Posts Tagged ‘special needs’
Why 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 MoreThe Problem with Favoritism
“I mean, honestly, the number of times she’s disrupted my class, she should have been suspended by now…” When one of my fellow teachers was talking about a student in her class who is a constant disruption and struggles to regulate her behavior, I cringed (on the inside) at how quickly she was judging this…
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 Teacher Appreciation Week!
Last Fall, this video, in which Lily Eskelsen Garcia explains ALL that teachers do each day, went viral. … And it’s true! Many teachers are caregivers, primary emotional support providers, instructional experts, snack-givers, referees, relationship-builders, and much more. Teachers, thank you for all that you do to promote confidence and help students find a sense…
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 MoreWhen Students Admit They Need Help
We’ve all had that student. The one who pushes our extra help away because he doesn’t want his friends to know he struggles. The one who puts down teachers in front of peers to gain a few laughs. The one who acts like (and sometimes says outright) he doesn’t want to be in your class.…
Read MoreWhy We #LOVEinclusion
A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about Unified Theater, the program that provided me with my first inclusive experience. In February, Unified Theater hosted #LOVEinclusion month to build excitement around inclusion and the ways it has affected our development. Now, I know we are a couple of days late, but we at KIT decided to share…
Read MoreSeeing 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…
Read MoreWhen I Know My Work Here is Done
With the holidays coming, everyone at school as been squirrelly, students and teachers alike. With the restlessness has come some behavioral challenges, and I have felt myself beginning to lose patience. Sometimes, I just think to yourself, “Were my directions really that difficult? Why doesn’t anyone seem to listen? If I hear, ‘Wait, what are…
Read MoreLittle Italy Restaurante in Anchorage: Thank you for your advocacy!
Little Italy Restaurante in Anchorage, Alaska recently demonstrated solidarity by refusing service. The restaurant stood behind its staff member with a disability, demonstrating that discrimination and disrespect would not be tolerated– by staff or customers. The restaurant’s management chose to value humanity over business. In addition to its extensive dine-in menu consisting of fan-favorite Italian and…
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