If you are looking for a spirited way to move your inclusion-related goals forward, steal this idea from creative teacher educator, Shelley Littleton. Shelley works as a Project Specialist in the William & Mary School of Education. She supports educators in a number of ways, but one of her roles is hosting a high-energy “make and take” event each year; she calls it Inclusion Palooza.
At this event, teachers explore a range of curricular adaptations and differentiated materials and have opportunities to create them at stations scattered around the event space. Many of the adaptations are drawn from two of my books (co-authored by my talented colleague, Sheila Danaher), From Text Maps to Memory Caps and From Tutor Scripts to Talking Sticks. Because she uses these books, Shelley has always generously shared photos of these events with me. This year, however, she didn’t need to send photos because I got to attend in person, and it was just as joyous as I had imagined it to be!
Some of the tools created by attendees included communication boards, break cards, sensory bins, active learning tools (e.g., review Frisbee), slant boards, and adapted books. The participating educators could make just a few tools or they could visit most or all of the activity tables.
Shelley works hard to help teachers extend their learning and create lasting change. Therefore, she embeds this make-and-take into a months-long study of inclusion. At the end of all of it, participants are asked to share a plan of how they will use the content to move their inclusive models forward. Shelley reports that educators use many formats to report on their plans and target many different practices for their project. In an e-mail Shelley sent to me after one of the group’s gatherings, she wrote: “I was a proud witness to the sharing of inclusion websites, tip books, and music performances; PowerPoint presentations on co-teaching; and posters describing school-division initiatives to build capacity. One school division even did an Echo Event of the Make-and-Take!”
Would you consider planning a “make and take” event for your group? It might be a nice kickoff to a school year or a celebration to end a semester or learning experience. If you try an “Inclusion Palooza” of your own, I would love to hear about it! Contact me at to share your story.