How do you feel about integrated pre-k classrooms?

Question

My daughter is in a class with 8 special needs children and 12 high functioning children.It's a great learning experience for her and me....Any thoughts or similar experience?

Answer 1

As a teacher, I think integrated classrooms are great. My concern is the ratio of children to teachers.  A group of 20 is a large number of kids for that age. Could be really stressful experience if your daughter is there long hours. Keep an eye out to watch how she responds to it.  If she is really drained or unhappy at the end of the day, something isn't right for her.

Answer 2

I think it is great and helps children learn tolerance and to accept, deal with and grow around others with differences.

Answer 3

I actually teach a class that has 12 kids total (6 on an IEP and 6 not) ages 3-5 mixed.  I think it is absolutely wonderful for all the children.  It allows the older ones to help the younger ones, it teaches leadership, acceptance and empathy.  It is good for the citizenship in the classroom and for the children who are having difficulty, it gives them some typically developing peers to model after.  SUCH A WONDERFUL IDEA!!

Answer 4

I am a Preschool teacher and I think it is great to have children that have special needs in a classroom with others that don't.  Not only does it help children with special needs it helps the children that does not have special needs to see that not everybody is like them and that some people need extra attention.  I know the children in my classroom take the "mother hen" role and help the others out.  It also helps the children with special needs see that they are special and makes them feel like they can do anything they want.

Answer 5

never went to preschool.

Answer 6

special needs are different from behavior probs or social probs.  Our developmental preschool takes 8 delayed children and 4 typicals.  The 8 could be severe behavior and that always concerns me because that's not a good environment for a typical to be in.  Yours sounds more like modeling for the 8 special needs after the 12 high functioning children.   That is a wonderful lesson in diversity, understanding and acceptance.