***ALL TEACHERS - ADVICE NEEDED

I need help for my niece entering 3rd grade ...


H! Any help would be appreciated ….
My neice is entering third grade and she has been put into an inclusion class for the second time. She was also in an inclusion class in first grade. My sister in law was concerned about this … as a special education teacher, I explained to her that an inclusion class (in order to be successful) need to have a variety of students in class. Just because she is in an inclusion class does not mean that my niece is having problems. However, she brought something to my attention … my niece does extremely well all year but very poorly on standardized tests. I told my sister in law, that in my school, we get a test history of each student in our class and the due to her poor performance she may have been selected for an inclusion class. Of course there are many misconceptions of inclusion – I told her that in the 3rd grade I think my niece can benefit from being in this setting because she will not get lose in the crowd, and the teachers in the classroom will diversify instruction to meet all the needs of the students.

1) My question is (since I am in a middle school) what skills are assessed on the 3rd grade ELA and Math state exams? I want to get my hands on practice exams to help familiarize my niece with the tests, reduce anxiety, and help her in this area.

2) In your school, what is the criteria used to place a non classified student in an inclusion class?

3) Do you agree with my advice to my sister in law? I told her that my niece (considering her deficiency on the state scores and her relative struggle in the area of mathematics) could benefit from the differentiated instruction, increased teacher support, etc in the inclusion class. It may increase her self esteem and provide her with a solid foundation in the future.

Any and ALL advice is greatly appreciated!!

Message edited 9/1/2007 4:30:42 PM.

Re: ***Anyone teach 3rd grade anywhere? OR teach in LEVITTOWN school district???

I teach third grade, but not in Levittown. Not sure what you need help with...but I can try!

Re: ***ALL TEACHERS - ADVICE NEEDED

How do you prepare your students for the state assessments in 3rd grade?

If you have inclusion in your school and a student who receives A's and B's throughout the year but scores very low on state exams ... would they be automatically put in an inclusion class?


In my school, we absolutely consider state tests when assigning students to classes ... my SIL (and many parents) feel that the state exams do not have much weight but they do. Its part of the whole.

Re: ***ALL TEACHERS - ADVICE NEEDED

Here is a link for the 2007 Math Assessments (if you scroll all the way down, there is also a link to the 2006 tests):

Math Assessments

Do you know why your niece does poor on state assessments? Is it a comprehension issue or more of a test anxiety issue? If it's anything academic, I think she would truly benefit from the inclusion setting - as she would be exposed to the material in a variety of different ways.

Unfortunately for many of my students (I teach 7-8th) they are awesome students all year and the anxiety gets them every single time. I have had multiple honors students just lose it the day of the exam from the stress.

In my district, scores are used for placements, but more for a remedial purpose. As far as I know, students in inclusion who do not necessarily need it are randomly assigned to that class in order to keep the classes as balanced as possible. Poor test scores alone would not place them in an inclusion setting.

I hope that helps!

Message edited 9/1/2007 4:48:31 PM.

Re: ***ALL TEACHERS - ADVICE NEEDED

the general ed students that are placed in an inclusion class can NOT have academic or behavioral difficulties. (at least in my district). sometimes we have kids put in those classes more than once in their academic career, but it is by chance.

there is nothing to be worried about having a gen ed child in inclusion. when i have kids, i will push for them to be put in inclusion if they are gen ed because i want them to experience all types of kids and have the advantage of having 2 teachers.

Re: ***ALL TEACHERS - ADVICE NEEDED

3-8 test link

I will start teaching 3rd gr. this year- I believe that the ELA test focuses on reading, writing, and listening. In 3rd grade there is also an editing paragraph where students need to find and correct mistakes (always a tricky part)

When I taught 4th grade I made sure to help my students learn the 6 types of questions on a test ( vocabulary, author' s purpose etc) highlighting or underlining key words for easy re-reading.

Your neice's teacher should be able to provide sample tests or workbooks for practice ( I offer that to my parents b/c they cant afford to go out and buy workbooks but they are available in teacher stores as another option)

ETA: Inclusion in my district just means students of all levels are in the same room together to learn and support each other. Not to single out any students as "dumb" or "spec. ed". I dont believe any school would put a student in inclusion as a result of poor test scores.

Message edited 9/1/2007 5:12:22 PM.

Re: ***ALL TEACHERS - ADVICE NEEDED

Go to NYSED site and as the pp said, get copies of sample/previous tests. You can also find on there item maps for the ELA exams to see what skills are assessed specifically.

