Learner support in a diverse classroom A guide for Foundation, Intermediate and Senior Phase teachers

In building an equitable and quality education system, South Africa has embraced an inclusive education approach in which the diverse needs of all learners must be accommodated. This move, as well as the additional pressures that a fast-changing world places on education, requires teachers constantly to adapt their instruction, the curriculum and the classroom environment (physical and virtual) to increase learner involvement and to minimise the exclusion of those learners who experience barriers to learning.
Learner support in a diverse classroom provides a good balance between the theoretical knowledge needed to understand what takes place when a child learns, and the hands-on provision of assessment and support for the learner.
Learner support in a diverse classroom offers creative solutions and solid foundations to any teacher wishing to bring out the best from his or her learners. It can serve as a manual on the practical ways to provide quality education, especially to those learners who experience special challenges in an inclusive environment.
Contents include the following:
Principles and theory underpinning inclusive education
Practical challenges of inclusive education
Extrinsic and intrinsic barriers to learning
Learning and learning difficulties
Inclusive assessment and learning support processes and practices (including the Screening, Identification, Assessment and Support [SIAS] policy)
Language constructs and limited language proficiency
Differentiated teaching and learning
Perceptual development
School readiness for formal learning
Practical strategies for language and mathematics support
Using information and communication technology (ICT) to support learners
Supporting learners who experience academic anxiety
Learner support in a diverse classroom is aimed at all teachers and student teachers, and will also be of great use to parents.