I am posting today to let people know that having a child placed in a self-contained classroom is not some type of prison sentence. Whenever I share with people that my youngest son is in a self-contained classroom they offer instant pity and wonder why I allowed such a placement. They say things like “oh he is not going to learn in that setting” or “be sure to find a good vocational program when he gets to high school.” I know that all programs vary but I want people to know there are some out there that work. My sons class is a 4th grade cross-categorical room with anywhere from 4-15 students in it throughout the day. Some students only come for the language arts block, others only math, social skills training, or group speech. All these students are mainstreamed for science, social studies, art, music, recess, and lunch. The classroom teacher has a full time aide, the speech teacher, reading teacher, and social worker all have times where they come and work with the class as a whole, the students also receive pullout services with the speech teacher and the social worker. Reading is done both as a class as a whole and in small group. The class reading consists of the whole class reading the same book, working on vocab, and mapping the story. Then their is smaller group instruction where students are grouped based on ability. Writing instruction is based on child need, my son for example is working on legible printing by writing small teacher directed essays. The special ed teacher and the aide accompany the students to their mainstreamed classes and help co-teach. My son has made great progress in this setting. At the start of 2nd grade he was on a pre-primer reading level he is currently at an independent reading level of early 3rd grade, with a frustration level of early 4th. Last night he was able to draw the diagram of the step of a volcano eruption and explain how its eruption changes the shape of the earth. I personally feel he would not of made this growth if he was “included” all day long. I just wanted to share that there are programs that work.
Re: self-contained classrooms
I think a couple of years ago my son would have benefitted from a placement such as you describe. But here self contained classrooms are reserved for children who are more than LD—autistic or mentally retarded. Even higher functioning autistic children are not placed in self contained classrooms.
In second grade my son was so far behind that school was only a babysitter. I ended up doing everything on my own that year—after deciding against going to due process.
Beth
Too clarify this is considered a self contained class because their are 5 students including my son who are in the room the majority of the day. They are only included for a small portion of the day. It is like it is a combination resource/LDI room.