You can also check the pre/post March Math on that site. You can see at least what skills will be on the math test.

Ok, now after my test rambling I forget the rest of your qs...

I am all for the differentiated instruction found in an inclusion classroom (both as a parent and a teacher).

We actually use the state tests for AIS services, but rely more on year long progress and needs for deciding placement of our general ed kids and our kids with needs.

Message edited 9/1/2007 8:41:24 PM.

Re: ***ALL TEACHERS - ADVICE NEEDED

Re: ***ALL TEACHERS - ADVICE NEEDED

Thank you to everyone responding. Basically reiterating what I had told SIL but I will share this with her to reinforce it. I even told her I will go with her to parent teacher conferences, if she felt more comfortable. What I really want to do is head to the bus stop so I can speak to those parents!! There is such a lack of awareness about students with special needs

Re: ***ALL TEACHERS - ADVICE NEEDED

Hello.....I taught inclusion for 2 years so maybe I can be of some help to you. I'm sure each school is different in the way it sets up their inclusion class so I can only speak about my experience. The first year we had an inlusion class in the school it was set up with a variety of students of different levels...We had children who were performing below standards, children who were right on grade level and then students who were above and were pulled out for TAG(Talented and gifted). I believe an inclusion class is supposed to be made up of 60% general ed population and 40% special ed population.......and when I say special ed population I'm talking about anyone with an IEP so if a child just receives speech or OT they are counted in the 40%. However, after that first year...the inclusion class then became a dumping ground for every low functioning child on the grade. Basically, the class was one big self-contained classroom. And every year since then it has been the same. Basically any child who was performing below grade level was then selected for this class. Major behavior problems were also put in this room. I would attend the next conference with your sister and make sure you ask a lot of questions about the program. I personally would not want my child in an inclusion class based on my experience with the program unless I really felt that she was behind academically in all areas. FM if you have anymore questions.

Message edited 9/1/2007 7:01:55 PM.

Re: ***ALL TEACHERS - ADVICE NEEDED

Posted by zuzuspetals

Thank you to everyone responding. Basically reiterating what I had told SIL but I will share this with her to reinforce it. I even told her I will go with her to parent teacher conferences, if she felt more comfortable. What I really want to do is head to the bus stop so I can speak to those parents!! There is such a lack of awareness about students with special needs

Re: ***ALL TEACHERS - ADVICE NEEDED

I work in a high school, but the administration does sometimes place gen ed students in inclusion classes if they need extra help or a smaller setting. The inclusion classes in my school are generally smaller than regular ed classes. But most of the gen ed students are randomly placed in the class.

I agree with the advice you gave your SIL. I think it's probably a good thing that your neice was placed in an inclusion setting. They can maybe give her some extra help to prepare for the ELA.

Message edited 9/1/2007 6:59:22 PM.

Re: ***ALL TEACHERS - ADVICE NEEDED

Re: ***ALL TEACHERS - ADVICE NEEDED

Re: ***ALL TEACHERS - ADVICE NEEDED

Posted by zuzuspetals

Posted by browneyedgirl

the general ed students that are placed in an inclusion class can NOT have academic or behavioral difficulties. (at least in my district). sometimes we have kids put in those classes more than once in their academic career, but it is by chance.

there is nothing to be worried about having a gen ed child in inclusion. when i have kids, i will push for them to be put in inclusion if they are gen ed because i want them to experience all types of kids and have the advantage of having 2 teachers.

That is what I was explaining to her. She feels better about it but the parents in her circle are so misinformed. They keep telling her I would never let my child in one of those classes and other terrible things.


I said, tell them:
What that class is going to do is reach all students, make her well rounded, empathetic to all children, increase self esteem, and overall will help her grow as a student and as a person.

So, I think, my SIL is feeling pressure from parents!!

Re: ***ALL TEACHERS - ADVICE NEEDED

just want to comment that your niece is not being put in the inclusion class specifically because she does not perform well on standardized tests. i would think if that was the case, teachers should have mentioned to her mother that perhaps she would benefit from the extra support in an inclusion room. however, as a special educator often pushing into a inclusion room, there is a set ratio of special ed. children that are placed in there. they must have IEPs or 504's.... if they placed every kid that had an issue or was at risk, etc. the special educator becomes over whelmed and the kids that need the services don't get them because the special educator has too many kids in the class....


re: the state tests... go to the state website... you can download several 3rd grade state tests.... will show you what is covered on them.

HTH...FM if you need to.,