Tip Tuesday: flip it!

In all our first day jitters, a colleague came to frustrated.
She is frustrated because of unknowns- which is more than relatable.
However, the frustrations were initially relayed as deficits in a particular child:
❌the student cannot
❌the student cannot
❌the student cannot
I know this teacher well- her intention was not to describe a child this way, but say I am frustrated because I don’t know what to do.
Guess what? 

Most people do not know what to do when they meet a new student who requires support. We all learn. THAT IS OK!!!
Rather than pointing this out, I simply asked WHAT CAN SHE DO?
It turned out she was not sure- why, who knows. I can only assume the challenges were passed along rather than the strengths.

We talked about her concerns, but flipped them to positives.

- This student cannot open marker lids, but she can colour. So we can pre-open the kids, pair a buddy to open them, or provide her with accessible markers.

- This child cannot flip the pages of a book. But she can flip adapted pages and swipe- SO add a paper clip to each page or use a tablet.

- This student cannot write sentences with a pencil, but she has lots to say. So we can use voice to text, typing, or other forms of accessible technology.

- This child cannot walk. But she can drive an electric wheelchair independently- so let her. We can teach her the rules of the hallway and give her support in the form of a hallway buddy, TA, or one of us can walk near her. 

We sat down and worked together. We chatted about concerns, unknowns, and how we- as a team- can support this student. Using her strengths to support her progress.

It is very easy to let uncertainties turn into frustrations and negatives- but it is very important to ask for help before this happens! Every child can learn and will succeed with the right support.
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Do not be afraid of what you don’t know. It is an awesome learning opportunity for all!!!