Blog 4 Self-Contained Special Education Classrooms

In my previous blog, I spent time researching the difference between Full Inclusion classrooms and self-contained classrooms. Just a small reminder, full inclusion classrooms are where special needs students are in the regular education classroom for most of the day if not all of the day. In self-contained classrooms, students are in one classroom with a special education teacher. The students are removed from the regular education classrooms and have little or no activity with other students. However, there are those self-contained classrooms where the special needs students may participate with the general student population at lunch or at P. E., but most of their academic class time is spent in the self-contained classrooms.

My question last week was which classroom works best for the student? There are many pros and cons for self-contained classrooms as well as full inclusion classrooms. Under the No Child Left Behind Act, the student should be placed in the Least Restrictive Environment to his or her learning. There are benefits for both types of rooms. Many students are better situated in the self-contained classroom for a couple of years, especially in elementary school. They learn to become independent and learn how to use strategies to study the content subjects. Self-contained classroom offer structure, routine and consistency throughout the day, where full inclusion classrooms may be distracting to the special needs students.  But if special needs students are placed in self-contained classrooms, they are separated away from their peers and do not get to have social interaction which can help to stimulate them. Sometimes just watching other students helps the special needs students to develop social skills and interaction.

In the school that I teach at, we have both self-contained and full inclusion classrooms. We have a severe special needs self-contained classroom, a self-contained classroom due to the students’ academic level of learning and several full inclusion classrooms. These special needs students have been placed in the Least Restrictive Environment. All three types of special education classrooms have worked out very well in this school. The students have progressed academically and emotionally in these types of environments. Each student has his or her own Individual Education Plan (IEP). Both general education and special education teachers follow each student’s IEP for accommodation, social interaction, occupational therapy, speech therapy and academic education. These teachers are working very hard to provide the best education for the special needs students in the least restrictive environment

I guess that I could answer my own question about which type of classroom is better for the student. The answer would be that it depends on the individual student. Teachers must learn their students and identify ways to help them achieve their education goals. It is time for teachers to step up to the plate and learn how to teach all types of students, not just the ones who get straight A’s but also learn how to teach students who are struggling to learn simple everyday tasks. I found a great video explaining what makes a great special education paraprofessional, although it is like an advertisement for Baker College the meaning behind the makings of a special education paraprofessional is worth watching. 

The Teacher’s Corner websites give pros and cons for both full inclusion and self-contained special education classrooms from members on their Blog pages. http://forums.theteacherscorner.net/showthread.php?7551-inclusion-vs.-self-contained-classrooms

 Here is a couple of comments from member’s blog:

“M3cia responded:

Inclusive classrooms:
Pros:
·         lowers the stigma of being labeled as a person with a disability

·         brings into fulfillment one of the goals of special education—to mainstream learners with exceptionalities into the big world

Cons:
·         learners MAY not be given the specific needs and assistance they need.

Self-contained:

Pros:

·         -more attention is given to the learner with exceptionalities

Cons:
·         learners may be met with shock once they have to face the world where those with and without exceptionalities walk the same road”

Another member Lynn Bambusch said: “This really needs to be decided on an individual basis. Some students do well in an inclusion setting, regardless of disability. There is also an upside for regular education students being exposed to students with disabilities. Empathy and understanding are two such advantages. Although we do not live in a Special Education world, we do not live in a world where everyone has the same abilities either. I tell my students that their right to act inappropriately ends with other student’s right to learn. I do think this generation is much more tolerant because of exposure to differences.”

As I read the blogs from the Teacher’s Corner, I realized each school is different and each student is different, so we as teachers need to give these special needs students the educational knowledge that is best fitted for them. It really does not matter where or how we teach them as long as we give them our best and know that we have tried to accommodate them.