Mainstreaming Teachers - Is Help on the Way?

It's no secret that in this day and age of 'Noeconomic times, there usually are not enough
student left behind' and the Individual EducationSchool Aides to go around.
Plan (IEP) for special needs students, we all wantCo-Teaching strategies are an example of
to achieve the best education possible for theseteaching teamwork. This is where two teachers
students. Mainstreaming has been proven as anwill combine efforts (and classes) and both teach
effective means of accomplishing this goal.the class. This has a similar effect as the Aide,
There are many benefits that the IEP studentbut two certified teachers in the class can
receives as a result of mainstreaming. Theseorganize and facilitate groups based on abilities
include improved social skills, exposure tomore effectively. There are several challenges to
curriculum that might otherwise be unavailable, andthis approach. One is a class size that is now
an overall higher standard of education. And thedoubled, and the other is teacher's ego. With a
list goes on...doubled class size, there is still a high student to
The downside to mainstreaming is what teachersteacher ratio and it is still difficult to attend to all
must deal with on a daily basis. When a teacherthe students according to their need. Teachers
presents the class material to 24 students, and 2can also be very possessive of their classrooms
of them have special needs, there is usuallyat times, and it takes open communication and
additional attention and time required for the 2shared authority to make it work. Although it
students to be able to keep up with the class,would seem that this option would cost less to a
and the teacher must figure out a way to helpschool than having an Aide assist.
those who are struggling while at the same time,Creating a separate curriculum for segments of
not boring those who are at or ahead of schedule.your class might help to not overwhelm some of
There are several strategies that teachers useyour students with material that is beyond their
for mainstreaming and more coming to light ascurrent capability, even if it is right in line with
educators continue to think 'outside the box'others'. The downside is that you may be
about improving education.overwhelmed by teaching 10 mini-classes per day;
These strategies can take several forms.5 classes with 25 students each and 5 more with
1. A Teacher's Aide in the classroom to assist2 to 3 students each, or more. Now you have a
with the struggling student(s).duplicate set of educational standards to uphold
2. Co-Teacher strategies.for the IEP students in addition to the Included
3. Separate assignments and curriculum.Students. That's another set of prep materials
4. Do nothing in hopes that the student can keepand another set of grading materials, ie math
pace on their own.worksheets, spelling worksheets, etc., for
There is one common denominator with all theexample. Great for the students, hard on the
strategies that must be accounted for.teacher, and there is still the issue of additional
Time. The pressure is on for teachers nowadaysface time for the IEP students who need it. The
to not only perform for the Fully Includedadditional curriculum will have an additional cost to
students, who will have varied levels of abilities asit, but still less expensive than the previous two
it is, but also the additional mainstreamed students.options.
Teachers feel it like a vise. No matter whatThe last option is to do nothing and let the IEP
strategy for mainstreaming is utilized, it is verystudents fair like any other in the class. This may
frustrating for teachers that have, for example,seem like a cruel statement, but wait before you
22 students waiting in class for what's next whileget the tar and feathers. I'm not suggesting that
time is spent with the IEP students on reviewthis is an option to be considered across the
material. This is not a negative statement aboutboard. But certainly there are varied degrees of
IEP students, but only the admission that studentslearning disability, as there are varied aptitudes of
with special needs require extra time andeach student towards each topic. What I am
resources from the teacher, and that it can be asuggesting here is that there may be specific
frustrating situation.subjects that is of particular interest or ability for
All teachers I know wish they could spend anan IEP student with a minor level disability.
adequate amount of time with every student,Certainly it would give these students a sense of
including the extra time needed for those whoaccomplishment knowing that they were on an
struggle the most, but it is just not possible to beeven playing field with the rest of the class. And
effective to all at the same time. Let's take aof course, this is the most economical solution,
look at each strategy to see how they solve thewhen it applies.
time issue and compare it to cost.In conclusion, we all want the best education
Teacher's Aides, while an effective means ofpossible for mainstreaming students, we don't
helping a struggling or IEP student, has a limitedwant our teacher to be over burdened, and we
reach. Great for the one or two that they arealso want to keep the costs under control. There
helping at the time, but when there are othersare no easy answers, and it can be frustrating for
that struggle, they might tend to get missed. I'mteachers. As we continue to improve educational
sure that all teachers would want every studentstandards for IEP and mainstreamed students,
that struggles to have their own tutor, but schoolmore methods, tools, and strategies will emerge
budgets in this economy often are making cuts into improve the situation for everyone.
this area rather than bolstering it. Even in good