INCLUSION IN MIDDLE SCHOOL

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INCLUSION IN MIDDLE SCHOOL

• Dr. Josephine McDowell
• 3/28/07

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Quotes

• "If we are to reach real peace in this world . .
  . we shall have to begin with the children."
• Mohandas Gandhi, Indian nonviolent civil
  rights leader (1869-1948)

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SCHOOL FACTS

• Enrollment 489
• Special Education 129
• Inclusion 25
• Behavioral Disabilities 19
• Learning Disabilities 38
• Multiple Disabilities 22
• Resource 24
• Total 129

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The Turning Point Design
Teach a Curriculum Grounded in Standards,
Relevant to Adolescents Concerns, and Based on
How Students Learn Best, and Use a Mix of
Assessment Methods
Use Instructional Methods That Prepare All
Students to Achieve High Standards
Involve Parents and Communities in Supporting
Student Learning Development
Ensure Success For Every Student
Provide a Safe and Healthy School Environment
Organize Relationships for Learning
Staff Middle Grades Schools with Teachers Who Are
Expert at Teaching Young Adolescents, and Engage
Teachers in Ongoing Professional Development
Govern Democratically, Involving All School Staff
Members
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Self Reflection

• Do we value all children equally?
• Is anyone more or less valuable?
• To include a child with educational challenges
  is not easy, but does that mean we should not
  try?
• How much are we willing to pay?
• What are the rights of other children?

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What is Inclusion vs. Mainstreaming?

• Inclusion A term that
• Expresses commitment to educate each student
• Extends appropriate support services
• Provides support services to the child rather
  than moving the child to the services
• Mainstreaming
• Placement of students in one or more
• regular education classes

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What is Inclusion?

• Full Inclusion
• Regardless of handicapping condition
• In a regular classroom program full time
• All services taken to the child

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Legal Requirements INDIVIDUALS WITH
DISABILITIES EDUCATION ACT (IDEA)

• The federal law (IDEA 1990)
• Legislation never uses the term inclusion
• The intent of the law is to limit removal
• The law requires that children with disabilities
  be educated in the lest restrictive environment
  to meet their unique needs.

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Pros and Cons of Inclusion

• Pros
• Social skills
• Communication skills
• Appreciation for diversity
• General education teachers have
• more flexibility
• (handout)

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Pros and Cons of Inclusion

• Cons
• Threat of job downsizing
• Parent concern regarding teacher preparation
• Decrease in range of services
• Appropriateness of regular ed. classrooms
• Lack of training and support
• Generate more paperwork
• Grouping of students
• Scheduling difficulties

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Administrator's Role

• Vision
• Agenda
• Scheduling
• Professional Development
• Staffing
• Be visible, accessible and involved
• Support staff
• Provide diverse materials and resources

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Parent Involvement

• Parent education is the key (parent training)
• "Parents wonder why the streams are bitter, when
  they themselves have poisoned the fountain."
  John Locke, English philosopher (1632-1704)

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Inclusive Staff

• Ability to problem solve.
• Assess needed skills.
• A realization that every child in the class is
  their responsibility.
• Knowledge of a variety of instructional
  strategies and how to use them effectively.

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Inclusive Staff

• Willingness to work as a team.
• View each child as an opportunity to become a
  better teacher rather than a problem to be coped
  with or have someone else fix.
• Flexibility and a high tolerance for ambiguity.

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Professional Development

• "He who dares to teach must never cease to
  learn."  Unknown

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Professional Development

• Differentiated Instruction
• Interdisciplinary Teaching
• Project/Problem Based Learning
• Inclusive Approaches
• Restraint Training

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Support Programs

• Read 180
• 21st Century Program
• SES
• After School Tutorial
• Assistive Technology
• Speech
• Occupational Therapy
• Counseling

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Extra-Curricular Activities

• League
• Cheerleader
• Basketball
• Best Friends
• Band
• Robotics
• Special Olympics
• Debate
• Soccer/Volleyball

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Conclusion

• Inclusive education is nothing more than good
  teaching
• Students take responsibility
• Teachers have high expectations
• Families are involved
• Focus and creative curriculum
• Emphasis on higher order thinking skills
• Integrated curricula
• Interdisciplinary teaching
• Multi-cultural curricula
• Life-centered curricula

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References

• www.ideapartnership.com
• Educational Leadership/February 2007
• Bureau of Education Research, 2005
• Meeting The Needs Of Students Of All Abilities
  (Capper, Frattura Keyes, 2000)
• Turning Points 2000 (Jackson Davis)
• Inclusion/450 strategies for success (Hammeken,
  2000)

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Quotes

• "The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire
  to be kindled." 
• Plutarch, Greek biographer, philosopher and
  priest of Apollo (45-125 A.D.)