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Online Resources Library >> Blogs >> Special Education Blog
What I have observed over time is that children are as similar as they are different. They all have strengths and weaknesses and come to school with such diverse backgrounds and experiences. All of those pieces should be considered when we look at kindergarten skills and readiness skills. Some children fit right in and others struggle until they understand the routines and changes and what the expectations are in this new environment. Parents and teachers should give children time to settle in, time to observe and understand their new world. As I write this, I am thinking about a young boy in one of our elementary schools who was having trouble adjusting. He wanted to get up and explore when he saw something instead of following class directions. The teachers have been very worried about him and have asked for help to support him. By giving him more time and observing him, we have found that he needed to have directions given to him more than once. And when you showed him how to do something instead of telling him, he was able to follow the directions. One day recently we realized his classmates were repeating the directions and showing him what to do, and he loved it. In the last week we have seen him settle in and feel like he is an important part of the class. Some students just need more time. The children seemed to know how to help this young boy better than the adults. They felt like helpers and were learning wonderful social skills. What a perfect Kindergarten lesson. We all learn differently. By waiting and observing, sometimes things will simply fall into place. Happy Fall – Enjoy the Colors!
Special Education Blog
Oct 4, 2010
Posted in: Blog
October Blog
How did it get to be October? What happened to September? By now the beginning of the kindergarten year is under way. We are already beginning to plan for open house at the different schools, parent teacher conferences and progress reports. Many parents will be anxious to see how their children have made the transition from pre-school services to kindergarten. They will want to know how their children are progressing compared to peers. Are they making friends? Are they happy?What I have observed over time is that children are as similar as they are different. They all have strengths and weaknesses and come to school with such diverse backgrounds and experiences. All of those pieces should be considered when we look at kindergarten skills and readiness skills. Some children fit right in and others struggle until they understand the routines and changes and what the expectations are in this new environment. Parents and teachers should give children time to settle in, time to observe and understand their new world. As I write this, I am thinking about a young boy in one of our elementary schools who was having trouble adjusting. He wanted to get up and explore when he saw something instead of following class directions. The teachers have been very worried about him and have asked for help to support him. By giving him more time and observing him, we have found that he needed to have directions given to him more than once. And when you showed him how to do something instead of telling him, he was able to follow the directions. One day recently we realized his classmates were repeating the directions and showing him what to do, and he loved it. In the last week we have seen him settle in and feel like he is an important part of the class. Some students just need more time. The children seemed to know how to help this young boy better than the adults. They felt like helpers and were learning wonderful social skills. What a perfect Kindergarten lesson. We all learn differently. By waiting and observing, sometimes things will simply fall into place. Happy Fall – Enjoy the Colors!