kindergarten inclusion classroom

[mrszrw]

We went to meet the teacher night last night and found out DD5 will be in a inclusion classroom. Which I think will be a great chance to expose her to differnet kinds of people. She can learn at a young age the imporance of acceptting people for who the are even if they are disabled.
But i do have some concerns about how the classroom will be run.

Does anyone have any thoughts on inclusion classrooms that may help me come up with my list of questions to ask the school?

Thanks

 

[jscharf]

My son is in a inclusion classroom because he has speech problems. You will find the inclusion class to be the same as a regular classroom the only difference is that there are three teachers, a regular teacher a special ed teacher and a helper. I know the kids in my sons classroom are normal kids who just have problems with speech or OT. The one question I would ask is exactly how many teacher will be in your childs class. Hope that helps. Judy

 

[Cindy B]

Inclusion classrooms are great. I am in studying to be a special education teacher and almost every classroom I sub in is inclusion.

I've subbed preK, K, grade school, middle school and high school inclusion. I mostly do middle and high school inclusion.

In my district it is set up with two teachers, one "regular" ed and one special ed teacher. The special ed teacher is responsible for the inclusion students and basically checks the entire class. I walk around make sure EVERYONE is doing thier work and sitting down with anyone that asks my help. (regular or classified students)

As a sub, I do have an idea who is classified (names on a list) but I am bound by ethical concerns.. I don't advertise who needs the services and protect thier confidentiality.

And honestly inclusion is not a big deal. Some students may not have "obvious" disabilities, and may just be like other kids in the class. It may look just like all the others kids. I see parents that think that inclusion means multiple disabilities and sometimes that is. Some parents are geniunely suprised when they see the room and can't tell who are the classified students... thats the goal of inclusion.

In younger grades, its really a non issue.

If you needed to ask questions-- these would be good starters.

Will the class be co taught? or will an aide (paraprofessional) be used for the classified students?

The teacher, in order to protect the confidentiality of the classified students may give you a vague answer. Under specific laws, they may be afraid of giving away too much info.

What is the max ratio of classified students to non classified students? In my district the class can max out on 9 in a middle school classroom.

 

[Pinnie]

I am a K inclusion teacher in my district. PM me if you have specific questions.

pinnie

 

[mrszrw]

Thank you
She will have three teachers in the room
the lead teacher
a Special Ed teacher
and a paraprofessional

I think my biggest concern is the ratio

thanks again

 

[wheeler1]

Hi there,

This is the norm in our small school district. There is an extra teacher in the room but other than that, the kids all are "one". Honestly, its been my experience that the younger children especially, dont look at others as being handicapped or different.

By the time they get into the upper grades, they are all so used to each other, they are friends regardless. And I have seen nothing but great respect from the older children regarding their peers that need special attention in one form or another.

From my perspective, the classroom is run exactly as it would be and should be regardless...

I hope you find the same thing to be true in your area!

 

[lkjasd]

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!

 

[mickeyboat]

DD's were in an inclusion classroom for pre-K, and to be honest with you, because of the extra staff, and the extra hours allotted to that class (it ran one extra hour and one extra day each week), I felt my kids had a better experience than if they were not in that class.

My kids noticed very little about the kids who required extra care/therapy. There was one child who had quite a few limitations, who had an one-on-one aide. The kids noticed it, asked a few questions, but pretty much went about their business. There were lots of kids who were receiving speech, occupational or physical therapy, and the therapists would come to the classroom and deliver the therapy there most of the time. They often included my kids in their "games," which tickled them to death.

Good luck to your DD!

Denae

 

[goofy4tink]

Inclusion classes are really terrific. My dd, now almost 13, has been in them since kindergarten. The way they handled it was that each 'special' child had an aide with them. And there is usually a teachers asst in the lower grades. So, the aide works with his/her 'special' child, while the teacher focuses on the other kids, with the help of the asst. The 'special' kids get to be a part of the group, but don't have to worry about not catching on, since they have an aide to walk them through the lessons. Then, they go off to their own classes for an hour or so each day.
My dd found new empathy and understanding for those children who weren't like her in every way. She learned compassion and patience. She has learned that these 'special' kids are really not so different than she is...they just have particular difficulties or learning disabilities. To this day she seems to be better abled to accept people's differences. I think it's a win/win situation.

 

[pixiemomma]

All of the elementry classrooms in our district (possibly even the state) are inclusive. Most of the children that are special needs in his school have emotional and behavioral issues, not nessassary a physical disability. I had heard alot of parents put this way of learning down before my son started school (re:blatant ignorance) but I can say he has had no negative experiences in such a classroom. Good luck to your daughter. I am sure it will be a positive experience for her!

 

[Wishing on a star]

My DS in in an 'inclusion' class.
He does have a learning disability.

Here are the questions that I would ask.

1. Class size - Will they limit this class to a smaller number of students, since many of the students will need extra time and attention.

