kindergarten inclusion classroom

[Wishing on a star]

No offense Pixiemamma !
I think that in K, or even in First grade it may seem that way, since many true learning disabilities have not been diagnosed yet. I just hate to think that anyone would 'assume' that most any child on an IEP has emotional or behavioral problems, which is often seen in a negative way. Unlike something like dyslexia, hearing impairment, or what my son has.

Thanks Daxx!!!
I will certainly keep on top of it. I am trying to be patient and not jump to any negative conclusions. I want to give the teacher the benefit of the doubt. But, truthfully, I know that the school has Reading/Language and Math curriculums. And I have yet to see one sheet from these curriculums come home.

 

[stm61]

I have 2 classified kids who were in inclusion classes last yr. DD was in 1st gr, it was the teacher alone for most of the day, then the special ed teacher came in for reading, math, and writing. They really don't do science/social studies in 1st gr, and the kids all went together for special subjects like art and gym. The spec.ed teacher was available for all the kids, not just the classified ones. She told me she spends as much time with the non-classified kids who are struggling with various topics, as she does with the classified ones. Dd was in the class because she'd been in pull-out programs for math and reading, and was to advanced for the math. They didn't want her overwhelmed in a regular class, so the inclusion was a great solution. We've moved to another district so I don't know where she'll be this year. I don't know who the other classified kids were in her class. The worst one, the one I was sure was ADHD with emotional problems turned out to be a "normal" kid!
Ds was in 7th grade last yr. He's been in inclusion since 5th gr. He leaves for resource math and reading, then goes to inclusion classes for science and social studies. All the kids switch classes for every subject in 7th gr. He's in regular ed for all other classes. He had a few kids that were more noticeable in his classes last yr due to physical problems- one was legally blind, one used braces- but the remainder would be hard to pick out. They didn't have an aide in his class, neither did dd. The only bad side I've found is, since they tend to have only 1 or 2 inclusion classes per gr, the kids who are classified are together for many yrs. They know how to push each other's buttons and which kid they can aggravate enough to disrupt the class, and are very good at doing so. Alot of that is typical middle school behavior though, it started in 6th grade. The good side is that with 2 teachers in the room, one could deal with the current issue while the other continued to teach. Two sets of eyes and ears also headed off alot of problems before they esculated.

 

[Daxx]

I know that the school has Reading/Language and Math curriculums. And I have yet to see one sheet from these curriculums come home.

I'm speaking for my school (it's a private school, if that makes any difference) on this. We've never sent home the curriculum and I've never had a parent ask for a copy of the curriculum. In my room, I have a big, fat curriculum book that I have to follow and date/sign as I complete each portion of the curriculum! However, if I were asked, I'd get it copied through the office and send it home. Have you asked at the office for a copy of the curriculum for your child's grade? I'm sure it'd be quicker and easier to get a copy from them rather than the teacher. If the office is not responsive, call the board of ed. and ask them. You should have no trouble obtaining the curriculum. HTH!

 

[paigevz]

I have an inclusion classroom. Some of the children are still pull-out for English Language Arts and Reading, but since their pull-out time isn't until our writing time, they do reading with us as well as in their pull-out.

At math time, the special ed. teacher comes in and helps all who need it during the lesson, but focuses on making sure those kids get most of her time.

At science she comes for part of the time, and an aide comes for part of social studies.

 

[paigevz]

I'm speaking for my school (it's a private school, if that makes any difference) on this. We've never sent home the curriculum and I've never had a parent ask for a copy of the curriculum. In my room, I have a big, fat curriculum book that I have to follow and date/sign as I complete each portion of the curriculum! However, if I were asked, I'd get it copied through the office and send it home. Have you asked at the office for a copy of the curriculum for your child's grade? I'm sure it'd be quicker and easier to get a copy from them rather than the teacher. If the office is not responsive, call the board of ed. and ask them. You should have no trouble obtaining the curriculum. HTH!

Our state knowledge and skills required per grade level is on the state education agency's web site. Our scope and sequence, which includes all to be taught and its order, is on our district website. The actual curriculum we use from the companies we buy from to help us meet our knowledge and skill goals is not generally viewed by the public..........you could, however see the teacher's editions for the texts we use and the resources if you asked, but it would be difficult to wade through it all in a conference period.

 

[mom2taylorandemily]

Wow, you guys are lucky. My DD got put in an inclusion classroom this year and it is approx. 20 kids, 6 of which are inclusion (I think two are "high needs"). We thought, no big deal, with the aid, everybody will get the attention they need. Then, the teacher tells us yesterday at open house that she will not have an aid except for the first hour in the morning (to help get the kids in and situated) and at the end of the day (to help get the kids packed up to leave). The teacher is not a special ed teacher. So, we have 1 teacher, not the three you guys are getting. We are upset, the inclusion parents are upset, the teacher is upset. Welcome back to school!

This is against the rules of inclusion for most states, and definitely most IEP's state that there needs to be a certain number of children and adults in ratio. In our county the inclusion classroom for K must have 1 teacher, 1 special ed teacher and her assistant (they rotate in and out of two classrooms), then the regular teachers assistant. So in our inclusion rooms there is always 3 adults with only 15-18 children. I would definitely be looking into this. I would see if your county has a Student Services office and give them a call. The student to teacher ratio is out of balance for an inclusion class. JMO.

