Scrolling through social media, as I often mindlessly do, I am repeatedly reminded of the powerful educators with whom I am in community. It is not my community. It is a community in which I am a learning, growing, contributing member. These educators inspire me, motivate me, encourage me, and remind me of the change …
I am finding myself rageful lately. The politics in this country no longer reflect dialogue I’m even remotely familiar with and each day we experience a new tragedy or outrage that we no longer even seem to notice. As we reel and stumble to make sense of our public health crisis of mass shootings by …
What is Special Education? When I began my undergraduate studies in Elementary and Special Education, I hoped to gain a deeper understanding of how to support students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) within the general education classroom. I viewed the work of special education as a fund of knowledge that I would utilize as a …
Every Classroom, Every Day: Rethinking Inclusion Read More »
Since the tender age of ten, I have been contemplating what will happen to my brother, CJ, when my parents pass away. When I was four, CJ was diagnosed with Autism. And, similarly to how Emily Perl Kingsley felt in her poem, Welcome to Holland, my family dynamic was altered for the better. While some …
Reimagining Quality of Life for Adults with Significant Needs: Finding Holland Read More »
Ahh, “behavior management.” Research shows that “behavior management” is one of the top challenges for teachers, one of the factors attributed to teacher attrition, and a top priority for school administrators. But what does it mean, to manage behaviors? It is a teacher’s job to gain the cooperation of his/her learners. Think about those words …
From Punishing to Teaching The Behavior We Want To See Read More »
Kids need to learn to share. They have to share precious resources with siblings. They have to share with others at school. Sharing is a mainstay topic on Sesame Street. Parents pull their hair out because their kids “can’t” share. Sharing is caring, a way of life. Or is it? Merriam-Webster says “sharing” is 1) a …
We will dismantle beliefs about children and families that do harm and put limits on growth. We will explore how we can grow toward strengths-based approaches that celebrate the first five years and open the doors for the potential within every child.
