I would speak to the general education teacher first and explain the importance and benefits of maintstreaming. I would then ask permission to speak with the students in the gen ed classroom and discuss the importance of acceptance, as well as how students with special needs may have ways of learning that differ from their own. Allow students to ask questions and discuss their present or past interactions with peers or family members with special needs. After doing so, ask for student volunteers to assist students while being mainstreamed, as well as play with them at recess or eat lunch with them. This approach has worked very well for me.

I think the important start to successful mainstreaming is to develop a positive rapport with General education teachers. One thing I found helpful is to offer your help to the general education teacher. If possible, I would try and come up with short fun lessons I can do in gen Ed classroom. Or possibly, just read a story to class so the students and teacher get to know you. Sometimes it is difficult for my whole class to go into the gen Ed setting, so I invite small groups to my room to be peer helpers or to do a fun lesson. I found that teachers and students enjoy this arrangement. Once positive rapport develops, it is easier to have more ongoing mainstreaming on a daily basis.

Thanks for the ideas. It look as if the general education teacher and I are on track. We seem to do a lot of the suggested items.