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Special Needs Students in Inclusive Classrooms

Thesis Statement: Special needs children need the same opportunities in the classroom as a

regular classroom, so that they will benefit socially, educationally, and mentally.

I. Broad main point 1 supporting your thesis: Special needs children will benefit socially

from being given the same opportunities as a regular classroom.

A. Friendships Develop
1. Schools are important places for children to develop friendships.
2. Schools are also important places for children to learn social skills
3. Children with and without disabilities learn with and from each other in

inclusive classes
B. Students with disabilities learn age-appropriate social skills
1. Integrated settings provide a challenging environment
2. Students learn to be more independent and acquire developmentally

advanced skills.
3. They develop friendships and a more positive self-image by having the

opportunity to do what other students do.

II. Broad main point 2 supporting your thesis: Special needs children will benefit mentally

from being given the same opportunities as a regular classroom.

A. Increases self-respect and confidence
1. Being in an inclusive classroom creates more self-respect and confidence

for a child with special needs

2. Their self-esteem is a boosted when they are around their peers without

disabilities and in an inclusive classroom.

3. Many kids with disabilities will become less depressed when they have a

high self-esteem and self respect for themselves.

B. Children develop a positive understanding of themselves and others
1. When children attend classes that reflect the similarities/differences of

people, they learn and appreciate diversity.

2. Respect and understanding grow when children with different abilities

play and learn together.

3. They learn how to respect themselves and others.
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III. Broad main point 3 supporting your thesis: Special needs children will benefit

educationally from being given the same opportunities as a regular classroom.

A. Children learn important academic skills.
1. In inclusive classrooms, children with and without disabilities are

expected to learn to read, write, and do math.

2. With higher expectations and good instruction, children with disabilities

learn academic skills.

3. Also with higher expectations, children with disabilities will learn faster.
B. Improved Reading Levels
1. Children with special needs get more time to work with their reading

difficulties and benefit greatly from inclusion in the classroom.

2. Many kids improve difficulties with vocabulary and grammar while

having higher expectations put on them.

3. Not only do they benefit but also the reading levels of kids without

disabilities will increase.

IV. Counter-argument: Students and also teachers will not benefit from being included in

classrooms.
A. Problems for Special Education Teachers
1. Teachers will not have be available to every student (example: A special

education teacher might have 50 students distributed in different

classrooms. There is no way to assist every student every day.)

2. Students may have to be pulled out of class which would impact the

ability of the teacher to maintain pace of the classroom.

B. Problems for the students
1. With one or two special needs kids in the classroom it can be hard for

other students to get the one on one time that students require and deserve
2. Students also might not feel challenged enough and may become

disinterested in the class

C. Students and teachers will benefit from being included in the classroom
1. Kids will benefit because the kids will learn diversity and respect for other

diversities
2. Teachers will benefit because there will be other teachers to help with the
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special needs kids when there is usually just 2-3 special needs teachers.

Skylar Jones

English 4 Honors

Mr. Cullen

11/20/18

Special Needs Students in Inclusive Classrooms

“An inclusive classroom is a general education classroom in which students with and

without disabilities learn together. It is essentially the opposite of a special education classroom,

where students with disabilities learn with only other students with disabilities” (Inclusive

Classroom: Definition, Strategies & Environment). Inclusive classrooms provide different and

diverse learning styles. It also provides diverse students learning together side by side. In an

inclusive classroom each student brings a different aspect of diversity to the environment (The

Power of Letting Children Learn Together). Special needs children need the same opportunities

in the classroom as in an inclusive classroom, so that they will benefit socially, educationally,

and mentally.

Special needs children will benefit socially from being given the same opportunities as in

an inclusive classroom. Many students will have friendships develop by being given the same

opportunities as in a regular classroom. For many children schools are important places for

children to develop (The Benefits of Inclusive Education). Friendships will help boost self-

esteem for not only children with disabilities, but also for those without. When children develop

good friendships, he/she feels like they belong. When children have fun and share interests with
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others and have friends that care about them, this helps them feel good about themselves, but will

also develop important life skills. Children will learn to get along with people, how to be

independent, and how to solve conflicts or problems. These skills are important for children to

learn because children who learn to get along with others are less likely to have social or

emotional difficulties later in life (Raising Children Network). Having well rounded friendships

also affects how well a child does in school. When children have well rounded friendships they

tend to have a better attitude about going to school and learning at school when their friends are

there also (Futterman). Friendships with another child is many times one of the most significant

event sto happen in a child’s life. An inclusive setting offers many opportunities for children to

make choices about who they want to be around and what they want to do. Inclusive setting

classrooms offer students with disabilities the opportunity to meet other students, which can lead

to developing friendship, not only during school, but also outside of school. Although inclusive

classrooms does not always mean everyone will make friends, it also provides students with the

ability to accept differences and to build positive relationships (Inclusive Education).

