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In a mainstreamed classroom students will spend time in a resource room where they can
receive more individualized time from teachers. Special education students are just as important
as any other students. In our world today they often get looked at differently, which is not good
and lowers their self-esteem.When they are in a mainstreamed classroom they are with a few
other students who have special needs. Then they are placed in a regular classroom full of a lot
more students. Special need students improve their self-esteem, academic achievement and
social skills while being in a mainstreamed classroom.
Summary and Context
Special education students are like any other students they have the right to be in a
regular classroom. Starting with one class to see if they can handle the challenge if good. “By
using both the regular classroom and individualized time in special education classes pupils are
exposed to mainstream students but get the attention they need for their challenges” (The
Editorial Team, 2020). When attending to the special needs students, it’s important to remember
the needs of the rest of the class. Including special needs children in a regular classroom
wouldn’t be easy, they will still disrupt and make learning more difficult but making change to
the curriculum can help with this. It’s important to help them feel included and safe. All students
want to succeed is subtopic in the textbook, as young children entering the classroom they want
to be comfortable. Having a positive learning environment will help them learn and recall what
they learn. It important to have a positive environment throughout school, because what children
hear sticks with them till they are an adult. “It is well documented that social skills are essential
for academic development, social inclusion and participation, and moreover for a successful
transition to adult life and work”(Vlachou, 2015, par. 2). Imagine if a student struggled with
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communicating, they would want a positive environment. It’s all about how the student is
feelings, if they are unmotivated then they aren’t going to learn. If a flexible curriculum is
present this student will be leaning in no time. When students first start school they have
expectations and it’s important that teachers acknowledge then and help accomplish their goals.
Its all about how the environment of the classroom is. Childhood development plays a role all
through a child’s life. As a child grows they develop skills that they master throughout their life
span. Those skills are cognition, social interaction and emotional regulation, speech and
language, physical skills, and sensory awareness. In the first chapter of the textbook, they debate
whether a particular chronological age is a trustworthy predictor of a student’s academic
accomplishments (Sousa, 2018, p.7). Academic variance is a given among students of any grade
level preschool through graduate school.
Critical Analysis
There can also be cons to running a mainstreamed classroom. Some learner with special
needs have behavioral issues. These issues can be disruptive to their classmates and
embarrassing to the learner, causing more damage to their self-esteem. They also might feel like
the odd man out, because they may not keep pace with the work. At that time the disciples came
to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” He called a little child
to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and
become like a little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever.
Takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever
welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me” (New International Bible, 1978/2011,
Matthew. 18:1-5). We know that we can never care about children as much as God cares about
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them. Jesus is with children everywhere, in every situation, working to show them his love.
God’s love is creative and it’s fruit are shared with us. We need to have child-like hearts that are
open to imagination, surprise and wonder. Children are to be loved, cherished and respected.
They are dependent and know whom to trust. We are aware of the many time this message is not
heard and this causes sorrow.
Implications and Conclusions
The goal of mainstreaming is to spend more time with general education peers and being
engaged in general education activities. Mainstreaming really describes the physical location of
the student. Most student will have more than one classroom, some will start their day in the
main classroom then get pulled to go to another. There is nothing wrong with this, but it’s
important to show other students that it is acceptable. Allowing special need students into regular
classroom help their self-esteem. For them to be able to get to that level they have meet the
challenge. This means they are ready to handle a regular classroom and not be disruptive. They
improve academically because they can see how other students interact with them and help them
stay focused. Their social skills will also develop because they are with student not like them.
The students will treat them like a regular student. Which is also important for their self-esteem.
References
Vlachou, A., Stavroussi, P., Didaskalou, E. (2015) Special teachers’ educational responses in
supporting students with special educational needs (SEN) in the domain of social skills
development. International Journal of Disability, Development and Education, 63(1), 79-
97. https://doi.org/10.1080/1034912X.2015.1111305
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Rhoda-Drogalis, A., Sawyer, B. E., Justice, L. M., O’ Connell, A. A. (2018). Assessing learning.
Behaviors in early childhood special education classrooms. Early Education and.
Development, 29(4), 450-466. https://doi.org/10.1080/10409289.2018.1460982
Sousa, D. A., & Tomlinson, C. A. (2018). Differentiation and the brain: How neuroscience
supports the learner-friendly classroom (2nd ed.). Solution Tree Press.
New International Bible. (2011). The NIV Bible. https://www.thenivbible.com/ (Original work
published 1978)
Mainstreaming Special Education in the classroom: Resilient educator. (2020, May 20).
Retrieved October 04, 2021, from
https://resilienteducator.com/classroom-resources/mainstreaming-special-education-in-
the-classroom/
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