Creating Inclusive Elementary School Dance Education Environments

Inclusion, despite being a topic of discussion and debate across education domains internationally, has received limited research attention in dance education. Inclusion is grounded in an understanding that students with disabilities have a right to be educated alongside their peers in general education classrooms. Inclusive dance provides opportunities for people of all abilities, including individuals with mobility or cognitive disabilities, to experience dance by enabling equal access to all its activities. The purpose of this dissertation study is to explore how an inclusive dance education environment is created for elementary school children with disabilities. Specifically, three research questions were posed: (a) How do dance teachers perceive inclusion and their roles and actions in creating inclusive dance education environments?; (b) How do students with disabilities perceive the elementary school dance education environment?; and (c) How do students without disabilities perceive disability in the context of elementary school dance education? Relational ethics was the conceptual framework that guided study development and interpretation. A qualitative interpretivist approach facilitated the process of understanding the experiences of four dance teachers, eight children with disabilities, and fourteen classmates without disabilities. Data collection involved interviews, observations, and field notes. Data analysis followed interpretive thematic analysis guidelines. This paper-based dissertation consists of three papers. The first addresses the teachers' perceptions and roles, the second addresses students with disabilities, and the third addresses classmates of students with disabilities. In addition, an introductory chapter sets the stage for this research, and a culminating chapter summarizes the findings from the individual papers, and discusses implications for research and professional practice. This study contributes to extending practical and theoretical knowledge in dance education and inclusive education. Insights from this study suggest that elementary school dance education can potentially offer students a safe learning environment that enables collaborative movement exploration, problem solving, and creativity. The environment is created by teachers who are committed to inclusion and value the uniqueness of each student. Through participation in this environment classmates learn to regard uniqueness as an ordinary aspect of their classroom diversity, and students with disabilities gain a sense of belonging.

Children love to observe, explore, learn, and create. Elementary Dance Education helps them do all four. And it does so in a unique way, shaping its movement activities around nature themes. In fact, all of the learning experiences are based on different aspects of nature, as the text intertwines children’s innate curiosity and observation skills with the processes of scientific inquiry and artistic creation. Elementary Dance Education helps teachers develop the instructional skills they need to incorporate dance into their curricula, providing over 70 movement activities and exercises for students in grades K-6. The activities, which stimulate children’s minds and bodies through the process of collaborative dance creation, include variations for younger and older students. Ideas are offered for partner or small-group explorations, making the activities more inclusive and appropriate for each age group. Another unique feature of this book is the original music accompanying it. Teachers have access to 90 minutes of dynamic sounds, rhythmic percussion, captivating electro-acoustic compositions, and gentle atmospheric selections, delivered through HKPropel, to accompany the learning experiences. The compositions support students’ movement explorations, conveying a range of images and emotions and inspiring a variety of responses. In addition, Elementary Dance Education offers the following: Discussion questions for each exercise, prompting in-class discussion and student exploration; the questions come with sample answers or ideas to encourage student responses and spur a fruitful discussion 75 photos and several diagrams to illustrate positions and poses and stimulate ideas for the movement exercises Journal prompts, tailored for older and younger children, to give students the opportunity to respond and reflect on the learning experiences Video links (provided in HKPropel) to help illustrate concepts and exercises, offer examples, or encourage students to watch for something specific in an activity The book’s first chapter introduces the basic elements of dance; the remaining seven chapters offer movement exercises in various areas of nature: plants, animals, water, earth, sky, people, and other wonders. This book is a rich and easy-to-implement resource not only for elementary dance educators and physical educators but for classroom teachers as well. The exercises in this book use a template for movement discovery in which students will observe, explore, create, and share. This template “can be applied to all areas of the curriculum,” says author Janice Pomer. “It’s an invaluable tool for student engagement, satisfying children’s capacity to watch, wonder, move, interact, discover, and share.” Elementary Dance Education will promote children’s creativity and curiosity, engage and challenge their minds and bodies, and help them learn to appreciate and support each other as they work together exploring, creating, and sharing their ideas and insights about the natural world through dance. Note: A code for accessing HKPropel is not included with this ebook but may be purchased separately.

