reunion

So, I have previously mentioned the twins who really helped me decide that teaching is the way I want to go and this last Monday we got together. We went to Boomers!, an arcade/family fun center, near home. We had so much fun and actually got a few great pictures in. They both asked me if I was sure I wanted to teach Special Ed. I thought it was really cute because when I said that I was sure they both asked if I knew how hard that was going to be. It means a lot to me when the girls who I love and who understand more than anyone else what it is like to be in that setting, acknowledge that it is hard and actually look out for me. Little do they know, I learn more from them. They have reached an age where while not always comfortable with their disability, they have accepted it. They know that it is a part of who they are and they both openly talked to me about how hard it is suffering from CP. I talked to them a little about the students I work with at Dan Peterson and they laughed with me because they know some of those situations.

Hopefully, I will get the pictures of them up soon, they really are beautiful with smiles like I have never seen before.

jingle bells

I am a little overdue for a blog...but that doesn't mean that I don't think of something clever and creative that I want to write about everyday, because I do. It is amazing how everything I do can somehow be related back to all of my classes.

So, I worked in an all wheelchair class last year and I fell in love with the kids. I am not in that classroom anymore and two of the students have since been transferred to self contained classrooms. My mom was in town this weekend because my aunt just moved to a house in Draper and we were helping her decorate and give it the homey feel. Every home goods store is getting ready for Christmas so everywhere we went we were surrounded by Christmas music, Christmas trees, ornaments, Santa, the whole thing. Jingle bells came on and I was instantly back in my old classroom taking a student to the bathroom. Oh boy could she sing. I remember taking her to the bathroom and the entire time she is singing, "Dashing through the snow on a one horse open sleigh..." I would lift her out of the wheelchair and onto the changing table, "...Laughing all the way HA HA HA..." She sang this song long after the Christmas song. I once even commented that Christmas over, but our teacher so kindly reminded me that she could still go for a sleigh ride because there is still snow on the ground.

I love this season and I know that even our students can feel how special it is. I know there is still Thanksgiving before it is officially the Christmas season, but let's make this season a good one. There is so much bad going on in the world, so much that we are unsure about, it's about time we focus on some good.

RULES

During my weekend at home I read the book Rules by Cynthia Lord.
It tells the story of a girl, Catherine, with a younger brother who has autism. As she goes to OT with her brother she develops a relationship in the waiting room with a boy named Jason. He uses a communication book the entire time and very effectively can communicate. The point of view that Lord uses is amazing. You really get caught up in the emotions and feelings of Catherine. She is frustrated with her brother and very often embarrassed by his tendencies, but it is easy to see how big her heart is because of her experiences. She always sticks up for her brother and when it comes to Jason she has to decide whether or not she can admit to their friendship.
My roommate also read the book and she said to me that she wishes every child would read this book and see what it is really like to be different and to live with someone with a disability.
Just thinking about this book pulls at my heart.
Jason's therapist always greets him loudly and often accuses him of being grouchy or upset. As Catherine's friendship with Jason develops he tells her that he might not be able to talk, but he can hear just fine. That really taught me a lesson. They don't want to be treated like they are dumb and more than often they don't want to be babied.

I strongly suggest this book and I hope it touches you like it touched me.

my weekend at home

This weekend I went home and it was fabulous.
While being in this program and learning all of the wonderful tools we have access to, I have thought a lot about the students I worked with at home. Unlike many of my fellow peers, I do not have a sibling or family member with a disability, so these students are my foundation. It was them I fell in love with, their personalities and the lessons they taught me that made me decide to study Special Education.
The 2 I am very closest to are twins and they mean the world to me. They call me from time to time and it just so happened that they called me while I was home. I was at the beach when I saw my favorite name pop up on my phone. We talked for a good long time and scheduled a time to see each other when I get back for Thanksgiving break.
It is really cool talking to them about the career I am pursuing because they are such strong supporters. They love the idea of me teaching and get so excited for me. As I talk to them I am able to see just how much they have really grown up and it gives me the chills. I love them and I can't wait to work so closely with such amazing students for the rest of my life.

iMovie!!!

Last week was the beginnings of our iMovie project. I don't know if I have ever been so excited about a project. I just cannot wait for class tomorrow because I am so excited to see the footage we shot and begin the editing process.
We went crazy on campus - a film on social etiquette. We filmed common mistakes made by the students we love so much. They don't understand the need for personal space. They will sit close, stare, take what they want, and show excitement in less than acceptable ways. Then we proceeded to act out the way we really introduce ourselves and make new friends. It was great because we actually got real responses from students on campus. We caught their reactions as we displayed the behaviors, something I don't notice.
I guess I just love these kids so much that I don't see it weird when they practically sit on my lap or try to hold my hand when I have never met them before. We are lucky to have such big hearts for these students. It was a reality shock to see how truly this would create a socially awkward situation outside of our program and the class I work in.

Pedagogy

Pedagogy has become the word of the year, a word I have only discovered while studying special education. It has become part of my regular vocabulary and is thrown around in everyday class discussions. That makes sense though, right?

Pedagogy literally means the art and science of educating children and often is used as a synonym for teaching. More accurately, pedagogy embodies teacher-focused education.

I love thinking of teaching as an art, because it truly is! We have such a big responsibility on presenting information in a way that students will remember it. I believe it is an extra challenge for us lucky teachers in special education. We take it to another level. We have to pay attention to all of the details and make sure each step is accomplished. Then we get to celebrate every step. I love how we get to appreciate every step and see how it plays into the whole.

I found a handy little book online, Pedagogy. It points out that pedagogy means more than just teaching, it is "the taking of young children, by means of both skillful teaching and wise training, leading them up to worthy manhood and womanhood."

I am looking forward to finding my own pedagogy and teaching my students in a way that best meets their needs.

Proposition 8

As I have said before, my home is in California and one day I would love to return and teach there. But Prop 8 has recently consumed my thoughts. If it does not pass - my future is completely changed. Most don't realize that this is more than just acknowledging same sex marriages, it is accepting them as normal and they must receive the same liberties heterosexual marriages do. This means that curriculum in public schools must be changed. Everyone remember when you were a child taking sex ed. The most uncomfortable class we all had to sit through - if Prop 8 is not passed, homosexual relationships must be discussed as well. My children will not be learning about that as if it is something we need to accept. Neither will I teach or support that being taught at my school. A teacher in San Francisco recently took her class on field trip - to watch her be married to her female partner. Some how this was a "teachable moment."
Think that is scary? If Prop 8 isn't passed, the only way a church can continue being tax exempt is if they recognize same sex marriages like they do traditional marriages. I don't even want to think about how this will dramatically conflict with the beliefs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints...

Please take the time and visit protectmarriage.org