Oh, yes, that's a big one for me! I think special ed teachers should be better trained then they are. None of the ones I've seen seem to be trained on how to handle the behavior issues that go hand in hand with things like autism, adhd, odd, etc. I don't even agree with integration with kids with those disorders, to be honest. The type of socialization those happens in a regular classroom is not the kind of socialization that children with autism/pdd-nos need. I don't agree with the theory that you throw a child with social issues into a social setting to sink or swim, because all to often, they will sink. They can't force themselves to be social, no matter what we do. If schools were the cure all for social anxieties then we wouldn't have 'social misfits' in school, we wouldn't have shy people, there would be no such thing as introverts. So, it's a failed philosophy, and I think they should be in smaller, special ed classes where the teachers have received MUCH MORE TRAINING than what they are getting now, so they know how to deal with each individual dx and work with them. So, yes, it stands to reason that general teachers should have the same training if they're going to have special kids in there class. It's not fair to expect the kids to react normally when they don't have the skills to do so, to me, that's just cruel. Most of these disorders have sensory issues that make it so hard to perform in a classroom, and those are not addressed in school therapy too often. I chose to homeschool my kids long before my Tim came along with autism/pdd-nos (they're not sure of which dx), but having him, and learning about his needs and his limits confirmed in me to homeschool him, I feel it's the best thing in the world for him. He still socializes, but it's on his terms. I know he can only handle it for about an hour, then he tantrums, so we stay within that guideline. He was on a bowling league this last season and it was about an hour, and he did WONDERFULLY. Anything longer, and it would have been a nightmare!
Sounds GREAT, and good luck to you. It's never easy, whatever you choose, we just have to make the best of it for them. Best wishes!
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Should general teachers be trained on special education issues / teaching ?i think that sound REELY COOL, and have fun teeching! don't try hard 2 make it fun, because it wont be.
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If you feel sped teachers are not prepared for their jobs, look to the college programs. I know sped teachers who have excellent skills straight out of college, and then there are some from this one college program.... I don't know what they teach there, but these people have no clue!
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Should general teachers be trained on special education issues / teaching ?I taught high school for almost 5 years, and all districts require training sessions about special education for all of the faculty. Because mainstreaming is the goal for all students, all teachers are required to implement different teaching styles in the classroom, as well as follow the IEP for each student. So, yes, all teachers should be (and are) trained to handle all kinds of students. :o)
It is absolutely necessary that regular ed teachers receive training in the following elements of special education:
--WHY children with special needs show certain behaviors when they have certain disorders, and how to address those behaviors constructively
--instructional methodology for learning disabilities and processing disorders, mental retardation methods for skill repetition and generalization, etc.
--curriculum modification to address specific IEP goals
--openess for collaboration and use of special educators and therapists as resources rather than "those people who make unreasonable demands when I don't have any time for this"
They don't necessarily need the full depth of instruction in these areas like special education teachers and therapy providers get, since theoretically they are supposed to be listening to and collaborating with these people (ha, ha, ha). However, they certainly need enough training to be able to understand the how and why of the techniques being recommended, to be able to address the child's needs within the regular ed environment, and to be able to plan effectively.
If your child's current IEP is NOT meeting his needs, call a new meeting. REMIND the professionals involved that:
1) Least Restrictive Environment is NOT the same as "the most inclusion possible"
2) Appropriate training for both the teachers/staff AND for you are a part of IDEA... so where is it in his plan?
3) Your son having an aide can indeed be "habit forming," for both him and the teaching staff. If being in the regular ed class unsupported is too much for him, then you must carefully weigh which will be better for him in the long run... more pull-out to a special ed environment with gradual phase-in to the regular ed environment, or an aide with gradual phase-out of the aide as he becomes more independent? In either case, you must keep a close eye on what is happening....
I would suggest getting a parent advocate familiar with your state's specific special ed regulations and procedures. Most states do have a parent advocate group...do a web search or ask other special ed parents.
In my state, one of the required classes all prospective teachers must take is devoted entirely to this topic.
A special education teacher on the other hand takes many classes on the topic, and is the authority on the subject.
I worked in a special ed class for a while (as an aide) and the teacher had a lot of children and was involved in IEP meetings all the time. But he was only one person, and the number of children varied from year to year, and their needs varied too.
As I look at a website with open teaching positions in my area, I notice there are a lot of openings for special education teachers... it is a difficult job and stressful and there simply aren't enough trained teachers for the jobs.
As for your child... there is no way a teacher can meet all the needs of any one child, let alone a classroom filled with them. It would be fantastic if there were one teacher for every 10 students, and maybe one special ed teacher for every 5 students... If you disagree with the IEP and what's going on, the person to speak with is the principal. They have to approve everything and oversee everything.
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