Teaching Pyramid

It is important for children to build social and emotional skills at a very young age. Children with emotional and social difficulties sometimes fall into a category of behavior issues. These types of disabilities are found quite commonly and are often not treated. I found an article that discusses these issues and how to implement practices in the classroom that might help the child. See page http://www.naeyc.org/files/yc/file/200611/BTJFoxLentini.pdf
In the article it discusses how to implement interventions with these children. The teaching pyramid found on this page shows that the base of the pyramid is the relationship with child, family, colleagues. This MUST be the starting block for all the interventions in the classroom. It is vehemently important that good relationships begin on day one or before day one of school.

Learning Disabilities Association

The LDA of America website offers many articles and advice for people with learning disabilities. I was particularly interested in the sections for parents and teachers. One article I read discussed how the class room management might change or adapt to better help children with disabilities. it reports on ways to encourage compliant behavior in the classroom.
One of the factors they stress is the validation of the child. The child needs to know that the teacher takes the feelings of the child seriously. As a teacher we need to validate the feelings of the child before moving on to finding a solution to the problem. They also recommend asking the child for suggestions when creating a solution together. This helps to empower the child to make wise choices and fosters an environment where the child can learn to create their own solutions to problems. I was impressed with the information it offered and eager to go back and read more on this website. This was a good reminder to me that empathy for one another's feelings is important when building a relationship whether it is a child or adult.

Nonprofits

I recently came across information for a nonprofit in South Carolina. It is a preschool for children with special needs. The special needs that are specifically addressed here include children with social, emotional or behavioral needs. The program sounds like a great way to begin setting up a support system for these children. The program first diagnosis the child and the child's strengths and weaknesses. Then they create an individual plan to help the child overcome his/her challenges. The children are placed in a classroom with a teacher, assistant and clinical worker where the staff helps to redirect and reteach the children.
I also discovered that the program works very closely with the parents. Parents are required to attend meetings to help inform them of their child's needs and to teach parenting skills. They folowup with home visits where the clinical staff help the parents to implement what they have been taught about parenting. I was really impressed with the steps this organization was taking to build relationships in the community and especially with families of the children who have special needs. I wonder if there are programs like this in OH!

Caring for Yourselves

"It's all about give and take." It's what they say about marriages and healthy relationships. I think that this is vehemently true. Good relationships foster a sense of sacrifice (i.e. the give). Many people will say that sacrifice is an act of love. It is one way that you can communicate that you care about someone. And since it requires that we give up something we wanted and goes against our natural humanly desires, people often set sacrifice as the ultimate gift.
Parents of children with special needs often become overwhelmed and stressed. Studies report that they need find ways to take in their relationships with their child. This doesn't mean they should ignore the child's needs. Rather it means that it is important to take time for themselves to care and enjoy themselves. They will be much less overwhelmed and more able to care for their children better. Cindy Ariel offers many suggestions to help parents learn to balance the take and give in a relationship with a child who has special needs. She suggests journaling, excercising and being an active part of the community. She also says that communication is the key, so take the time to talk openly and honestly with people.

"Green" Teachers

In thinking about the relationships that teachers need to make with child, parent, family, staff, other resources, I am a little overwhelmed. When a new (green) teacher begins working at a new school the teacher has to learn a whole new system and school. I imagine that it must be pretty difficult to learn the new school, the staff, and all the students. What are the best ways to help a new teacher build these relationships? How can the "green" teacher prepare for making the support system for all the children that are soon to enter the teacher's new classroom?

Preschools

When helping children with disabilities form strong peer relations, it is important to start when the child is young. Even before the child becomes school age parents of said children should consider other options to help the child build good social skills. Many organizations and states have funded preschool for children with disabilities. This is a great opportunity for children to interact with peers and also a great way to find a good system of support for the child and the parents.
The US Department of Health and Human Services lists several federal funded programs including care for infants and preschoolers. This includes the Head Start Program which offers care for children 3-5. Children of low income families are eligible as well as children with disabilities. Ohio is one of 38 states that offers state funded preschool as well. The ohio public preschools are specifically offered to children with disabilities and they also invite 'typical' children to participate in the program to help build the most diverse and acceptable group. Preschool is a great way to help foster the relationships between parents and schools and resources.

Building Relationships

In reading the first couple chapters of our book and becoming familiar with Brofenbrenner's Social Ecology Model, I have become aware of how much stress can accumulate given the lifestyle needs of some of the children. The Model suggests that the best way to assist these families and students is in helping to foster stronger relationships with the family itself, the family and school, and the family and the community. I started to research some of the best ways to help build up those relationships.
The first section of articles I read about were focused on the relationships that students with disabilities have with their peers. The articles emphasized the importance of the teacher showing acceptance of the child. Several articles also recommend teaching diversity. This can be done simply by addressing the similarities and differences between the different students in the classroom. It may also be helpful to have some classroom visitors of other people with disabilities.
When I think of teaching diversity in the classroom, I like to think of people from all over with many differences. In the classroom where I was this past year, the students were penpals with students in a very diverse school in Virginia. This was a great opportunity for the students to learn about others and hear how their lives were similar and different from the students. I also brought in materials from a trip to China to share with the students. We did many activities that displayed the diversity of life all over the world.