Please watch the video below to view another real life example of teaching a student with Down Syndrome!
Peter, one of many
So I know that the above video is long, so if you do not have the time to watch the whole thing the first and last 2 minutes do a good job summarizing. Peter has Down Syndrome, and at the first day of school many of his peers are not sure how to react to his presence in the classroom. However, has the year goes on and the children get more comfortable with Peter, not only does it help them accept differences in other students, but also is aiding Peter in his development. Peter is not the only student dealing with integration in the classroom:
Here is personal account:
"My mother recently became an aid in a school district to the early childhood room for students with disabilities. I have attended school with her and witnessed first hand children's disabilities. Though the children in her class, whose ages vary from 2-4, are not all students with Down Syndrome, and they are separated from other students, the class serves a vital purpose. The classroom helps prepare students, and get them accustomed to the school setting, so that when they are integrated into the classroom they have a smooth transition. The students are allowed to be in a comfortable place, where there are always adults giving them their full attention. They also learn in different ways, mostly music listening and games that will help teach them some essential foundations of education.
Now, she is currently working with a student with Down Syndrome. (I will call her Ella, but I do not want to reveal her true name). Ella has Down Syndrome, but only to a mild degree. She is currently in the 4th grade, and has been working her way through elementary school with the help of an aid in each class. My mother has expressed that Ella is just like any normal child, for she loves her barbies, loves to play with the students at recess, and loves to learn. However, Ella has certain problems, where she does not know how to act in some social situations. For example, Ella has a fascination with hair. Though this is not a problem, for many young girls like to play with their friends hair, Ella wants to tug at their hair and does not realize that she may be over stepping personal boundaries of her peers. She has trouble communicating her needs, and often seems stubborn when asked to participate in class fun. Yet Ella learns everyday, and through repitition and proper attention, she will be able to work her way through her enducation, and affect the lives of her peers."
(Account from University student Emily Gullo whose mother who works with this student!)
Accommodating to children with special needs is never easy, however is helps students and teachers learn about how diverse people in our world are. Ella, mentioned above, may have difficult times in her class, but she is getting a mainstream education like any other child, and by continuing to work with other students, will learn how to act at school and at home.
Here is personal account:
"My mother recently became an aid in a school district to the early childhood room for students with disabilities. I have attended school with her and witnessed first hand children's disabilities. Though the children in her class, whose ages vary from 2-4, are not all students with Down Syndrome, and they are separated from other students, the class serves a vital purpose. The classroom helps prepare students, and get them accustomed to the school setting, so that when they are integrated into the classroom they have a smooth transition. The students are allowed to be in a comfortable place, where there are always adults giving them their full attention. They also learn in different ways, mostly music listening and games that will help teach them some essential foundations of education.
Now, she is currently working with a student with Down Syndrome. (I will call her Ella, but I do not want to reveal her true name). Ella has Down Syndrome, but only to a mild degree. She is currently in the 4th grade, and has been working her way through elementary school with the help of an aid in each class. My mother has expressed that Ella is just like any normal child, for she loves her barbies, loves to play with the students at recess, and loves to learn. However, Ella has certain problems, where she does not know how to act in some social situations. For example, Ella has a fascination with hair. Though this is not a problem, for many young girls like to play with their friends hair, Ella wants to tug at their hair and does not realize that she may be over stepping personal boundaries of her peers. She has trouble communicating her needs, and often seems stubborn when asked to participate in class fun. Yet Ella learns everyday, and through repitition and proper attention, she will be able to work her way through her enducation, and affect the lives of her peers."
(Account from University student Emily Gullo whose mother who works with this student!)
Accommodating to children with special needs is never easy, however is helps students and teachers learn about how diverse people in our world are. Ella, mentioned above, may have difficult times in her class, but she is getting a mainstream education like any other child, and by continuing to work with other students, will learn how to act at school and at home.