I found my article on www.4children.org. The article is called "Special Needs, "mainstream" Classroom" and it is written by Kathy Flores. Here is the link: http://www.4children.org/issues/2003/january_february/special_needs_mainstream_classroom/
This article is credible because: It is associated with an organization called the "Action Alliance for Children." This organization has a board of directors who are from different universities with various ways to contact them. An author is provided and there are resources at the end of the article.
I think this article is helpful for my research because it lists clear reasons for advocating for mainstreaming and it gives examples of children who are benefiting from it.
Reflect:
In the beginning of the article, the author talks about a girl who has had the opportunity to be in regular grade level classes which her mother worked hard for her to be in. I like how the author personalizes the issue by allowing us to experience the success of a girl with a serious disability who was mainstreamed.
The author explains that this can happen if different ways. She talks about a boy who was able to sit in his classes with a teachers aide, another boy who simply took one class at a grade-level school,and a deaf child who took half of his classes in a mainstreamed setting with an interpreter. The author realizes that not every child is to be mainstreamed the same way. Although the form of mainstreaming may be adjusted for each student and depending on his or her level of disability, there should still be an opportunity for each child to interact with other students, disabled or not.
I like how the article points out specific benefits of mainstreaming. It not only talks about how it can help students with special needs but also the other kids. It gives them a better understanding of them and what other people go through. It also forces the teacher to be more creative in her instructing techniques.
I think the article is trying to convey that there are many different ways of mainstreaming kids. Sometimes there are problems and issues that they must work through but the benefits are numerous and worth it. All children should have a chance to interact with the rest of the children in their grade, even if it takes some creativity on the teachers part and a little adjusting of how much the child is able to handle. The author adds that we just need the right leadership, trained staff, and curriculum. I agree that with the write resources and leaders, mainstreaming should be made available to special needs kids all over.
You are looking at the correct factors for credibility. I appreciate that you took time to look up the board members for Action Alliance for Children. I think you already know the difference between resources and references, but I'll reiterate just in case. References would be tied specifically to the material in the article (and are a stronger marker of credibility). Resources are links to additional material (these show that the author has invested some time in research, but they are less of an indicator of credibility since individuals can do a quick google search of the topic and just post links that seem promising.
ReplyDeleteI think your article is helpful for the reasons that you mention. If you're looking for clear talking point to advocate for streamlining children, this article provides them. I would like to see you push your statement of usability one more step. You identified what made the source unique. How does it advance the purpose of your research? For example, you could tell me why specific narrative examples would appeal to your audience.
Your response is off to a good start; don't be afraid to be even bolder with it. You can go beyond what the source says to expand the reasoning of the source. For example, imagine yourself as a young child; how did you learn about disabilities? If you adopt that perspective, does what the article says about children learning to be more sympathetic make sense? Or, as another example, the article mentions that for mainstreaming to be successful, the right blend of accommodations has to be made. Do you think schools not finding the right blend of accommodations is part of the reason your aunt had difficulty finding a good school for your cousin? You have a great personal tie to your topic; don't be afraid in the response to make connections with your own personal observations.