Students with Special Needs and English Language Learners
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Education has changed in many different ways over the past 50 years, not only has the strict authoritarian method of teaching slowly changed but the focus has also changed. Schools now focus on the importance of inclusion and less on segregation based on academic ability.
Having special needs children enter into regular classrooms is a positive change in my mind but the situation has to be a perfect fit for everyone involved. Ensuring that all children are accepted by their peers and given as much independence as possible is important but these factors should not affect the child’s overall success in school. There are many factors that come into play when children are being considered for a regular classroom or a special education classroom; lack of support from parents or staff and lack of funding often affects the special education student success and overall happiness at school. For example pushing a student along in a regular classroom where they feel frustrated and fall further behind each year is not the best place for that student.
Not only does the fit in a regular classroom need to be right for this particular student but the teacher needs to be prepared as well. The teacher needs to adjust teaching with differentiated instruction for this particular student and they need to have a strong understanding of assessment and evaluation for special needs students.
Ensuring that every single one of my future students is successful, independent and happy is very important to me as a teacher. We can make positive changes in the lives of students with special needs but also for the other students around them as well.