Reflection #3

          Inclusion can be a wonderful thing when used at the right time. I actually have three special education students in my third period class and it's a wonderful experience. Inclusion keeps the student's with their peers, so that they do not feel different or left out. My students are usually only removed when we have a test or something of that nature. Also, inclusion is a wonderful way to teach the non-special education students about acceptance. Now as for meeting the needs of all students, I can honestly say that’s a tough job. I do not believe we can meet the needs of all students at all times, but I know we can try our best. The No Child Left Behind is certainly not on my list of great things. It focus's too much on grades and not enough on growth.  The little boy that jumped four reading levels is the perfect example. Garris says "This child has had tremendous growth, but he'll still bomb the PSSA test because he isn't on grade level" (Wallis & Steptoe, 2007). Now, to me, that is ridiculous. The state is only looking at the standardize grade so instead of that child getting build up his confidence and feel proud, he gets to focus on being a failure because some test says he is.

            I haven’t certainly tried my hardest this semester to meet the needs of all my students, even offering before school, during lunch, and after school tutorials. I have to say though, the white board game I played last Friday was a great way to meet the needs of my students. They got to work together, have fun while learning, and even bring out the competitiveness that most of the students have in them. I have never had so much participation in my classroom and my special education student from third period actually won the game and was happy. It was a wonderful experience.

Wallis, C. & Steptoe, S. (2007, May 24). How to fix no child left behind. Time magazine, Retrieved from http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1625192,00.html