General Education Class (Inclusion or co-taught and with a special education teacher)

A General Education class, also known as a mainstream class, is a regular classroom setting that includes both general education students and students with disabilities. In an inclusive or co-taught General Education class, a special education teacher works collaboratively with the general education teacher to provide support and accommodations to students with disabilities.

Discussion

General Education classes that incorporate inclusive or co-teaching strategies and include a special education teacher have become increasingly popular in recent years. This approach has been shown to benefit both students with disabilities and their peers without disabilities by promoting academic, social, and emotional development in a supportive environment. 

Inclusive education is founded on the principle of equity, which ensures that all students receive the same quality of education, regardless of their abilities or disabilities. In this approach, students with disabilities are not isolated or segregated but are included in the regular classroom setting, where they have access to the same curriculum and resources as their peers without disabilities. This helps to promote a sense of belonging and self-worth among students with disabilities, as well as promoting positive attitudes and respect for diversity among their peers (UNESCO, 2009).  

Co-teaching is a collaborative approach that involves a general education teacher and a special education teacher working together in the same classroom. The teachers share responsibility for planning and implementing instruction, as well as assessing student progress and providing feedback. This approach provides students with disabilities with the specialized instruction and support they need, while also promoting positive relationships between teachers and students (Friend & Cook, 2013). 

Research has shown that inclusive education and co-teaching strategies can lead to positive outcomes for students with disabilities, including improved academic performance and social skills (Kurth & Mastergeorge, 2010). Additionally, students without disabilities benefit from increased opportunities to interact with their peers with disabilities, which can lead to greater acceptance and appreciation of diversity (Konza, 2014).

Emphasis

The goal of inclusion or co-teaching is to create an environment where all students can learn and grow together, regardless of their abilities or disabilities. In this setting, students with disabilities have the opportunity to participate in the same curriculum as their general education peers, receive individualized instruction, and access appropriate accommodations and modifications.