Inclusion, Full Inclusion, and Mainstreaming. An introduction

Inclusion is the attempt by teachers to educate each student to the fullest extent in the classroom.

Full Inclusion is based on the notion that all students, regardless of intellectual ability, should be educated in the same general education classroom as their same-age peers.

Mainstreaming "is defined as integrating children with special needs into the regular classroom with the understanding that there is a resource room special education class to which they can go receive assistance" (Aldridge & Goldman 149).

Inclusion, full inclusion, and mainstreaming are three different teaching approaches for dealing with students who have different intellectual abilities. There are many different facets that need to be prepared for inclusion. The school systems need to be prepared, as well as teachers, families and students. Different perspectives are needed from each facet to determine the best approach to administering inclusion.