North Dakota

Special Education is a SERVICE, not a PLACE

The most common question I get is, “How are teachers supposed to teach all of these students that are on so many different levels and handle all of the behaviors without the help of paraprofessionals?” My answer is simple. Guide students to work together. If they have a question, teach them HOW to ask a neighbor or look in their resources before requiring the teacher’s attention. Students with disabilities get fantastic behavioral modeling from their peers and reinforce positive social cues. By having an empathetic and inclusive environment for the general ed students, they learn problem solving skills and ways to communicate the same idea in a variety of ways. How can we expect students to be REAL-WORLD READY by just teaching them the maths and sciences, and not practicing critical thinking, problem solving, or accountability?

Special Education is a service, not a place. Let’s create integrated classroom cultures and promote involvement and friendships between students with exceptionalities and the general-ed youth. Through inclusive education, students can not only learn from the benefits of mainstreamed education, but how inclusive education can benefit them as well.

https://sheridipitous.wordpress.com/2013/07/08/special-education-is-a-service-not-a-place/