Inclusion in the classroom alonewith2: Okay, for all you teachers out there! I'm helping my sister research for her departmental paper (the last step on her way to her Master's degree). She's writing about the implications of inclusion in the classroom and what that means for the students as well as the teachers.
I'm wondering what are the opinions of all the teachers about this. I understand the concept (pros and cons), but I was just wondering what I might be missing.
From the research I have done already it seems that Special Education teachers will have to become certified in one subject area such as math, english, social studies, etc....but regular teachers do not have to take any classes or credits in the special education field.
So I'm wondering how the teachers view this and if they feel ready for this inclusion of all students together.
Re: Inclusion in the classroom manda: Okay: me--I am certified K-6 and have my masters in Reading Ed. just so you know who I am.
We already do inclusion at my school. We try to only remove children when we feel that the classroom would be a distraction for them, for example: for reading time, all my kids are divided up. I take a group, my assistant take a group, and the special ed teacher (we call that "resource" by the way) takes a group that includes her two identified (IEP) students but ALSO includes two more that we want to get the same material.
It works wonderfully. She is able to work on phonics at their level. All this happens in the same room, or sometimes one of the groups moves to the hall--not usually her group.
However, I had a student once who was doing this inclusion stuff and it was not in his best interest in my opinion. But the school didn't work with me on it. I was teaching 3rd grade and he needed first grade instruction for all subjects. It took half the year for me to get a situation worked out for him--a volunteer worked with him. The resource teacher would come in and help him do OUR work, but it was too hard so I would try to water down every assignment for him--and I just felt that SHE should have done some of that planning. It was a bad situation.
But most of the time, I really like it. Plus, it matters who the resource teacher is and how willing she is to come in and be part of your room and your goals, as well as work for each child using the IEPs.
The thing is with education (and this sometimes ticks me off) children are so unique and different and we can't just say "We are going to teach them all this way." It just doesn't work. Sometimes, we have to do things differently. Flexibility.
I'll add this. I have found that special education course-loads are lacking in the READING area. A student working toward this degree should consider a few reading/spelling classes as extra electives. ALSO, elementary ed course loads have reading classes but need MORE. Most teachers come out of college without knowing basic phonetic sequences and strategies for teaching children to read. Every child can learn to read. Every one of them. There is no excuse for third, fourth, and fifth graders not knowing how to read. Poor reading teachers. PUSH for phonic programs in the schools and take kids out of classes if the teacher says she just does her own thing with phonics.
Okay, enough. Sorry so long.
Re: Inclusion in the classroom alonewith2: Thank you, Random, for your reply! I understand all too well how hard it is sometimes to get the school to listen and then move on a plan. I've been going through this with my own son!!
My sister works with special needs children outside the school system. She has a few students who do not even go to school, they just come to her "classroom." So she doesn't have to work with this inclusion system herself. That is why I have asked for the comments from teachers who do.
Just so I have it right, you are suggesting the need for more reading classes for regular classroom teachers and for the Special Education teachers. I can understand that, and I remember you touching on the phonics subject in one of my posts about my son and his spelling test.
Can I ask you how you feel about regular classroom teachers not being required to take any special education classes? I find it interesting that the special education teachers have to become "experts" (sort of) in one general subject area, but that regular teachers do not have to take any special education classes. I understand that "co-teaching" is the process that the inclusion system wants to use, but I sort of see red flags in this process. It's almost as if regular classroom teachers will be less likely to be hired if the school system could place a special education teacher with a degree in a specific general subject area in that position. In all industries it's about the budget and being cost-effective. So they would save money by hiring the one highly qualified teacher as opposed to hiring two teachers that will "together" be highly qualified. What is your opinion on this? Do you feel that not only for the sake of having the knowledge to understand and teach these special needs children, but also for the sake of job security that regular classroom teachers should take a few classes in the area of special education?
Re: Inclusion in the classroom manda: [quote author=alonewith2 (s-n-b) link=topic=21033.msg196705#msg196705 date=1130685740">
Just so I have it right, you are suggesting the need for more reading classes for regular classroom teachers and for the Special Education teachers. I can understand that, and I remember you touching on the phonics subject in one of my posts about my son and his spelling test. [/quote">
[color=red"> YES