EDUC 5710: Understanding Barriers to Learning

Unit 8: Portfolio Activity

Instructor: Dr. Angela Andrews

Every topic on inclusivity is considered a positive component by almost every teacher.

Through this course, I have learned a lot about the various accommodations and

modifications important to make for the students to make them feel included and develop a
sense of belonging. Many of my students have been identified with various disabilities, and I

have been working with them for almost two years now; this course further upped my

knowledge and created an awareness of the importance of these changes required for the

education of these children. Furthermore, the best part of this course is that I have come to

know that many students even with no impairment show the same habits and routines. It not

their impairment but it’s just the way they want to learn. Particularly from the video

(Brainhighways, 2018) which was really heart touching, and I believe that it is for every

teacher, regardless of them having students who are disabled or normal. Every student is

unique, no matter they have a disability or not, hence it is important that the teachers practice

inclusion for all students as inclusion is best practice for disabled and non-disabled students

(Grieco & Russo, 2019). If the inclusion is done properly, the whole class benefits from it as

it enhances the ability of the non-disabled students to work together and value everyone in

the classroom setting. This course has allowed me to tackle students who have particularly

anxiety issues as I believe almost every child goes through a phase where they are anxious

about almost everything around them.

Coming to subject of religion, I believe where inclusion is always considered a positive

topic, religion on the other hand is always met with aversion by teachers. This is mainly due

to the open conversations of religions may not be agreeable for instructors where everyone
has to exist together and agree on same points. Seen as a basic human right, freedom of

religion is important however, one can built this by recognizing the different races, cultures

and religions and understanding that though we belong to different religions still we are all

equal. In my school where I teach, religious diversity exists, and it is one of the motivation

for fostering respect and tolerance for each other, be it students or staff. Many public schools

do not prefer talking about religious topics as it can create conflicts and religious intolerance.

However, I always include topics such as religious beliefs and cultures in my lessons so that

we all learn from each other and adapt ourselves to tolerate and respect each other’s believes

and faiths. Religious diversity promotes the students to interact with other students . For

example, in my school there are many Muslims who do not eat in the times when they have a

holy month, Ramadan. Here we make sure the other students talk to them and learn from

them why they don’t eat and what is the motive behind it. I have experienced that with these

conversations, many Japanese students in my class also started to fast because of the motive

behind the practice after they discussed this practice with the Muslim students. We all respect

each other in this regard and students show their respect by not giving any kind of hard work

to the students who are fasting.

I believe that all religions should be known and studied by the children. It educates them to

be open minded and welcoming individuals of other cultures and faiths. Furthermore, it

instills ethical ideas and thinking in the students where they develop strong reasoning, and
critical thinking skills in the religious studies. Worldviews has an impact on not only how we

understand the world, but it also makes sense of the world around us (Religious Diversity in

Classrooms, 2018). Furthermore, it also allows the students to express themselves openly.

In conclusion, every kind of diversity should be welcomed in a classroom setting.

Cultural differences come from the religious practices one has, so religious studies and their

knowledge in the students will open the room for more inclusion and diversity.

References
Brainhighways. (2018). Dear teacher: Heartfelt advice for teachers from students [Video].

YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=lTMLzXzgB_s&t=112s&ab_channel=brainhighways

Grieco, H., & Russo, A. (2019). Students With Disabilities Deserve Inclusion. It's Also the Best Way

to Teach (Opinion). Education Week. https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/opinion-

students-with-disabilities-deserve-inclusion-its-also-the-best-way-to-teach/2019/05

Religious Diversity in Classrooms. (2018). Study.com. https://study.com/academy/lesson/religious-

diversity-in-classrooms.html.