2. Ratio - As you already mentioned, what will be the ratio of classified students to regular students.

3. Will your child be given a full regular work load? I feel that in my sons class, he is not being taught as much as he should. School has just started, so I am reserving judgement. However, what I have seen come home is VERY watered down. My son does not require accomodations in all areas, so I am assuming that what he is bringing home is the normal class work and not limited FOR HIM???

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.

NOTE: Ohhhhh, I know that I will be flamed for the above... don't even begin to tell me I have a discriminotory or judgemental attutude about special needs children. My child IS special needs.

I am simply the parent of a special needs child, who will always look out for his best interests.

To the OP: There will be many of these classified children who will be like all the other kids in every way. They simply have limitations and/or learning disabilities. Do not be concerned that your child will be in a class with 'those kids'.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Most of the children that are special needs have emotional and behavioral issues....

That is a pretty strong statement.
My son is special needs, and he has NO emotional and behavioral issues.
Would you like to quote some facts/numbers?

 

[MareQ]

That is a pretty strong statement.
My son is special needs, and he has NO emotional and behavioral issues.
Would you like to quote some facts/numbers?

I believe she's specifically referring to her school.

 

[Mrs.Toad]

This is the norm in our small school district. There is an extra teacher in the room but other than that, the kids all are "one". Honestly, its been my experience that the younger children especially, dont look at others as being handicapped or different.

By the time they get into the upper grades, they are all so used to each other, they are friends regardless. And I have seen nothing but great respect from the older children regarding their peers that need special attention in one form or another.

From my perspective, the classroom is run exactly as it would be and should be regardless...

I hope you find the same thing to be true in your area!

This is how it is in our school district as well. One aide in the room at most times dealing directly with the child(ren) who need help. Everything else runs the same as it would otherwise.

 

[mrszrw]

Thank you everyone. Right now I feel real good about it, and I'm looking forward to it being a positive experince for her.

 

[Daxx]

School has just started, so I am reserving judgement. However, what I have seen come home is VERY watered down. My son does not require accomodations in all areas, so I am assuming that what he is bringing home is the normal class work and not limited FOR HIM???

Wishing On A Star -

Be sure to check on this w/the teacher if you continue to see this pattern. W/this being the start of school, it's my guess that she's trying to figure out what each students needs are and is giving this type of work to all ... just to see where their strengths and weaknesses lie. If your child is capable of more than what he's getting, and isn't getting it as the weeks progress, be sure to let the teacher know your concerns so she can restructure his lessons/homework.

 

[Daxx]

I had a class of 13 students last year. I had 2 special needs kids in my class. Both were supposed to be 6:1:1 which means 6 kids in the class w/one teacher, one teachers aide *and* they were supposed to have their own personal aides. Well, that never happened. I was their only teacher, no aide and more than 6 kids in the class.

Fortunately, b/c the class was small, I was able to work one-on-one or in a smaller group w/the special needs kids and able to keep my other students occupied w/other learning things (games, phonics videos).

It never caused a problem w/the other children and they were not affected one way or another by this. All of my students learned everything that they needed to learn in Kdg.!

Hope this is helpful!

 

[Becky2005]

All of the elementry classrooms in our district (possibly even the state) are inclusive.

That's what it is here too. I don't think we even have exclusive classes unless there is a major reason and then I think it's at a completely different school.

My 2 sons both have IEP's but are in the regular classrooms. Usually the upper classrooms don't have aides here but we do pull-outs here. My younger one gets speech & OT plus resource room. He gets pulled out for those, the specialists just come and get him and he goes and does his therapy sessions there. My older one gets pulled out too for his resource room time. This year he will be having a shared aide in the classroom.

They have *always* been mixed in the regular classrooms with kids that have IEP's & ones that don't. In my DD's Kindergarten they had 2 aides, I didn't even know until the end of the year that one aide was a 1:1 aide for a student. I had no idea because it wasn't obvious, I'm not even sure how I found out (the teachers didn't say anything).

I have learned who some of the kids are just by running into them at therapy and/or summer school things but otherwise I wouldn't necessarily be able to tell who was considered the "model" students & who were the "included" students.

 

[pixiemomma]

That is a pretty strong statement.
My son is special needs, and he has NO emotional and behavioral issues.
Would you like to quote some facts/numbers?

I mistyped, sorry you took offense. What I meant to say was the special needs children in his K and 1st grade classes had emotional/behavioral issues, not a physical disability or an academic delay. (Yes, as far as his classes are concerned, I do know this for a fact.) I did not mean to make a blanket statement about special needs children.

 

[summerrluvv]

Thank you
She will have three teachers in the room
the lead teacher
a Special Ed teacher
and a paraprofessional

I think my biggest concern is the ratio

thanks again

That would be the least of my concerns. Actually I wouldn't have any concerns. You will have 3 people in a classroom of how many? 20-25? In regular classes, you have 1 teacher to 20-25 kids and rarely there is a helper.