~ The Smiling Moon~

Too often we have seen a child's disability or diagnosis used as an excuse for his/her behavior. Mike Kersjes held his students with disabilities accountable for their behaviors as they competed against students identified as gifted and talented at NASA Space Camp in Hunstville, Alabama; probably for the first time in their lives.He details the challenges and triumphs in his book Smile as Big as the Moon, which has been made into a motion picture for ABC Family. It is amazing what high expectations can do for children  - their confidence, their achievements, their social relationships, and their goals.
 
I have taught many Teacher Preparation Courses where I used his book as a required text for participation in literature circles throughout the semester. The undergraduate students truly connected with the story , the teachers, the students with disabilities, the high school peers, and Mike. I was fortunate that Mike spent 3 days on campus for me - where he shared his inspirational, motivational story with the undergraduates, with students at a neighboring high school, and faculty members. He touched so many pre-service teachers those days; ones who truly want to make the same kind of positive difference in the lives of students with disabilities. He is a phenomenal speaker!!! Many students chose to attend his presentation more than once and wanted to meet with him one-on-one. They were beyond impressed with him, he is enthusiastic, charismatic, down-to-Earth, a 'real' person who walks the walk.

This story is truly multifaceted and can be the springboard for professional dialogues on education, collegial relationships, goal creation, plan development and implementation, academic curriculum development, thematic teaching, creating classroom community, diplomacy, teaching math and science to children with disabilities, family and community relationships, peer relationships and the general trials and tribulations of being a special education teacher.

One of my students created this video montage for her final project : 

I was pleasantly surprised,as this is one small example of how a college freshmen interpreted the text.

Smile as Big as the Moon is a great starting point for staff professional development; all teachers regardless of specialization teach children with disabilities - this is just one interactive, engaging way to start those sometimes difficult conversations about inclusive practices.

I do hope you have an opportunity to read the book, if not, at least see the film - you will be touched and inspired to do great things for children, and for yourself.

 

It’s a Great Day!

Shawn

Respect, we need it to achieve ~!

In the September 2011 issue of Educational Leadership, Marie Nathalie Beaudoin states: “Teachers who are stressed, unhappy, and unsupported by their peers are more inclined to treat their students with disrespect.” (p. 40) An educator’s feelings of inclusion or isolation are reflected in his treatment of students.

Some teachers use a designated lunch period to connect with others – often these center around unproductive comments about students, administrators, or other ills of school life. This has a 2-pronged effect:

  1) a teacher either participates to be 1 of the ‘gang’ and harbors negativity – stress, unhappiness
              2) a teacher removes himself from the situation and becomes isolated – stress, unhappiness

Either way, it’s a no-win situation. So, what does a teacher need to feel respected? 

If the teacher is respected, valued and supported, his students will be also.

Schools need to implement a culture of appreciation and support. Teachers need to learn from one another, seek out assistance, try new techniques, expand current practices and be actively engaged in pedagogy.

 

Administrators need to develop a current focus/topic for discussion for all staff members. Something as simple as a school-wide email sent with an ‘idea of the day’ or ‘quote of the day’ to get people talking to one another. 

Professional Learning Communities can be initiated – either by grade level, academic content area, experience level, related arts, specialists, interest areas….. There may be a group of people who are interested in Marzano’s High Yield Teaching Strategies. Get people talking about, thinking about, inquiring with others – applying it to their classrooms. Teachers will be empowered and feel respected and appreciated.

When teachers are respected by other teachers, relationships form – respected by administrators, relationships form – and teachers respect students. Only then will students achieve.

So, in this day how do we form PLCs without adding another hour to the day? Hmmmmmm….

It’s a Great Day!

Shawn