This site is a class blog space for new Career and Technical Specializations and Heathcare Science teachers enrolled in the New Teacher Institute (NTI) at Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Lavoie Post
The 2 Lavoie videos that we have watched in NTI have made me more aware of students' needs in general, special needs or not. What really struck me was when he mentioned that the number one most important thing an adolescent wanted to avoid was embarrassment. This made me stop and think about when I was an adolescent and I can remember that feeling of 'Oh, please just don't let me stand out in a bad way or look wierd.' This has made me more sensitive to the social students' needs and I have tried to implement his advice in my classroom. What also has made a difference is my mother's advice. She was a Special Education teacher at the high school level for over 10 years and she told me to treat all the students like I wanted my own children to be treated. She reminded me that not all of these kids have such a great home life or foundation to begin with and she echoed Lavoie's statement that I have to watch everything I do in the classroom because any little slight could tear down a student's foundation.
Shellee,
ReplyDeleteI can identify with everything you stated in your blog. We as Educators and Nurses are charge with making sure all individuals, especially children, feel good about themselves regardless of the hand they have been dealt in this life.
Mr. Lavoie's video series helped to refresh all of our memories.
Keep up the good work!
I understand what you are saying about the video on students wanting to avoid embarrassment. I have a student in my class that is a little smaller than the others, so he just keeps to himself. Every now and again, when I call on him, he tries to rebel against me. He is a smart student, but just does not want to be called on. I've learned that if I can get him away from everyone else, he will answer my questions. Maybe, now that I have seen these videos, I will be able to reach him and others like him (help stack up poker chips). When students feel good about themselves, it makes the atmosphere in the classroom better.
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