The Inclusion Classroom

Write a 3 page paper (not including title and reference pages) describing the concept of inclusion as discussed in Chapter 4 of your text and in your own words.  Cite a minimum of one scholarly source in addition to your textbook, and format according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center. Your paper must contain the following:

Introductory Paragraph:  Begin with an attention getter - a powerful statement, an intriguing question, or a general overview of the challenges faced by learners with special needs and the teachers who support them.  Develop your ideas and end your introductory paragraph with your thesis statement about whether or not inclusion is a beneficial practice and why.  This thesis should then be supported in the body of your paper.   

Body Paragraphs (3 well-developed paragraphs containing 5-7 sentences each)

• Inclusion Defined: In this paragraph, define inclusion and be sure to cite your source.  Describe a minimum of three advantages and three disadvantages to this approach.  In addition to the text, include a minimum of one additional scholarly source.
  
  
• Impact of Legislation: Summarize the requirement for improved performance of students with disabilities under the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB).  Use this FactSheet by the U.S. Department of Education to learn about how this population of students is impacted.  Speak about how the legislation supports special needs learners and cite this resource in your discussion. 
  
  
• Impact of Common Core: Examine how Common Core State Standards (CCSS) are impacting the learning of students with special needs.  What are some strategies that are being used to help students with special needs achieve these standards?  Use and cite at least one of the articles below to support your discussion:
  
  
  • The Promise and the Peril for Students with Disabilities (http://www.calstat.org/publications/pdfs/Edge_summer_2012_newsletter.pdf)
    
    
  • Six principles for principals to consider in implementing CCSS for students with disabilities (http://www.naesp.org/principal-septemberoctober-2012-common-core/access-common-core-all-0) 
    
    
• Conclusion Paragraph: Return to your most important points from your paper (i.e. you might readdress the controversy) and how they have combined to form your belief about the effectiveness of the inclusion approach.  Emphasize your thesis statement again and bring your paper to a powerful close by leaving the reader with more to ponder or consider.  Do not simply restate your Introductory Paragraph here.  The conclusion should reframe your thoughts in a different way.