Do you feel confident in teaching children with a variety of special needs.?

Question

In this present climate of inclusion I feel the demands and expectations of teachers are too high. Do teachers feel that they have enough support and guidence in teaching such a variety of special needs within the mainstream classroom.

Answer 1

In NYC depending on the severity of the disability the child might be in a class with a special ed teacher as well as a class room teacher, that is what usually happens with inclusion classes.  My daughter couldn't function in a regular class as she has processing issues and the concentration issues, It was impossible to teacher her in a class with so many children learning in different ways.  It would just confuse her and make her more anxious.  Most teachers don't get any special ed training except as may be a semester while doing school work for their Educations credits. This was told to me by my cousin who's a special eduction teacher. In fact she's the one who helped me get my daughter out of the public school system.  Since that time my daughter has been an honor student two of the last four years she's been in school.

Answer 2

Confident is not the word, but "managing" describes it pretty well.  I don't see professional development or higher ed. coming through for the teachers in "the trenches."  Both regular and special ed teachers are redefining their roles through on the job learning /training.  They are trying to make the best of a tough situation.  

Those who combine both talent and knowledge to work in a true co-teaching situation make slow but steady progress.  The demands are nearly impossible, but where there is a will, and a true spirit of collaboration, there is a way.  

I find many mandates but little support from the state, an attitude of "do what works or looks good" from the administration, but a sincere effort on the part of the teachers to help the students meet the standards.  We are expected to be professionals and for the most part, I see teachers living up to that expectation.

Answer 3

I am not a teacher, but common sense tells me it is wrong to place special needs kids in the same class as kids without special needs.  The teachers would not be able to devote enough time to them, and the other kids would be held back because of the extra time the teachers needed to devote to the special needs kids.

Answer 4

Most teachers in my district will tell you, "Of course not." In light of the cruel standardized tests that are currently in vogue and are linked to school and personal success, it is easy to see why.

Frequently students are "included" in the general education classrooms with absolutely no assistance from special ed. Or if they have any assistance at all, it is very meager.

Here is an example from my experience. The co-teacher at this particular school teaches learning disabled students all day long. He/she may have 17-24 LD students per class, for six periods a day. Already too many, considering the regular ed teacher who teaches certain periods in his classroom tends to average 12-13. In addition, this special education teacher is the "co-teacher" for 24 other kids scattered throughout the building. He often attends IEP meetings for children he has never seen.

Just another glowing report on inclusion!

Answer 5

I personally feel confident as I have worked with supported many types of SEN - elective mute, hearing imapired, Downs, A.S.D., ADHD, M.L.D. BESD many in mainstream and I dispair that more of these kids will be pushed into mainstream with little or no support.  If there is support it is usually unqualified (the dinner lady, caretaker's wife etc) because thats cheaper!! ...and its not sour grapes as I have worked along side these people

As a holder of HLTA status, NNEB and over tens years experience I am too expensive to be hired or else have to work for maybe £4000 less than my actual grade!!

Answer 6

I am a 6th grade regular educ. math teacher. However, because of my co-teach background child study team feels I am qualified to teach an inclusion class without the assistance of another teacher or aide. I have 18 regular ed and 3 special ed students in my classroom. Two of the 18 also leave one day a week for Basic skills instruction. I feel my BSI students are being cheated because of the amount of time I spend with my spec. ed. If I had more support in the classroom, I feel I would not be as overwhelmed as I do in my current situation.

Answer 7

I have a special needs child, I go to the school often, I like the teachers to know that I can and will be checking on my child, not checking on the teacher, but enjoy to see how the teachers can make a difference in a childs progress, and you can also  see that there can be some teachers that don't have the patience for a special needs child.  Even though the class is small it requires different specialities for each teacher.  

I give praise to anyone that enters this field.  Especially when a teacher finds the need to actually learn how each the child can learn.  Some children learn by matching items, learn by music, each teacher must learn  how to help each studen and working  at a pace that they can help a child actually learn and remember what they have learned.