We are all totally included and the spec ed teacher never pulls students out of Reading and Math classes. Our middle school classes are all ability grouped, so the lowest group is mostly students with IEPS who read on a very low level. Would you give them all low level texts to read or regular middle school texts and modify it for them? All students are required to take state tests at their grade level, and the only accommodations they are permitted are extra time and smaller groups for the test.
Have you discussed this with your co-teacher? He/she might have good ideas on this. Are your low level texts high interest for middle school? That will make a difference as well.
Modify the texts or what they're doing with the material? The latter would require modification built into the IEP.
It depends on the content. Are we talking science or social studies? There I'd say accessing the content is the most important thing and therefore worth using lower level texts. If it is reading/ELA then learning to work with the more complex texts, even if heavily modified, would make more sense.
I'm not sure what you mean. Everything they do in class is taught totally differently than the "higher" class.
Of course I've discussed this with the special ed teacher. She thinks they should all be taught at a much lower level instead of using grade level materials.
I'm not sure, but don't think you can change texts unless they have an IEP that says that they can get modifications if the content goal is reading.
Of course not and I agree. However, it helps me give you a better answer. If there is no call for curriculum modification on their IEPs, you really do need to be finding a way to teach them the core material at grade level. In your case, I would do a bit of both. Have them read at their level, but also teach them how to at least navigate grade level text.
