As a regular ed. teacher I frequently have sp.ed. teachers in my room at scheduled times. Frequently I look up from the story I’m reading and there are 2-3 teachers talking to each other in my room rather than pulling their child to work with them. I’m not their boss, so how do I deal with this annoying and nonproductive time?
Re: sp.ed. teachers in an inclusion classroom
How long does this go on? For the length of the story? If it’s a brief consultation, fine. If they talk through the entire story, that’s rather rude and potentially distracting to the children.
In that case, you might take the risk of going to the nicest one of them and gently saying how much you appreciate their help but that when they’re consulting, it’s distracting you from the reading. Ask, don’t tell, if it would be possible for them to do lengthy consultations just outside the door of the room?
Good luck.
Re: sp.ed. teachers in an inclusion classroom
Maybe they are waiting until you finish the story. Students do not like to be pulled out of the interesting story you are reading, to go work over in the corner of the room. It is difficult to compete with other more interesting activities in the classroom. Often the assistant in the class is catching me up on student work or is asking how to modify an assignement.
You can be the loafing-police and start questioning or blowing the whistle. As one who has worked in both regular ed and sped roles, I’ll prefer to think they are commenting to one another on student observations. Maybe they’re talking about what a great teacher you are. There’s a happy though for you!