How do schools sustain a collaborative, inclusive culture in these times of high-stakes testing and standardization? Through the story of a progressively minded public elementary school, the author shows how committed educators can collaborate to maintain a creative, inclusive educational environment and still rise to the demands of state-imposed standards. This timely volume explores the evolution of a school in chaos to a highly regarded school serving a diverse student population.

A comprehensive guide to the inclusion techniques when teaching dance, this work provides strategies for including a variety of ability levels in dance and movement experiences.

Children love to observe, explore, learn, and create. Elementary Dance Education helps them do all four. And it does so in a unique way, shaping its movement activities around nature themes. In fact, all of the learning experiences are based on different aspects of nature, as the text intertwines children's innate curiosity and observation skills with the processes of scientific inquiry and artistic creation. Elementary Dance Education helps teachers develop the instructional skills they need to incorporate dance into their curricula, providing over 70 movement activities and exercises for students in grades K-6. The activities, which stimulate children's minds and bodies through the process of collaborative dance creation, include variations for younger and older students. Ideas are offered for partner or small-group explorations, making the activities more inclusive and appropriate for each age group. Another unique feature of this book is the original music accompanying it. Teachers have access to 90 minutes of dynamic sounds, rhythmic percussion, captivating electro-acoustic compositions, and gentle atmospheric selections, delivered through HKPropel, to accompany the learning experiences. The compositions support students' movement explorations, conveying a range of images and emotions and inspiring a variety of responses. In addition, Elementary Dance Education offers the following: Discussion questions for each exercise, prompting in-class discussion and student exploration; the questions come with sample answers or ideas to encourage student responses and spur a fruitful discussion 75 photos and several diagrams to illustrate positions and poses and stimulate ideas for the movement exercises Journal prompts, tailored for older and younger children, to give students the opportunity to respond and reflect on the learning experiences Video links (provided in HKPropel) to help illustrate concepts and exercises, offer examples, or encourage students to watch for something specific in an activity The book's first chapter introduces the basic elements of dance; the remaining seven chapters offer movement exercises in various areas of nature: plants, animals, water, earth, sky, people, and other wonders. This book is a rich and easy-to-implement resource not only for elementary dance educators and physical educators but for classroom teachers as well. The exercises in this book use a template for movement discovery in which students will observe, explore, create, and share. This template "can be applied to all areas of the curriculum," says author Janice Pomer. "It's an invaluable tool for student engagement, satisfying children's capacity to watch, wonder, move, interact, discover, and share." Elementary Dance Education will promote children's creativity and curiosity, engage and challenge their minds and bodies, and help them learn to appreciate and support each other as they work together exploring, creating, and sharing their ideas and insights about the natural world through dance. Note: A code for accessing HKPropel is included with all new print books.

This book provides a critical reflection on the ways dance studio teachers recognize, reflect and respond to cultural difference within their dance studio classes, particularly in the rural context in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Through dance teachers’ narratives, it reveals the complexities of multiculturalism within dance studio classes and examines related issues of inclusion and exclusion within dance education. Understanding the dance practices provided by teachers like those in rural communities within Aotearoa/New Zealand is an increasingly urgent concern in an era of growing political, social and cultural tensions, for students and scholars of performing arts, leadership and community development. While previous research and publications have investigated cultural difference and global multicultural arts practices, this book presents a critical lens on performing arts practice and socio-cultural challenges experienced by local dance teachers within rural communities in Aotearoa/New Zealand.

The arts have a crucial role in empowering young people with special needs through diverse dance initiatives. Inclusive pedagogy that integrates all students in rich, equitable and just dance programmes within education frameworks is occurring alongside enabling projects by community groups and in the professional dance world where many high-profile choreographers actively seek opportunities to work across diversity to inspire creativity. Access and inclusion is increasingly the essence of projects for disenfranchised and traumatised youth who find creative expression, freedom and hope through dance. This volume foregrounds dance for young people with special needs and presents best practice scenarios in schools, communities and the professional sphere. International perspectives come from Australia, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Denmark, Fiji, Finland, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Portugal, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Taiwan, Timor Leste, the UK and the USA. Sections include: inclusive dance pedagogy equality, advocacy and policy changing practice for dance education community dance initiatives professional integrated collaborations

