I was glad to see gifted students addressed in this chapter. It can be difficult as a classroom teacher to teach to the highest kids in our classes. Those children are often bored with the standard curriculum and require constant engagement. The unfortunate reality is that many school districts that I am familiar with do not offer gifted programs. They may offer some enrichment here and there, but true gifted programs are hard to find. For those of us in the Peoria area, who don't live in D150, there really isn't much in the way of gifted education. I wonder why SEAPCO doesn't have a gifted division.
I find the inclusion debate to be fascinating. I can only view it from a regular education teacher's perspective. I am not trained in special education, nor do I have any biological children who require special ed services. That being said, it has been my experience that, for some students, inclusion is NOT the best option. Sometimes, however, it is an uphill battle to get those students the help they deserve. I have taught inclusion classes for 3 years. I have made accommodations on assignments, modified my grading, amended class procedures, had people come in and observe, etc. All that said, I have still had students who find it very difficult to perform well in the class. They have trouble meeting the goals on their IEP. However, when these concerns are brought up, the perception is that little gets done, the student stays in the current environment, and continues to be unsuccessful.
How do you advocate for your students when you feel their needs are not being met?
We start by talking with our grade level team. If they agree that there is a need for extra support, then we discuss it with our principal and support manager at the school. It is unfortunately a very slow process and it can take a year or two of documented reporting by the teacher before they move into the RTI levels for support. I wish we could move to the model that Finland is following where they are assessing students in the home well before school age and starting services for them on the level they need immediately.
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