In the Rethinking book the author talks about a little girl named Nyla who had some disabilities. Her mother wanted to take her out of the classroon she was in because she did not think that her needs were being met. However, she changed her mind when she overheard another child telling Nyla that she was her best friend. Sometimes adults forget that children can be very accepting of new things because so much is new to them. By keeping children with disabilities or other kinds of special needs separate from typically developing children, they will not know how to deal with people who have such differences.
It may be challenging to have children with specific need in the class because it does pose an extra chllange but there is much to be gained. For instance, a new appreciation for life often arises when working with children who have to work harder at things that we can do on a daily basis. Being prepared and informed before working with children with disabilities is very beneficial.
If there were more training offered on how to work with certin disabiities then maybe there could be more inclusive classroomssss. Children who may have some disabilities still deserve a chance to be included and involved in a classroom with other children. All children deserve a chance to be involved.
Also in the Rethinking book it talks about children who were from migrant families and some of the language barriers that were faced. It would be easier for teachers to say that the children and their families need to able to speak fluent English before entering the program but all children deserve a chance to learn and be a part of a classroom.
The New Possibilities book talked about the struggles that many women had to face on their journey to bettering their lives. They pursuesd their dreams and pressed on even when it would have been easier to give up. Their rocky past gave them strength and experience. Their past may have been dark and filled with many unfortunate experiences but they made it past all of that and are able to provide care and love for the children in their class that they may have not receive growing up.
Even these women deserve a chance to make more of their lives. They deserve just as many opportunities as anyone if not more. No one should ever be doubted or excluded because of their differences or background. Sometimes it is those factors that can create incredible characteristics.
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Hi Kawai,
ReplyDeleteWhat is the most important element that an early childhood educator must have when working with a special need child? Yes, one needs to have the education about child developments and preferably a few years of experiences as well. And yes one needs to have a lot of patience. I have the opportunity to work with the spec. children every day. But I found some of the spec. educator lack of the most crucial element is to have the love, the heart for our special need children.
Ivy Pang
Hi Kawai,
ReplyDeleteThis is a fascinating question -- who deserves to be included? I think the question is full of things to think about as educators. If we think about who deserves to be included, something is assumed -- the person/group who sets up the parameters of inclusion -- why do they have this power? For example, in deciding if inclusion practices will be utilized at a school, the components of the level of inclusion might be determined by the principal. Therefore, she holds the power.
In the readings, I wonder who holds the power in deciding who will be included. Further, who gets to decide who deserves the inclusion?
Education is full of power dynamics -- which ones support the children and which leave children out?
Jeanne
Hi Kawai,
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing how children with English as a second language grasps basic skills and languages that an English student may not know. Sometimes I think non-English speaking children work harder than English speaking children because they want to know and speak English and want to learn what the teacher is teaching them.
And I believe typical developing children should be around children with special needs when they are young so they don't develop a bias about them. When they are around them when they are young, they come to appreciate and understand why they are the way the are and learn to accept them. And in most instances, the children become great friends with a child with special needs and this is a wonderful observation to see.
Ashley
Hi Kawai,
ReplyDeleteI wonder why or what makes people think it would be hard for children to accept someone with disablilites? Is it children or adults or even maybe both. I think inclusion is a wonderful thing. It reinforces the fact that all people are different, the world would be a boring place if everyone looked and acted the same. I think children learn from eachother and they respond better to ones closer to their age. I sometime experience frustration in the classroom because some children no matter how many reminders you give them they still forget things like putting a toy away or cleaning a mess they made or so forth, then another child can come along and tell them to remember to put their toys away and the other child responds and does it quickly. This teaching technique is now very useful to me. I make it a point to use my children in my classroom to help eachother.
Hi Kawai,
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad to read that you feel inclusion classrooms are a good thing. I wish everyone was able to see an actual inclusion classroom in action. I agree with your point on children being very accepting. Children are honest...a little too honest at times. This honesty helps them to understand the world around them. As long as an explanation is given, children will accept anyone.