Yes, they can. Every hour. You wrote:
>>The teachers cant change their classes each time because their materials and the things they need to teach are in each class
I disagree. This is how, it can be done. They take all their educational materials along w them, wherever they go. The students have their lockers right outside each class room so that they can collect their binders etc every three hours or only twice in a day~one before the morning sessions and one time before afternoon sessions. They can collect all their home work, projects etc and keep them together. If a project is too big to be carried in to the class they can leave it in their lockers till the time comes for display.
The teachers can bring in all their charts, visual display materials etc in a condensed "slide" form. they don't have to display them in any class room. The audio materials can be brought in in "taped form". All they need in a class room is 1) slide projector 2) Audio tape player 3) TV 4) a hug file cabinet w combination lockers for 8 teachers to keep their student work sheets or any thing that they can't carry around. 5) If they have to carry things, they can bring them in a suit case w wheels attached to it and transport it from class to class. 9) Any reference books to be displayed can be kept in the class room cabinet see #4 above. 10) a copier machine in the hall ways (one for every ten classes or for every floor for students and teachers to use).11) Plus whatever the teacher may think of, can be brought in as and when needed. 12) A computer for each student to do research or reference work using encyclopedia etc should be there in each class room. 13) Instead of spending time/money to display those materials in those classes, the teachers can use that money to get a copy of book for each subject at Home and students can leave their school copies in their lockers.
The students can get breaks to get a drink of water or go bath room or even walk around in groups to stretch.
The materials that a teacher displays in indl class rooms now are of very little use to any child. Because most of the students don't even remember what they saw or have those same materials at display when they get home to review what they have learnt in schools. For specials and lab work they can transition in groups to certain designated class rooms, where a lab may be set up for example and common to all 6, 7, or 8 th graders. The same thing w art or music or gym.
>>Children do need to learn how to transition>>
They are still moving for certain classes like they did from 3-10 yrs of age. They go to bathroom, lockers etc or go to lunch etc. It is no big deal for normal kids. It is only for kids w autism, who need to see the same students every single day. They don't mind if the teachers change every hour. Mainly because they are not following word per word of what the regular ed. teacher will be teaching in her class to all students. This is true in my son's case at least.
Students have plenty of opportunities in their home and communities to move around and learn how to transition as well. They have been doing it for 8 years
before they get to 6th grade.
>>Daniel use to tantrum with each and every transition in his day. He no longer does this. He has learned his schedule and moves from one transition to another>>
That is great. But they can't provide a group of normal peers for him! Which would be very casual and natural thing to do. It teaches a child to live in a society where there are people who are difft and normal, who can learn about his disability, develop empathy, compassion, tolerance, and see him as a human being.
My son does not need pics for everything, like he used to when he was very young. He has come a long way, mainly because he watched normal kids doing things and it was easy to present visual role models by his teacher spontaneously w/o efforts or preparations. All she had to do was to point at a kid who is doing reading or writing, and my son would sit down and pretend to read! LOL:)
>>I myself never pushed for full inclusion because I didnt think it was best for my son>>
They did not provide that opportunities w all supports as well?
>>Of course each child is different>>
This is such a big excuse the people in our world use to avoid inclusion of people w disabilities. Of course, even normal children are all difft. So we need to have difft class room for each child?
LOL:)
>>I think for him the mix of "class" time and "resource room" time has worked well, and this will continue, probably into his high school years>>
They should have thought about this arrangement for my son from day one in special ed. He was pulled out for 300mts for resource, 90mts for speech and 60 mts for OT only from 3rd grade or so. Before that they did come to his class room to meet those mts of work w him. Most of the schools do not have "Resource rooms" at all. I remember, when my son was in 2nd grade, I asked them where was the Resource room in that bldg. Then they set it up!
No. I am not buying any of thier excuses to avoid inclusion for kids w disabilities. It can be done. They have to think in terms of proving additional class rooms, more paras, more support services. Instead of tryiong to fix those "burkhas" in Afghanistan, let them take of their veils that blinds them now which prevents them from implementing inclusion for our kids!
Talk about veils or burkhas! Our educational system has a major burkha around their eyes and ignore our kids w disabilities right under our noses!
I want my educational tax money back now. A full refund is in order. I am pissed.
|
