I have recently implemented two inclusion classes at my school. One with a special educator and a veteran teacher of many years of experience. She had no experience in working with students with disabilities. When paired with a prepared special educator and supplied with professional development on inclusion, the class is operating quite efficiently. The other classroom consisted of a team of teachers who are both recent graduates. Both brought a sound knowledge base to the partnership. Both classes are doing great!
I'd like to know how you feel about inclusion in your school.
4 comments:
Mary J,
This is great. Our school district has been doing inclusion classes for about 15 years. A typical inclusion class will have about 30-40% special education students to about 60-70% general education students. It sounds like you carefully implemented your inclusion strategy. Did you get any parents that had concerns?
Thank you.
Mary:
In my school our inclusion program begins in fifth grade. We have two full time teachers in each classroom. The majority of our classrooms involve a co-teaching team. Through the years I have found that inclusion works if the teachers get along and work cooperatively. We implemented our inclusion program approximately 15 years ago. We still have specific teachers that we will not place in a co-teaching situation because we know that they will not be successful.
Mike
I enjoy teaching the inclusion class, but my comment is not about the kids, rather it is about the teachers that are supposed to instruct the class. Over the past 13 years I have had really great and not so great partners. The people that you are working with can be a significant asset as well as a complete downer to the class. Teachers need to put their personal feelings and agendas to the side when working in the inclusion setting in order to have the best and most positive impact on the students.
Mary,
This is the first year our school has implemented inclusion for all grades.
Sadly, most of those students are drifting back into the full special education classes.
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