Schools are also important places for children to learn social skills. “Social skills are the

skills we need to interact adaptively in our cultural environment” (Social Skills And School).

There are many social skills children will learn such as listening to others, initiating

communication or conversations, abstracting and inferencing, understanding the perspective of

others, and humor. Social skills help kids learn how to cooperate and how to collaborate

throughout the day with other students. Children will learn what social skills work for them and

what social skills do not work for them. By figuring out what works and benefits themselves,

they will repeat the positive and continue doing that (5 Important Social Skills To Learn For The

New School Year). Children with and without disabilities learn from each other in inclusive
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classroom. Students learn by peer learning. Peer learning encompasses a broad span of activities.

Students learn a lot by explaining their ideas to others and by participating in activities in which

they can learn from each other. By learning from others, they develop skills in organizing and

planning. Children also learn how to work collaboratively with others being able to give and

receive feedback and evaluate their own learning (Reis).

Students with disabilities learn age-appropriate social skills. Integrated setting provide a

challenging environment for the student. Inclusive teaching is designed to challenge all students.

Challenge is very important for the students because it forces the student to grow. It is important

for the student to be provided with a source of challenge that challenges them, but does not

frustrate them. When a student is not challenged, then the student is put into an easy learning

environment that does not encourage the student to grow. Being put into an easy classroom will

eventually lead to boredom (Teaching Strategies: The Balance Between Challenge and

Frustration). Being in an inclusive classroom helps students with disabilities learn to be more

independent and acquire developmentally advanced skills. “For children with disabilities,

acquiring skills related to self-determination is especially important” (Fostering Independence in

Children). Children like to be able to express themselves and to interact with others. When a

child is not able to feel independent, they start to feel constantly overprotected and that could

result in the child feeling helpless rather than feeling self-reliant.

“Self-advocacy, the ability to speak on one’s own behalf, is an important and

powerful outcome for children and adults, especially those with disabilities. By

learning skills that promote self-determination as a young child, we begin paving

the way for them to effectively use their voice or other means to speak up on their

own behalf. Young children need on-going practice to gain skills related to self-
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determination. When children have numerous opportunities to practice making

basic choices or solving simple problems, they build confidence and trust in their

own abilities. Children also build the competence and ability to master new skills

that can last a lifetime” (Fostering Independence in Children).

Students will also develop friendships and a more positive self-image by having the

opportunity to do what other students do. Having good friends that students can trust and rely on

helps provide a sense of self-confidence and helps children make better decisions. Having friends

helps children have someone to look up to and have someone to learn from (Five Ways Friends

Help Build Our Self-Confidence).

Special needs children will benefit mentally from being given the same opportunities as

in an inclusive classroom. Students will benefit mentally by having their self-respect and

confidence increase. Doing cooperative activities can reduce student’s anxieties and build their

confidence. Being in an inclusive classroom increases confidence, optimism, motivation, and the

desire to learn more. When students are relieved of their stress, they are open to more

opportunities that can build self-confidence. Students also develop confidence when they are

given access to the tools and the support that the students will need to learn (Ascd). Students will

have their self-esteem boosted when they are around their peers without disabilities and in an

inclusive classroom. Self-esteem has always been a big concern for students with disabilities.

Students with disabilities will have their self-esteem boosted when they around peers that can

encourage them. If special needs children are being encouraged to keep trying, they will want to

keep trying which will boost their self-esteem. Students also gain self-esteem when their peers

let them know they are doing a good job. Many tasks can be frustrating for kids with special

needs, so having that encouragement from their peers helps how they feel about themselves
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(Develop Self-Esteem in Students with Special Needs).

Many kids with disabilities will become less depressed when they have a high self-

esteem and self respect for themselves. Children with disabilities often experience low self-

esteem, which can be a symptom of depression. Children with disabilities tend to have a higher

level of depression than those who do not have disabilities. Children who are around positive and

happy people, depression tends to reduce depression. Social support is also very important for

treating depression (Readhead).

Children can develop a positive understanding of themselves and others. When children

attend classes that reflect the similarities and differences of people, they learn and appreciate

diversity. Not only do children with disabilities learn and appreciate diversity but also those

without. Diversity plays a big role in how students and also teachers view the classroom.

