10 Things I've Learned about Teaching

Jennifer at Rowdy in First Grade is hosting a Ten Things I've Learned From Teaching Linky Party.

10 Things I've Learned about Teaching Special Ed:

1. Children with disabilities are just children and they need to treated the same as everyone else. The "oh, look at the poor thing", doesn't apply in my room.  If it would be expected from a regular kid, I expect it from mine.

2. A child who can't walk, talk, see, or hear has the ability to learn too.  You just have to figure out how.

3. Getting along with your educational assistants makes life a lot easier and whole lot of fun.

4. Anything can be adapted, you just need a little imagination and (usually) a lot of Velcro.

5. Being able to get your finger up your nose CAN be considered an increase in fine motor skills.

6. A child does not need to be able to talk in order to read.

7. A child does not need to be able to print in order to write.

8. A child does not need to be able to walk in order to play.

9. Don't judge a child by their looks.  They can be deceiving.  You can't judge a child's potential by the package he came in.

10. Celebrate success, even the small ones, as they lead to bigger ones.

Thanks for letting me join.

Inspiration

I few years back at a seminar I saw a video about a young man who wanted to race and the father who made it happen.   This is their incredible story.

The Beginning of Team Hoyt


In the spring of 1977, Rick told his father that he wanted to participate in a 5-mile benefit run for a Lacrosse player who had been paralyzed in an accident. Far from being a long-distance runner, Dick agreed to push Rick in his wheelchair and they finished all 5 miles, coming in next to last. That night, Rick told his father, "Dad, when I'm running, it feels like I'm not handicapped."

This realization was just the beginning of what would become over 1,000 races completed, including marathons, duathlons and triathlons (6 of them being Ironman competitions). Also adding to their list of achievements, Dick and Rick biked and ran across the U.S. in 1992, completing a full 3,735 miles in 45 days.

In a triathlon, Dick will pull Rick in a boat with a bungee cord attached to a vest around his waist and to the front of the boat for the swimming stage. For the biking stage, Rick will ride a special two-seater bicycle, and then Dick will push Rick in his custom made running chair (for the running stage).

Rick was once asked, if he could give his father one thing, what would it be? Rick responded, "The thing I'd most like is for my dad to sit in the chair and I would push him for once."
The 2009 Boston Marathon was officially Team Hoyt's 1000th race. Rick always says if it comes down to doing one race a year he would like it to be the Boston Marathon: his favorite race. Dick Hoyt hopes that he is able to push Rick in the Boston Marathon when he is 70 years old (2011)! Neither Dick or Rick are ready to retire yet. (copied from their website Team Hoyt)





Their website is Team Hoyt