"There are two teachers, so it's more fun and exciting!"…Maesan Elementary Creating an Inclusive Classroom [Our Neighborhood S]

Maesan Elementary School in Suwon (Principal Lim Mi-kyung) has been selected as an operational school for the Gyeonggi Province Office of Education's Integrated Classroom Education Activity Cooperative Teacher program and announced that it will formally implement collaborative teaching in which special education teachers and general teachers conduct classes together in one classroom. This measure is designed to realize an inclusive classroom that supports students with special educational needs and non-disabled students to learn at their own levels in the same space.

This operation is being pursued through a collaborative teaching method in which special education teachers and general teachers jointly design and implement integrated classroom instruction. Through pre-class consultations, the two teachers carefully analyze student characteristics, learning levels, and participation methods, and during class, they divide roles to provide immediate and individualized support to students.

In the past, students with special educational needs sometimes experienced difficulties in following the flow of lessons or fully participating in activities in integrated classrooms. To reduce these difficulties, Maesan Elementary is focusing on activity adjustments that reflect individual students' educational needs, role-sharing among teachers, immediate feedback during classes, and expanded opportunities to participate with peers.

Prior to implementing collaborative teaching, a two-week intensive observation period was established to carefully understand students' learning attitudes, communication methods, peer relationships, and class participation in both special education and integrated classrooms. Based on this, various collaborative teaching models such as team teaching, co-teaching, and observational teaching are being applied in integrated classroom instruction, supporting students to participate in learning at their own levels and pace within the same classroom.

Changes in the classroom are becoming clearly evident. Unlike previous classes where one teacher instructed all students, with two teachers now working together to observe students, those with questions receive help more quickly, and students who struggle with activities participate in tasks in ways suited to their level. Through this process, not only students with special educational needs but all students in the integrated classroom are participating in class in an increasingly stable and vibrant atmosphere.

One student participating in the class said, "It's great that two teachers are teaching together, so I can ask right away when I don't understand something," and added, "Doing activities with friends makes the class more fun and exciting."

Kwon Eun-song, the special education teacher in charge of collaborative teaching, said, "Integrated education is not simply about being in the same classroom, but a process where all students participate in class and experience learning in their own way," and added, "As general teachers and special education teachers work together to think about and implement classes, the possibilities for participation for each student are expanding."

Principal Lim Mi-kyung stated, "As an operational school for the Gyeonggi Province Office of Education's Integrated Classroom Education Activity Cooperative Teacher program, Maesan Elementary School aims to create a classroom where diversity is respected and all students grow together," and added, "We will continue to enhance the substance of integrated education and expand inclusive school culture based on professional collaboration between special education teachers and general teachers."

Maesan Elementary School plans to continuously develop the collaborative teaching model through this integrated classroom education activity cooperative teacher operation and spread a culture of integrated education where students with special educational needs and non-disabled students understand each other and learn together throughout the school.