Anonymous
Post 09/09/2015 15:32     Subject: Are special ed kids grouped into the same class?
Anonymous wrote:My dd has ADHD, and I noticed last year in her 3rd grade class at least 2 other kids were in there who also had ADHD. We finally got an IEP around the middle of the year where she had pull outs for math and language arts, and when she told me the other kids in her math pull outs, they were almost all from her class, and they all had ADHD. So it seems like they do group them. Now in 4th grade, I don't know all the kids in her class, but I saw my dd and 2 other kids with ADHD in a classroom of 35 kids. Heaven help us. I hope my dd can learn something with that large a classroom. She only gets math pull outs this year. We just started medicating her last May, and it does seem to help, but she obviously does best with small group instruction.


Isn't 30 the max?
Anonymous
Post 09/09/2015 15:28     Subject: Are special ed kids grouped into the same class?
Anonymous wrote:My dd has ADHD, and I noticed last year in her 3rd grade class at least 2 other kids were in there who also had ADHD. We finally got an IEP around the middle of the year where she had pull outs for math and language arts, and when she told me the other kids in her math pull outs, they were almost all from her class, and they all had ADHD. So it seems like they do group them. Now in 4th grade, I don't know all the kids in her class, but I saw my dd and 2 other kids with ADHD in a classroom of 35 kids. Heaven help us. I hope my dd can learn something with that large a classroom. She only gets math pull outs this year. We just started medicating her last May, and it does seem to help, but she obviously does best with small group instruction.


35 fourth graders? Ooof.
Anonymous
Post 09/09/2015 15:22     Subject: Are special ed kids grouped into the same class?
1516 here. My kid isn't special needs, and it hasn't affected his learning to be around the special needs kids. They seem to vary every year the kids that are in the class with the special needs kids. My kid has learned how to be more sensitive and how to treat kids that are different the same way he would treat kids that aren't different.
Anonymous
Post 09/09/2015 15:20     Subject: Are special ed kids grouped into the same class?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Our school seems to put many of the kids with IEPs with the most experienced classroom teacher or the teacher with sped training, and then push in extra support. I thought it was a legitimate approach, since all the kids in that class benefit from an extra adult in the room, and kids with more needs get the teacher with the most experience.


This is how it is in our class and it works great. The extra hands allow everyone's needs to be met from Gifted to kids with IEPs. Kids with more severe issues are in separate classrooms.


That is the case in our school as well (we're in FCPS). SPED teachers help everyone, they don't discriminate against NT kids.


The SPED teacher who comes to my kid's class is my favorite teacher in the whole school. She is awesome! I don't care why she's there. We're lucky to have her there, even part time.


Same here! My DD's 5th grade class had a SPED teacher to help out with a couple of the kids, but really, she wound up being like a second teacher for everyone. She was absolutely wonderful, and in fact, my DD loved her more than the regular teacher! It can be a huge benefit to have that second teacher in the classroom.
Anonymous
Post 09/09/2015 15:16     Subject: Are special ed kids grouped into the same class?
My dd has ADHD, and I noticed last year in her 3rd grade class at least 2 other kids were in there who also had ADHD. We finally got an IEP around the middle of the year where she had pull outs for math and language arts, and when she told me the other kids in her math pull outs, they were almost all from her class, and they all had ADHD. So it seems like they do group them. Now in 4th grade, I don't know all the kids in her class, but I saw my dd and 2 other kids with ADHD in a classroom of 35 kids. Heaven help us. I hope my dd can learn something with that large a classroom. She only gets math pull outs this year. We just started medicating her last May, and it does seem to help, but she obviously does best with small group instruction.
Anonymous
Post 09/09/2015 15:16     Subject: Are special ed kids grouped into the same class?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:At our Loudoun school, all the "resource kids" are in one class per grade. It is usually the same teacher year to year. It's not the same as the severe special Ed kids who have their own class.


OP here. I actually think our school may do this as well. The ESOL teacher was also there and I noticed the handful of ESOL kids who were in my child's class last year.

The smarter/better behaved kids from my son's class were also placed in his class.

I just felt like all the "normal" kids were put in the other class and my child's class had all the ESOL, special needs and gifted kids.

I actually don't think my child is necessarily gifted. He is very well behaved and tries/performs well in school.

I am not trying to stir up drama. I am just genuinely curious since I thought the placement of kids was very obvious and then the special needs teacher said she would be there.


In my kids' school in FFX county, there is always one class per grade that has 1 or2 extra teachers that help the kids with special needs. So, to answer your question, the special needs kids all go to one class. It isn't the same teacher that has the special needs kids every year.
Anonymous
Post 09/09/2015 15:07     Subject: Re:Are special ed kids grouped into the same class?
I think they bring them into the classroom for certain things. There is a child who comes into my daughter's classroom every day for 2 hours. He comes with a teacher that works with him. My daughter, told me that the boy is also in another classroom for some hours. It doesn't really affect the classroom at all.
Anonymous
Post 09/09/2015 15:04     Subject: Are special ed kids grouped into the same class?
Anonymous wrote:Many schools put all spec ed in one room - depending on school size, program size, and staffing, there is often no other way to meet the requirements of the law in terms of providing extra assistance. When I was a teacher, one classroom always had all the spec ed, another had all the esol, and so on. To balance it out, whoever got all the spec ed also got all the gifted, or some extra really good students. Sounds like your child is the balancer. It can be a good thing or a bad thing to have spec ed in the class with your child. It just depends on the teachers, the students, and the school. And sometimes the year.


