. Instead of only writing
Use sentence stems or idea banks for open-ended tasks
Offer “quiet ask” cards for students who struggle to raise their hand
Teach phrases like:
“I need a break.”
“Can I try a different way?”
“I need help starting.”
This is inclusion in action: giving students agency and voice.
9. Use Data to Empower — Not Punish
Tracking student progress doesn’t have to be a compliance task. It can be a student-centered strategy.
Easy Progress Monitoring Systems:
Weekly “I Can” checklists
Student self-assessment rating scales (1–5)
Work samples saved by goal
Mini reflections tied to each objective
Data should help students see their growth and help you support them better.
Final Thoughts: Inclusion Is a Mindset, Not a Buzzword
You don’t need to be a Pinterest-perfect teacher to create an inclusive classroom. You just need to be intentional.
Start with mindset Build with tools Collaborate with your team Support with structure Empower through voice and choice
Want Support with IEPs?
Check out my printable and digital resources for inclusive classrooms:
Each resource is designed to help teachers teach easier — with scaffolds built in, and no fluff included.
Want a sample! I have one here –> Compliance Sample
Leave a comment:
What’s your go-to inclusion strategy?
What do you want to try this year?
Let’s keep the conversation going and keep building classrooms where everyone belongs.