In my student teaching experience I have had a good experience in spending my first placement completely in a inclusion classroom. This experience really gave me a lot of tools to address low-achieving students. Most importantly, I gained in my understanding of inclusion and the benefits and negative side effects of that kind of classroom.
The Times article titled "How to fix No Child Left Behind", written by Claudia Wallis and Sonja Steptoe explains, " that all kids (except 1% with serious disabilities and an additional 2% with other issues) must be proficient by 2014" (Steptoe & Wallis, 2007). This is a very high goal, one that is going to be difficult to accomplish. There seems to be so many students who struggle in both reading and math, and with my experience, I know a many are in the inclusion classroom.
Inclusion has it benefits and it's pit falls. I really do think that it is beneficial to English Language Learners. They need to not be segregated from other students because they can't speak the language. They already have a social block for this reason. I have seen ELL students mix with regular ed students in the classroom and it is really beneficial for both sides as relationships are formed and ELL students gain the language in a social context.
I really also think this helps regular ed students appreciate special ed students and also be grateful for their own intelligence. As Caroline Moore, Debra Gilbreath, and Fran Maiuri, Fran in "Educating Students with Disabilities in General Education Classrooms: A Summary of the Research" explain, "resulted in positive experiences and improved attitudes on the part of students, both with and without disabilities, and teachers alike" (Moore, Gilbreath, Maiuri, 1998). Inclusion is very beneficial for students with disabilities.
References:
Moore, C., Gilbreath, D., Maiuri, F., Western Regional Resource Center, E. R., & Alaska State Dept. of Education, J. v. (1998). Educating Students with Disabilities in General Education Classrooms: A Summary of the Research.
Wallis, C. (2007). How to Fix No Child Left Behind. Time, 169(23), 33.
Amanda, I agree one hundred percent with you. I also feel the same way in regards to inclusion in the classroom. It is benificial to both the disababled and non disabled students.
ReplyDeleteAmanda, I agree with everything you said. You made a really good point that it benefits not only children that are disabled but the ones that aren't. I think that is awesome.
ReplyDeleteI had a really good friendship with a boy who had a disability. Without him being in the classroom, I do not know how I would have made it through the 8th grade.I agree with you that Inclusion does not just help those with disabilities, but it helps every student in the classroom.
ReplyDeleteP.S. I have been having trouble responding to posts lately.