Why You Should Delete This Word From Your Speech

Words matter. They paint a picture for the listener and impact others in ways we can not always even perceive. Maybe that's why I am on a campaign to remove a word from use.

"Push-in." 

A quick search on my favorite image site (www.pixabay.com) brought up these images. 

"Push-in" is commonly used to describe an inclusive service that is the opposite of "pull-out." As an advocate of inclusion, I enthusiastically support a reduction of "pull-out" services. But the image of pushing myself into classrooms, or worse, feeling like I have to push a student into a classroom makes me uncomfortable. Inclusion should be about belonging, welcoming and embracing! When we perpetuate language that is exclusive and resistive, we increase the challenges for students with disabilities.

If you'd like to join me in banning this negative word from our discussions, consider any of the alternatives to describe your service:

• in-class support
• inclusive instruction
• inclusion
• collaboration
• collaborative teaching
• collaborative consultation
• Tier 1 collaboration
• inclusive SDI

Let's change the image!