 

[CherCrazy]

Wow, you guys are lucky. My DD got put in an inclusion classroom this year and it is approx. 20 kids, 6 of which are inclusion (I think two are "high needs"). We thought, no big deal, with the aid, everybody will get the attention they need. Then, the teacher tells us yesterday at open house that she will not have an aid except for the first hour in the morning (to help get the kids in and situated) and at the end of the day (to help get the kids packed up to leave). The teacher is not a special ed teacher. So, we have 1 teacher, not the three you guys are getting. We are upset, the inclusion parents are upset, the teacher is upset. Welcome back to school!

You may want to check your state laws on special ed kids. My state has a law that says a special ed teacher must teach the special ed kids. There is also a ratio of I think 1 SE teacher to a max of 8 SE kids. My DS was a special ed child in an inclusion class for several years. It was a wonderful experience.

 

[aprilgail2]

And last, this is not something that you will want to ask. But, something to look out for. If there are students who are in there for behavioral considerations, you will want to make sure that this does not negatively impact your child. For example, my child is easily overstimulated and stressed. There is a classified child in his class who definately has ADHD.... I know this for sure, as we know the family. DS and this child are friends. However, this child with the issues with hyperactivity wants to completely attach himself to my DS as his 'best friend'. No way will I allow my son to have his desk close to this child. It would be completely overwhelming and stressful and my son would not be able to do his work and learn.

In my daughter school they have 2 "special" classes of kids, there have about 8 kids in tehre and htey all have aids, but the kids are all autisic and require one on one aides. My daughter takes gym class with that class, they tried all the classe and my daughter class had the best fit with them so they got to help out and take an extra gym class with them, she loved it (though she said 2 would always try to escape and the aides had to chase them down the halls).
In her classroom she has had this same boy with ADHD from 2 years of preschool, k and 1st and by the first year of K I headed it off the dirst day of school with a note to the teacher requesting that he not be sat anyplace near her or be able to get close to her. Trouble is I think he likes her but my idea of ""like" and his are 2 different things. She was standing on something at gym and he ran up, grabbed her, threw her to the ground and body slammed her. At school his desk was near hers and he all ofa sudden got up, pushed his desk into hers and slammed her fingers between the desks. Then one day he stood up and picked up his chair and it hit her in the head. He takes her work and rips it before the teacher can act, he takes the school supplies and if you don't watch him he steals the food the kids have for snack as soon as they open it! I am sorry, I don't send her to school to worry if she is going to come home injured! The parents won't co operate with the school about anything they just say "he's a good boy, just active"...yea, right! I actually do like the boy, I just don't think its healthy for my daughter to have him near her unsupervised. I did feel bad for him though because no one would invite him to there birthday party and I talked her into inviting him but I had someone near him at all times to be sure he didn't get out of hand.

 

[summerrluvv]

In my daughter school they have 2 "special" classes of kids, there have about 8 kids in tehre and htey all have aids, but the kids are all autisic and require one on one aides. My daughter takes gym class with that class, they tried all the classe and my daughter class had the best fit with them so they got to help out and take an extra gym class with them, she loved it (though she said 2 would always try to escape and the aides had to chase them down the halls).
In her classroom she has had this same boy with ADHD from 2 years of preschool, k and 1st and by the first year of K I headed it off the dirst day of school with a note to the teacher requesting that he not be sat anyplace near her or be able to get close to her. Trouble is I think he likes her but my idea of ""like" and his are 2 different things. She was standing on something at gym and he ran up, grabbed her, threw her to the ground and body slammed her. At school his desk was near hers and he all ofa sudden got up, pushed his desk into hers and slammed her fingers between the desks. Then one day he stood up and picked up his chair and it hit her in the head. He takes her work and rips it before the teacher can act, he takes the school supplies and if you don't watch him he steals the food the kids have for snack as soon as they open it! I am sorry, I don't send her to school to worry if she is going to come home injured! The parents won't co operate with the school about anything they just say "he's a good boy, just active"...yea, right! I actually do like the boy, I just don't think its healthy for my daughter to have him near her unsupervised. I did feel bad for him though because no one would invite him to there birthday party and I talked her into inviting him but I had someone near him at all times to be sure he didn't get out of hand.

That just doesn't sound safe at all. ADHD or not (and it actually sounds like something else), kids with behavior problems that extreme should be in self contained classrooms if it is at a point where the safety of the other children is in question. I think I would complain to the principal or write the school board.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

AS a sped teacher I think that an inclusion classroom is a great deal for a 5 year old. First b/c they will be exposed to a variety of children with varying needs and SECOND it is a great place to help a child who needs early intervention. Many is the parent who puts their child in school only to find out in grade 2 that he/she had a special need and it was not addressed as early as possible because it was not identified.

If your child or any other child in the class falls into a high risk category(and really none of us know for sure till a child enters school) then he/she can get early intervention.

 

[DaisyD]

I've only had experience with two inclusion classrooms. One kindergarten two years ago and one in 4th grade many years ago. Both were not happy experiences. I think it all depends on what is with the child they are mainstreaming. In DD's kindergarten class there was one child with Downs that was absolutely no problem and a joy to teach. Another child was slightly autistic. Again that child was no problem. And then there was a child that had major behavior problems. He screamed, hid under his desk, yelled at the teachers, refused to do work, and generally disrupted the class every day and never learned a thing. This same type of child was also in my other DD's 4th grade and it was horrible. Well it was worst because the 4th grader cursed and threw things. So I think it depends on who is being mainstreamed. If my youngest DD is ever put in an inclusive class again I will make sure there are no behavior problem kids or I will have her moved. Edited to add that all classrooms are inclusive in schools but they tend to keep all one one grade in one inclusive class instead of spreading them around. We had 5 kindergartens but only one class had the mainstreamed children.