Inclusive education remains a significant challenge in today's educational landscape, as K-12 classrooms and higher education institutions struggle to meet the diverse needs of all students. To address this pressing issue, Developing Inclusive Environments in Education: Global Practices and Curricula, led by Kiyoji Koreeda, offers practical strategies and insights. The book explores the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework, providing a comprehensive guide to making learning inclusive and transformative. It showcases global examples of universal design curricula and highlights the use of educational technologies to facilitate inclusive learning experiences. By focusing on practical activities and support systems, the book empowers educators to build inclusive classrooms and higher education settings, offering detailed descriptions of useful tools and software for personalized teaching materials and reasonable accommodations. Developing Inclusive Environments in Education is an essential resource for researchers and educators committed to fostering inclusive practices and creating transformative educational environments. Embracing the strategies and insights presented in this book allows researchers and educators to revolutionize their approach to education. They can create inclusive environments that support the success and well-being of every student, ensuring that no one is left behind. By adopting the practical guidance and leveraging the examples provided, educators can implement inclusive practices and transform their classrooms and educational settings to meet the diverse needs of learners worldwide. This transformative approach empowers educators to utilize advanced curricula, leverage educational technologies, and implement personalized teaching materials and accommodations, ultimately creating an environment where all students can thrive. Developing Inclusive Environments in Educationserves as a valuable resource, equipping educators with the necessary knowledge and tools to build inclusive and transformative educational environments.

Creative Dance for All Ages, Second Edition, has had a long history of providing a dance curriculum to teachers and students preparing to teach creative dance. Author Anne Gilbert demystifies expectations when teaching creative dance and provides the theory, methods, and lesson ideas for success in a variety of settings and with students of all ages. This one-stop resource offers dance teachers everything they need, including a sequential curriculum, lesson plans, instructional strategies, assessment, and other forms. It’s like having a seasoned dance teacher at your side offering inspiration and guidance all year long. Internationally recognized master teacher and author Anne Gilbert Green presents creative dance for everyone and tips on meeting the challenges of teaching it. She offers a complete package for teaching creative dance that includes the theory, methodology, and lesson plans for various age groups that can be used in a variety of settings. Gilbert also offers an entire dance curriculum for sequential teaching and learning. The second edition of her classic text has been revised, reorganized, and updated to meet all the needs of dance teachers. The second edition of Creative Dance for All Ages includes these new features: • An easy-to-navigate format helps you quickly access the material and find lesson planning and assessment tools. • Content reflects changes in the field of dance education to put you on the cutting edge. • Forty age-appropriate and brain-compatible lesson plans are accessible through the web resource, which save prep time and help ensure compliance with the latest standards. • Five downloadable video clips demonstrate the lesson plans and teaching strategies and how to put them to work in the classroom. • Suggestions for modifying lessons help you include students of all abilities. • Eight assessment forms and curriculum planning templates are adaptable to your needs. If you’re a novice teacher, the book also contains these features to ensure effective instruction: • The same conceptual approach to teaching dance was used in the first edition. • A sequential dance curriculum helps you systematically cover a 10-week quarter or 16-week semester. • Class management tips put you in control from the first day. Creative Dance for All Ages, Second Edition, is an unparalleled resource for dance educators who are looking for a conceptual creative dance curriculum that will support teaching to learners of all ages. Whether in a studio, company, recreational, or educational setting, you will discover a comprehensive and well-rounded approach to teaching dance, emphasizing the how as much as the why.

Law and Neurodiversity offers invaluable guidance on how autism research can inform juvenile justice policies in Canada and the United States. In Canada, the diversion of youth away from formal processing has fostered community-based strategies for serving those with autism. US policies rely more heavily on formal responses, often employing juvenile custody facilities. Building on a rigorous exploration of how assessment, rehabilitation, and community re-entry differ between the two countries, Law and Neurodiversity offers a much-needed comparative analysis of autism and juvenile justice policies on both sides of the forty-ninth parallel.