Inclusion in the major academics
Inclusion, which exists in all the major subject areas (ELA, Math, social studies, science), puts students with special needs into a learning environment where they work with their more typical peers, on accomplishing the same rigorous academic tasks, but with special education services supporting them, The inclusion classroom is most obviously different from the typical classroom setting , in that there is a second teacher in the room, who is a certified special education teacher. This special education teacher works in conjunction with the general education to develop instruction that will address the needs of both the general education and special education students.. The special education teacher will work to help adapt materials, and alter instructional methods, to differentiate the way curriculum is presented , so that the special education student can be as successful as their more typical peers. While the special education teacher will make lessons more accessible, they do not change the content, or lessen the expectations, for the students. All students will be working on the same material and are expected to demonstrate success in equal measure. Inclusion teachers will at times take " center stage", and lead the lesson, and will often help students who are not classified as special education students, if they perceive a need. Inclusion teachers make learning in the inclusion classroom a truly engaging and exciting experience by offering a second "teaching style" and personality in the room, which many students often find to be a positive aspect of inclusion. In many cases, a skills period taught by a special education teacher (s), supports the learning that occurs in the inclusion classroom, although this is not an IEP mandated class.
Inclusion has been noted to help students learn to work collaboratively, and accomplish high level learning goals, by allowing special education students to partner with classmates, working and presenting solutions to academic tasks alongside their peers. As Inclusion helps promote high levels of achievement academically, teachers, parents and students often report a noted increase in student's confidence and positive self-esteem.