Morcom, V.A. & MacCallum J.A. (2011). Getting Personal About Values: Scaffolding Student Participation Towards an Inclusive Classroom Community. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 16 (12), 1323-1334.

This article discusses how student participation and engagement is dependent on an inclusive school and classroom community. Through a large research project, the authors studied different ways for students to interact, and promoted student participation in classroom activities. The study was conscious about including individuals with intellectual disabilities. Scaffolding took place in various activities such as social circles and class meetings, in which students developed leadership skills based on inclusive values. As a result, students with and without disabilities were able to participate in the classroom while feeling respected and appreciated. Students were taught the importance of active listening, which is an important form of student engagement. Creating a classroom environment in which each student is involved and appreciated builds a sense of belonging and pride. As a result, students feel comfortable enough to share opinions and ideas with their peers.