Classrooms without a lot of diversity can make some students feel like they do not belong in the

classroom (Diversity in the Classroom). Respect and understanding grow when children with

different abilities play and learn together. Children with disabilities playing with children without

disabilities helps children learn different skills and abilities. Children without disabilities learn

respect when they play with students who have disabilities learn how to share with others when

playing together. Children playing with each other helps children learn how to play and get along

with others (Play and Friendship for Children with Disability). Students with disabilities learn

how to respect themselves and others when in inclusive classrooms. When there is a respect for

diversity in the classroom it creates a welcoming environment. Children with disabilities will

learn respect when they truly feel like a part of the school community. Inclusive classrooms

encourage respect and also generates participation in the classroom. Children will learn respect

for cultural differences and the respect for all individuals (Classroom Culture).
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Special needs children will benefit educationally from being given the same opportunities

as a regular classroom. Children with disabilities learn important academics skills. In inclusive

classrooms, children with and without disabilities are expected to learn to read, write, and do

math. Inclusive classrooms offer an environment that students are educated within a regular

classroom that is composed of regular teachers and special needs teachers. Students with special

needs have had increases in test scores in reading vocabulary, reading comprehension,

mathematical problem solving and procedures by being in inclusive classrooms. Also students

without disabilities have shown an increase in test scores in mathematics and reading by being in

an inclusive classroom (Kreimeyer).

In inclusive classrooms children with disabilities learn academic skills with higher

expectations and good instruction. “Differentiated instruction and co-teaching in a general

education classroom make it easier for students with standards-based IEPS to be taught the same

material as their classmates (Team). A high expectation that many schools have for students with

disabilities is to participate with their peers who do not have disabilities. The teachers high

expectation is to provide students with different educational opportunities and to encourage

students with disabilities to interact with students without disabilities. Students with disabilities

not only have high expectations for academics, but also decision making skills (The Power of

High Expectations in Special Education). With high expectations in the classroom, children with

disabilities will learn faster.

Special needs children in inclusive classrooms have improved reading levels. Children

with special needs get more time to work with their reading difficulties and benefit greatly from

inclusion in the classroom. Having an inclusive curriculum that has many diverse interests that

help students learn better (5 ways to create an inclusive reading and writing program). Many
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children with disabilities improve difficulties with vocabulary and grammar while having higher

expectations put on them in inclusive classrooms. Vocabulary learning continues throughout a

kids’ childhood and it improves throughout a child’s school years. Children learn many new

words in school by reading books and doing projects. Students given activities targeted at

production of grammar in sentences led to increases in conversation length and grammatical

complexity. Most children make slow progress that is steady with speech during primary school

years due to being in inclusive classrooms (Person).

While some people say inclusive classrooms are beneficial, others say students and

teachers do not benefit from inclusive classrooms. There are many problems for special

education teachers in inclusive classrooms. Special education teachers will not be available to

every student. A special education teacher might have 50 students distributed in different

classrooms. There is no way that the teacher will be able to assist every student every day. “The

need for teachers who have both the knowledge and the ability to teach special-education

students is more critical today than ever before” (Mader). With inclusive classrooms more

general-education teachers are teaching students with disabilities than special-education teachers

are (Mader). With special-education teachers not being available to every student at one time,

students may have to be pulled out of class which would impact the ability of the teacher to

maintain pace of the classroom.

Many say that students without disabilities also will not benefit from being in inclusive

classrooms because with one or two special needs children in the classroom, it can be hard for

other students without disabilities to get the one on one time that students require and deserve.

Student without disabilities also might not feel challenged enough and may become bored or

disinterested in the class. Students will not feel challenged because not all students have the same
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educational levels as others. Inclusive classrooms only work well when the special needs student

has mild or moderate forms of disabilities. Students have to be able to read, write, and do math at

near grade level. Having to reteach lessons or spend extra time on one subject can leave students

without disabilities bored or disinterested which can lead to them not paying attention in class or

also falling behind (Traylor).

Although special education teachers might not have time to assist every student at one

time, special education teachers will benefit from inclusive classrooms because there will be

other teachers to help with the special needs kids when there is usually just two to three special

education teachers at a school. Also many people say that children without disabilities will not

benefit from inclusive classrooms, but children with and without disabilities will benefit from

inclusive classroom because the children will learn about diversity and learn how to respect other

diversities.

Special needs children will benefit in many ways from being in inclusive classrooms.

Children will benefit socially by having friendships develop and learn age appropriate skills.

Children will also benefit mentally by having increases in self-respect and confidence in

themselves by their classmates and teachers. Lastly, children will benefit educationally by

learning important academic skills and having improved reading levels by being in inclusive

classrooms.

Works Cited

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