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The turtle is a symbol of Mother Earth, peace, harmony, and everlasting
life. The thirteen shields on the turtle's back are symbols representing
what I believe are essential skills for learning.
The following topics are the skills leading to being an independent
learner. This course provides each topic as an option for teachers and
parents to study, explore, and integrate into their curriculum and/or
everyday life.
Sections/Topics:
Section 7901 Self Advocacy
Self-advocacy is the ability to be able to share one’s
strengths and weaknesses. This may seem simple, but it is not. We are
weakness focused that we seldom are able to highlight our strengths and
build on them, nor are we able to take our weaknesses and use them to build
strengths.
Section 7902 Failure as a Tool
Failure as A Tool - When babies first start to walk, they fall often. We
don’t concentrate on the falling down as much as we encourage the one or two
steps. Likewise, as teachers we need to applaud successes and not condemn
student failures.
Section 7903 Independence
Independence is the major premise of our educational system. For special
educators it is also the premise for “inclusion” and offering students a
“continuum of services” because when student graduate we want of them to be
as independent as possible. However, each individual‘s degree of
independence is difficult to define.
Section 7904 Social Issues
Social skills are necessary to communicate effectively and to develop
relationships. A person who has acquired important social skills is (a.)
able to read body language, facial expressions and gestures, (b.) ask
appropriate questions, (c.) start conversations, (d.) engage in ‘small
talk,’ and (e.) is able to understand some of the subtle “hidden rules” of
society.
Section 7905 Counseling
Counseling is having the opportunity to talk to an outsider about an
issue that is difficult to resolve. A person who is struggling with an issue
should feel comfortable in seeking a trusted adult who is a good listener
and one who can help clarify the situation.
Section 7906 Strengths
Strengths - It is important for the teachers
to know their students’ strengths but it is even more important that
students know their own strengths. If students know their strengths, they
can use them to compensate for areas in which they feel inadequate.
Strengths need to be more broadly defined. In schools, in addition to
academic strengths we need to consider strengths in the following areas:
extracurricular activities, interpersonal skills, and human quality assets
such determination, flexibility, risk-taking, honesty, integrity, and
others.
Section 7907 Remediation
Remediation is providing direct instruction
for areas in which students feel inadequate. Elementary and middle school
teachers are often very good at providing support for students. On the other
hand, in high school we often feel frustrated and helpless and therefore do
not make the effort to help students with their areas of need. If students
haven’t succeeded in their first eight years of education by using the
typical school methods of learning, they desperately need alternative ways
of learning in high school.
Section 7908 Problem-Solving Skills
Problem-solving is the ability to take past
experiences and learn from them. Many students intuitively have these
skills, however, many others need to be shown ways to view and consider
alternative solutions to problems. When we do not teach students how to
problem solve they often rely on the skills they have which usually include
“fight” or “flight” behaviors. Our role as educators is to help them build
their “bag of tricks” to confront problems with a positive approach. Student
will not learn to problem-solve by being told what to do. They will best
learn problem solving by our modeling or experiencing and experimenting with
solutions to situations.
Section 7909 How Do I Learn?
How Do I Learn? - Students need to know their
own learning styles and how they best learn. In order to become independent
learners students need to realize that often times analyzing their process
of learning is equally, if not more important, than addressing the
assignments with a finished product for the teacher. As teachers we need to
be sensitive observers of our students. For if we recognize a student has
memorization strengths, we need to point this out to him or her, and then
who them how to use this skill in a variety of contexts.
Section 7910 Generalization
Generalization is the ability to
realize like characteristics of similar objects. Categorization is the
ability to see differences, and be able to classify objects. Generalization
and categorization are necessary for complex learning. If a student is
unable to generalize and categorize, he or she cannot move beyond the
concrete stage of learning. Many standardized tests assume that students
know how to categorize and generalize information.
Section 7911 Communication Skills
Communication Skills - Open
communication among teachers, students, parents and community are essential
for successful teaching and learning. When a student says, “I can’t do
that,” the teacher needs to probe and learn what that statement really
means. Does it mean: “I can’t physically do the work,” “I can’t find the
assignment,” “I don’t understand the directions,” “ I don’t know how to get
started,” “I don’t know what pages I need to use,” or “I can’t do it because
something is affecting me emotionally. When parents say, “My son can’t come
to school today.” Does that mean: “Johnny is ill,” “Johnny has run away from
home,” or does it mean “Johnny is not coming to school because he hates
school.”
Section 7912 Assistive Technology
Assistive technology devices and assistive
technology services should enable some individuals with disabilities to have
a greater control over their own lives. Provide greater participation
in activities at home, school, work, and in the community, by doing this
also provide greater interaction with non-disabled individuals.
Section 7913 Relationship & Life Skills
Relationships and Life Skills -
Building relationships and knowing life skills (occupational, safety and
health, daily skills) is the basis for survival in society. Many students
build these skills through modeling and rehearsal, many do not. Students who
do not have these skills are bullied and teased. As educational
professionals and parents we need to teach students how to build and keep
relationships. We need to teach life skills and incorporate them into all
areas of the curriculum.
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