As a parent of a [bright] math student with an IEP, he was in an honors class. The math teacher was 100% math. There was another teacher/aid in the classroom as well, assuming a few others in there also had support plans. This was his experience in science as well. In other classes, it was a fully contained class with 12 or fewer students.

Thanks. These replies are helpful.

Anonymous wrote:Can you explain how that is structured? I’ve subbed in one high school’s special ed social studies and it was a smaller than usual class with a part time assistant. How do math and science classes work? English? TIA

The self contained classes are taught by the special education teacher and if they're lucky, they have an IA in there with them, preferably one who knows the content. These classes generally aren't bigger than 15 kids though mine tend to be around 8-10.

The team taught classes have two teachers, the general education teacher and the special education teacher. How they run the class will vary from room to room as there's a variety of ways to structure that type of class but typically both will teach in some capacity.

Yup, same as PP except math. Combination of self contained (small group) and team taught classes. Also occasionally a support elective (strats).

The thing is, a sped teacher is licensed in all subjects. If enrollment changes, admin can give you a section of something else along with your 4 math classes. If they’re really inept (or don’t like you), you could end up with 5 different courses.

Generally math is a harder to fill subject so once you’re there you’re stable (most want social studies or English), but one year I was handed 2 sections of science my first week back after 5 years straight math.

Each year, I had a combination of small-group and co-taught classes (co-taught with a general education teacher), though the grade level was not always consistent from year to year.

For example, I might teach two sections of small-group English 11, two sections of co-taught English 11, and one section of co-taught English 10. Another year, I could have four sections of small-group English 11 and English 10, with one section of co-taught English 11. At my school, I was never assigned any English 12 sections, but I did have English 9 one year. They tried to keep me in English 10 and English 11 as much as possible.

Can you explain how that is structured? I’ve subbed in one high school’s special ed social studies and it was a smaller than usual class with a part time assistant. How do math and science classes work? English? TIA