OP here. I am glad I am not imagining this grouping. I spent a lot of time with the kindergarten classes last year and definitely thought it was very obvious that this class got all the spec ed, some ESOL and then all the smarter/well behaved kids. I lucked out and my child is very well behaved. He is a really good kid and he will be fine with the spec ed and ESOL kids. He told me yesterday that one of his classmates can't hear or has trouble hearing and that he helped him. I was glad to hear that.
Anonymous
Post 09/09/2015 14:34     Subject: Are special ed kids grouped into the same class?
If your kid requires an extra adult in the classroom, there is only one class per grade where that is going to happen. All the other classes have 1 teacher. If your kid's accommodation does not require another adult, then he/she can go in any class.
Anonymous
Post 09/09/2015 14:30     Subject: Are special ed kids grouped into the same class?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Many schools put all spec ed in one room - depending on school size, program size, and staffing, there is often no other way to meet the requirements of the law in terms of providing extra assistance. When I was a teacher, one classroom always had all the spec ed, another had all the esol, and so on. To balance it out, whoever got all the spec ed also got all the gifted, or some extra really good students. Sounds like your child is the balancer. It can be a good thing or a bad thing to have spec ed in the class with your child. It just depends on the teachers, the students, and the school. And sometimes the year.


Children with IEPs are supposed to be individually placed based on their specific and often unique needs. That can include placement with a general ed (or advanced curriculum) teacher whose teaching style matches that of their learning style. Since the term "special needs" covers so much ground, it would be highly suspect if all the special needs students required placement in the same general education classroom. It seems to indicate that the individual nature of their needs was given a backseat to other factors and if so- that would be a violation of FAPE.

IEP: Individual Education Plan


Well, since none of us know ALL the IEP kids, I would guess that we're using "special needs" to signify the kids who have obvious learning or behaviour issues. There are almost certainly other kids with IEPs who aren't in the designated special needs classroom that gets extra support.
Anonymous
Post 09/09/2015 14:25     Subject: Are special ed kids grouped into the same class?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Schools can actually get in a lot of trouble for grouping children with IEPs together in a class. It is a very bad sign of a backwards school system if this happens. It is not ok and it should not happen.

If you are bothered by your child being in the same class as children with disabilities, move to a private school. Federal laws say that my kid is equal to yours and deserves the same education.



Well our school has been doing it forever and nothing has happened yet. Might want to check your source.


What county are you in? I'd love to know.


Haha. No.
Anonymous
Post 09/09/2015 14:04     Subject: Are special ed kids grouped into the same class?
Anonymous wrote:Many schools put all spec ed in one room - depending on school size, program size, and staffing, there is often no other way to meet the requirements of the law in terms of providing extra assistance. When I was a teacher, one classroom always had all the spec ed, another had all the esol, and so on. To balance it out, whoever got all the spec ed also got all the gifted, or some extra really good students. Sounds like your child is the balancer. It can be a good thing or a bad thing to have spec ed in the class with your child. It just depends on the teachers, the students, and the school. And sometimes the year.


Children with IEPs are supposed to be individually placed based on their specific and often unique needs. That can include placement with a general ed (or advanced curriculum) teacher whose teaching style matches that of their learning style. Since the term "special needs" covers so much ground, it would be highly suspect if all the special needs students required placement in the same general education classroom. It seems to indicate that the individual nature of their needs was given a backseat to other factors and if so- that would be a violation of FAPE.

IEP: Individual Education Plan
Anonymous
Post 09/09/2015 13:00     Subject: Are special ed kids grouped into the same class?
Anonymous wrote:Many schools put all spec ed in one room - depending on school size, program size, and staffing, there is often no other way to meet the requirements of the law in terms of providing extra assistance. When I was a teacher, one classroom always had all the spec ed, another had all the esol, and so on. To balance it out, whoever got all the spec ed also got all the gifted, or some extra really good students. Sounds like your child is the balancer. It can be a good thing or a bad thing to have spec ed in the class with your child. It just depends on the teachers, the students, and the school. And sometimes the year.


I have a balancer. One year it was fine, one year she got ignored.
Anonymous
Post 09/09/2015 12:51     Subject: Are special ed kids grouped into the same class?
Many schools put all spec ed in one room - depending on school size, program size, and staffing, there is often no other way to meet the requirements of the law in terms of providing extra assistance. When I was a teacher, one classroom always had all the spec ed, another had all the esol, and so on. To balance it out, whoever got all the spec ed also got all the gifted, or some extra really good students. Sounds like your child is the balancer. It can be a good thing or a bad thing to have spec ed in the class with your child. It just depends on the teachers, the students, and the school. And sometimes the year.
Anonymous
Post 09/09/2015 11:38     Subject: Are special ed kids grouped into the same class?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Our school seems to put many of the kids with IEPs with the most experienced classroom teacher or the teacher with sped training, and then push in extra support. I thought it was a legitimate approach, since all the kids in that class benefit from an extra adult in the room, and kids with more needs get the teacher with the most experience.


This is how it is in our class and it works great. The extra hands allow everyone's needs to be met from Gifted to kids with IEPs. Kids with more severe issues are in separate classrooms.


That is the case in our school as well (we're in FCPS). SPED teachers help everyone, they don't discriminate against NT kids.


The SPED teacher who comes to my kid's class is my favorite teacher in the whole school. She is awesome! I don't care why she's there. We're lucky to have her there, even part time.