Inclusion Strategies That Work!: Research-Based Methods for the Classroom

"What a wonderful, comprehensive tool for educators! The text highlights all of the key areas promoting success for students in inclusive environments."
―Scott Rossig, Behavioral Consultant
Waldwick, NJ

"A great resource for all teachers struggling to effectively include students with disabilities in general education classrooms."
―Diane Cavanagh, Department of Special Education and RehabilitationEast Stroudsburg University, PA

Finally! A comprehensive yet practical one-stop resource of strategies for the inclusive classroom!

Whether you are a general or a special education K-12 teacher, this guide helps you understand and implement hands-on strategies for successful classroom inclusion of students with disabilities. Students identified for special education services pose a variety of challenges, but this practical resource gives you research-based tools that make differentiating instruction for all students much easier.

Designed to be taken off your shelf again and again, Inclusion Strategies That Work! includes an array of lists, charts, curriculum suggestions, tips for working with parents, strategies for preparing Individual Educational Plans (IEPs), including a mock IEP, reproducible activities and applications, and sample inclusion dilemmas. It also gives you information on disability characteristics as well as complementary instructional plans.

Other topics include:

• Understanding special education legislative terminology
• Strategies for establishing successful inclusive classrooms
• Introducing social skills into the curriculum, including addressing emotional intelligences
• Technology-driven classroom activities and resources to maximize student performances
• Collaborative planning and documentation for educators, parents, and students with defined goals and outcomes
• Study skills and assessment techniques that emphasize mastery and retention

The challenges of an inclusive classroom can often be overwhelming. Don′t miss the most comprehensive guide to show you how to make inclusion work!

Toby J. Karten is an experienced educator who has been immersed in the field of special education for her entire career. As an accomplished author and researcher, she has presented successful staff development to local, national, and international audiences. Toby is affiliated with Drew and Monmouth University and is an adjunct professor and graduate instructor at the Regional Training Center, which is affiliated with Gratz College and The College of New Jersey. Being involved in the field of special education for the past three decades has afforded Ms. Karten an opportunity to help many children and adults from elementary through graduate levels around the world. She has been a resource teacher, staff developer, adult educator, and inclusion coach and consultant in New York and New Jersey schools and in many districts nationally and globally. In addition to her roles as an inclusion coach, student and family advocate, professional developer, mentor and resource teacher, Toby designed graduate courses titled From Challenge to Success; LD, ADHD, and the Spectrum and Skills and Strategies for Inclusion and disABILITY Awareness.  She has trained instructors in three states to teach her courses. In addition, she has designed online courses for NaMaYa titled Collaborative Practices for Inclusive Classrooms and Interventions for Students with Dyslexia and Other Reading Differences. She has been recognized by both the Council for Exceptional Children and the New Jersey Department of Education as an exemplary educator, receiving two Teacher of the Year awards. She earned an undergraduate degree in special education from Brooklyn College, a master of science in special education from the College of Staten Island, a supervisory degree from Georgian Court University, and an honorary doctorate from Gratz College. Toby has authored several books and resources about inclusion practices and the CCSS, which are currently used for instruction on many college and university campuses and schools throughout the world.

Ms. Karten is married, has a son, and a few dogs. She enjoys teaching, reading, writing, artwork, and most of all, learning.  Toby believes that inclusion does not begin and end in the classroom, but is a philosophy that continues throughout life. Hence, inclusion is not only research-based, but life-based as well!