Posts Tagged ‘camp’
Stay In Touch With KIT!
Hello, Friends & Happy April, I hope you and your family are healthy and safe and adjusting to the new reality. These are trying times, and you may wonder what can fuel my passion when there isn’t much inclusion going on in the world. This week I am inspired by our KIT team and how…
Read MoreWhy Every Child Should Go Camping At Least Once (But Preferably All the Time)
Sometimes, I worry that today’s kids are overly connected– staring at their phones, requiring constant entertainment, especially in the city. When I ask my students what they did during the weekend, their answers usually include the words “Netflix” and “Snapchat” more often than “biking” or “play.” Last week, I took my students (city kids growing…
Read MoreHow Max Braverman Won Student Body President
“Some people may say having Asperger’s is bad, but I think it’s my best quality.” At KIT, we’ve written before about Parenthood, the show that taught us all about the stresses and joys of having a child with Asperger’s (among other stories within the show). I, myself, had never seen the show before, and I…
Read MoreWhen the Teacher Takes a Page Out of the Camp Counselor’s Book
A wise mentor once told me, “Camp counselors need to learn from teachers, and teachers need to learn from camp counselors.” I got what he was saying, but I’m not sure I really got it. This week, I gave it a try. I’ve been feeling bogged down by my job. With standardized testing coming up,…
Read MoreHappy Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week!
This week is National Afterschool Association (NAA)’s Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week! This week is a chance to thank the people who make an incredible range of afterschool activities possible for children and families across the United States. With two parents who worked full-time, I attended after-school activities throughout my childhood. I had the opportunity to…
Read MoreTaking Control Over Your Emotions When Children Lose Control Over Theirs
I’ve experienced every emotion over the past few weeks, from revulsion to rage, when thinking about the recent federal lawsuit filed on behalf of the boy and girl from Kentucky who were handcuffed by a school resource officer in their school. I had a hard time finding the words I wanted to say. I was…
Read MoreWhose Kids Are They, Really?
“When you test your kids…” “I want to make sure your kids get what they need.” “What should we do about your kids?” As a special education teacher, I cannot count how many times I have heard general education teachers use some of the above phrases, referring to students with disabilities. As role models to the children with whom…
Read MoreThe Importance of Social-Emotional Learning
Imagine a child with whom you have worked in the past who had significant difficulty regulating his or her emotions. Perhaps this child came into school or daycare after getting into an argument with a sibling, and he or she was highly aggressive with adults or other kids. Maybe the child is a camper who…
Read MoreThe Case Against Competition
Growing up, I was very active in the performing arts– dance classes, choir, the school play, you name it! However, I always felt a sense of anxiety as the season began because the start to the season meant that auditions were coming. At auditions, I would be judged by my leaders and compared to my…
Read MoreThe Power of Teamwork
Today, I’d like to tell you a story about a student of mine named Elena. Elena is a seventh grade student who has been working so hard all year. She comes in to office hours before school, takes home extra study materials and extra credit work, and has significantly improved her self-advocacy skills. She is a…
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