I teach fourth grade. I’m interested in your opinion on the following question. In a class of 30 students, at what point are there “too many” students with special needs? I have about 10 to 12 who need special accomodation due to learning disabilities, difficulties with anger management, adhd, obsessive compulsive disorder. Are 10 students with individual accommodations too many? Is there anything I can do?
30 kids in a classroom
I think having 30 students in the classroom is a ‘too many’ right there. What research there is strongly suggests class size should be smaller than that.
And then to add in 10 - fully 1/3 of your class is defined as ‘special needs’ - that’s a challenging classroom to teach.
Is there anything you can do? that would depend on how sensible and caring your administration is. I wouldn’t hesitate to ask someone what they were thinking when they put your class together.
Good luck.
Re: critical mass in the classroom
Check the laws. In NJ if the students have iep’s then there is a certain number that is allowed before an aide is required. I think where we are it’s 8 or 9. However, my biggest problem is getting an aide that is competent. By the way, I’ve never had a class with 30 students. I agree that does sound like way too many to begin with!
Re: critical mass in the classroom
I went to schools when the class sizes *averaged* 30 to 35. A class of 25 was very small and a class of 40 did happen. And I certainly did not miss out on education.
We have to be honest and admit that those schools did a poor job for a lot of special needs kids; they had absolutely no money (which is why the class sizes) and no facilities and no training. But for the great majority, they did a good job.
Small class sizes aren’t the only thing.
I’d still like to know how this poor person got socked with 40% (12 out of 30)of the class in “special needs” — as I pointed out above, this is no longer exceptional, once it’s 40% it’s the norm.
Well, personally I’d go nuts, which is one reason I’m not teaching in a classroom any more.
Once the number gets up to 40% of a class, it’s no longer special needs, it’s normality. Are you in an especially difficult situation, or is your area prone to over-diagnosis?