Field Response Journal

5. Look for examples of inclusion in the classroom. Are there children with special needs that the teacher is accommodating? If so, what special needs do these children have and how are they being addressed? Do you believe the accommodations are appropriate and adequate? Explain.

            I’m doing my field experience at a charter school in Logan, Utah. One of the things I noticed right off was that they were a very hands on type of school. I got the opportunity to go on a small field trip with them up a canyon, where kids had activities involving writing, science and social studies. I noticed a girl with special needs right off. She was in a wheelchair and had other handicaps as well. I was impressed by the way the school accommodated her and allowed her to go on the field trip and experience the activities with the other students. The school is small but I could tell that they were using all their resources to create the least restrictive environment for every student. In talking with my cooperating teacher, I learned that the school had many students with IEPs, involving both intellectual disabilities and specific learning disabilities, because many of the teachers had special education training and the classes were small. However, the size of the school made mainstreaming impossible because there was no room or money to have a classroom completely devoted to students with special needs. As a result, they had to incorporate complete inclusion. I think this school is doing the best they can with the resources they have. I was impressed with the way the other students were learning from their teachers and helped to accommodate the students with special needs.