More Mainstreaming

As I though more about mainstreaming special education students I wanted to learn more about it. I was looking around and found a blog by Kristen Miller and it was just an article about her personal experiences with the inclusion of special education students in the classroom. She talked about the negative effect it can have on the special education student and also the regular education students. One problem with putting special education students into regular education classes is that they are self conscious of their learning disability. This discourages them to ask questions in class and can cause them to fall behind. Second, students in special education classes have modifications and accommodations it draws attention to them in a negative way. When a student is allowed to use a book or note cards on a test, other students are offended of the special treatment. Also help from the teacher is harder when they are in a class with 35-40 other students.

As an education major, I can see how all of these problems could arise in a classroom. But as a teacher, it is your job to help as much as you can and solve problems in your classroom.