Resource -- Inclusion

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Home : 2004 : December : 10

Resource -- Inclusion
By Amy

I am a general education 4th grade language arts teacher. I am somewhat different in that I have a Masters in special education. I wanted to work in a general education classroom, so that I could be an advocate for children
with disabilties. I am blessed because my school has chosen to go to complete inclusion for children who have learning disabilities. Not all children are fully included. Our children with more severe mental disabilities are in a separate classroom with inclusion in my classroom for morning time, p.e./music, lunch and recess.
I wanted to share with you that the progress this year

with my children with disabilites has been amazing. Self-esteem is up and they are trying harder. Our special education teacher comes in and works with all my students, not just the children with disabilties. We plan together, look at IEP's together and make decisions together for the kids. I think inclusion is wonderful, if done correctly with the right philosophy in mind. Too often general education teachers don't have a good understanding of inclusion, and we need to show them good examples of what it is and how it can work.