Teaching Mathematics: Collaboration in the Inclusive/Mainstream Classroom
When teaching mathematics to students with mild to moderate disabilities, a special education teacher will often teach in different learning environments. One of the environments may be in an inclusive or mainstream classroom, where the teacher will collaborate and co-teach with the general education teacher. In this position, the teacher will need to work with the general education teacher to provide expertise to ensure students with disabilities are fully integrated into the classroom instruction.
Allocate at least 3 hours in the field to support this field experience.
Actively observe, interview, and collaborate with the mentor teacher, paraeducator, or aid who currently teaches math in a middle school classroom (Grades 6-8), about collaboration in the inclusive/mainstream classroom.
Your observations should address the following:
Roles of special education teachers, general education teachers, and students with disabilities in the inclusive setting
Opportunities to demonstrate leadership while collaborating in each specified role
Leadership opportunities to collaborate outside of the classroom, for each specified role
Collaboration models that have been successful for each teacher, taking into consideration student needs
Ways to create and maintain safe, inclusive, and culturally responsive learning environments to engage individuals with disabilities in meaningful learning activities and social interaction
Advantages and disadvantages of collaborating while teaching math
Use any remaining field experience hours to assist the teacher in providing instruction and support to the class.
In 250-500 words, summarize and reflect upon your conversations, observations, and instructional experiences. Explain how you will use your findings in your future professional practice.
APA format is not required, but solid academic writing is expected.
This assignment uses a rubric. Review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. A link to the LopesWrite technical support articles is located in Class Resources if you need assistance.
Document the locations and hours you spend in the field on your Clinical Field Experience Verification Form.
Submit the Clinical Field Experience Verification Form in the last topic. Directions for submitting can be found on the College of Education site in the Student Success Center.
Field Experience A: Leadership and Collaboration Paper
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Special education teachers help design inclusive classroom lessons to guarantee that the needs of the students with disabilities (SWDs) are recognized. They may also provide lessons at specific times of the day based on the co-teaching model where the general and special education teachers are present throughout the day. General education teachers' roles include planning, coordinating, scheduling, and evaluating instructional and curriculum outcomes with a positive and secure learning environment for students, including those with learning disabilities. The other role is to collaborate with the special education teacher in developing a feasible plan that meets the needs of SWDs in the classroom. Within the inclusive classroom, SWDs' roles include receiving justifiable accommodations to improve their social, life, and academic skills (Alabdallat et al., 2021). These students also learn to leverage alternative learning tools, including alternative communication devices and braille instruction.
Opportunities to demonstrate leadership while collaborating in each specified role entail suggesting and teaching techniques such as brainstorming, introducing relevant ideals from outside the groups, and gaining support from experts in the community. Leadership opportunities to collaborate outside the classroom for each specified role entail incorporating extra-curricular activities to involve students from their communities and engaging in topics outside the general K-12 curricula. Involving