Jack’s Story

Last year, my first year teaching, I had a student in my co-taught math class (whom I will call Jack) who was so painfully shy that I felt guilty for speaking to him; He was so clearly anxious about adult interactions that he would bite his sweatshirt sleeve until there were legitimate holes all over…

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Diversity at the Holidays

As a special education teacher who teaches in a primarily inclusive setting, I have had the pleasure of seeing inclusion in its many forms. I have seen students embrace various forms of diversity, acknowledging and celebrating many types of differences. Children are remarkable in that they are naturally curious, not judgmental, about human differences. They also…

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Seeing Each Other as Humans: Sportsmanship

Throughout my life, I have loved this time of year. As a zealous NFL fan (Go Steelers!), I love watching the playoffs as our country prepares for the Super Bowl– the best day of the year for football, commercials, and an amazing concert. (Side note: Did you know that this year’s Super Bowl halftime show…

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Inclusion is Everywhere

Sea turtles, hummingbirds, palm trees, and breathtaking sunsets surrounded me over the holiday season. I was traveling with a large group of my family, visiting the gorgeous Caribbean island of Martinique. There were eleven of us there, ranging from age 7 to age 80. Even while on vacation, I was unable to stop noticing the beauty of…

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