When one of the speakers for the recent pre-practicum seminar that I attended asked each one of the participants about the right-now feelings, all I could think about is the halo-halo of feelings that I have been and am still experiencing.
The challenge with teaching special education is humongous. This is true for those who are trained as well as for those who are experienced in teaching. It is made even greater if one has no idea about lesson plans and the basic teaching strategies.
We did have some lessons focused on lesson plan making, but this is something I cannot just learn about in a couple of months. As one of my classmates in the course said, it takes real experience to determine the most effective lesson planning for each individual educator. More so, I am constantly hounded by the standard ethics guiding each teacher everyday within the classroom setting. What are the things a teacher can do to implement discipline in kids? What are the things a teacher should steer clear off when it comes to practicing with an iron hand? What is the teacher's limitations?
All these confusion are not clearly defined in any laws (that I have come across with), and no single teacher can tell me about the specifics about these concerns that bother me every single waking moment for the past few weeks up to the present.
These are the reasons behind the mixed emotions that I am feeling right now. I am completely overflowing with excitement about this new field that I am going to venture into. There is the butterflies in the stomach and all that giddiness, but they come with a good amount of fear as well.
I am scared of many things. I am scared of not being able to do what is expected of me in this area of work. I am scared of falling short of what they might expect of me. I am scared of not being able to do something, or anything, for these kids. I am scared that I might make the wrong moves and end up hurting them instead of helping them. I am scared. On the other hand, I am excited. I am scared and excited (and I hope both emotions are going to serve me well with this endeavor).
Monday, July 19, 2010
Special But Not Really Different
A month ago, I got the chance to visit some of the local facilities catering to the needs of special children and individuals with disabilities. As a part of the SPED program I was taking up, I joined the class in a day of enlightenment and reaching out. The entire day proved to be something I cannot easily forget about as images of the people I met on that day continue to encourage me and challenge me to make a difference even in the smallest ways.
The whole day trip included a visit to the Area Vocational Rehabilitation Center in Labangon, Cebu City. It is the informational part of the journey as we were introduced to the different services offered by the local government as assistance for people with disabilities (pwd's). These individuals were given trainings on certain subjects and areas of work to help empower them in becoming more independent and self-reliant. Hearing impaired young ladies occupied their cosmetology room, where they are trained to give services such as manicure, pedicure and hair massages. Another room serves as the training area for future masseuses.Further down the building are those who can and are interested to handle electronics and other technical fields of study.
Next in line was the Missionaries of the Poor in Pasil, Cebu City. This residential-type facility is technically an output of the missionaries' desire to help the poorest of the poor. At the present, the facility houses a good number of children and old individuals. This place really broke my heart into pieces. Living under their roof are 10-20 little kids who have been abandoned by their parents and are presently cared for by the brothers who are running this facility. These little ones really tore into the deepest parts of me as they smiled and played with us from the confines of their cribs. It makes me wonder and watch in awe as they smile and play with us using their faces since they find it really hard to move. Most of these children were afflicted with cerebral palsy. Their little delicate bodies are twisted here and there, making me shudder thinking about the pain and discomfort they must be feeling. Within those few minutes we spent there, I made a vow to come back there and do something for those little ones. This is something me and my friends are presently working on.
To cap off the entire day of learning experience, we dropped by the Parian Drop-In Center. We donated a box of school supplies and had a short chat with their resident psychologist. It was from him that we found out how the center works and what it does for the community. Aside from housing lost, abandoned and street children, it also supports those under its care when it comes to their educational needs.
We couldn't take any pictures of these individuals and children because we might use them for bad purposes, which is just understandable.However, the images of those little kids in MOP are etched in my mind ever since. I vowed to do something for them even with my own limitations. More so, their presence made me realize how better off, luckier and more blessed I am than others. They have made me realize that I have more and that I should share what I have.
They might have special needs and do require a special kind of care and understanding. However, they are just like any one of us. They like the feeling of having someone to play with and smile with. They might find it hard to smile, but they smile to show much fun they are having. They find it hard to move, but they try to extend as much of their little arms to get to touch another individual. They are special in almost every sense of the world, but they are never different from us as humans who live, love and laugh.
The whole day trip included a visit to the Area Vocational Rehabilitation Center in Labangon, Cebu City. It is the informational part of the journey as we were introduced to the different services offered by the local government as assistance for people with disabilities (pwd's). These individuals were given trainings on certain subjects and areas of work to help empower them in becoming more independent and self-reliant. Hearing impaired young ladies occupied their cosmetology room, where they are trained to give services such as manicure, pedicure and hair massages. Another room serves as the training area for future masseuses.Further down the building are those who can and are interested to handle electronics and other technical fields of study.
Next in line was the Missionaries of the Poor in Pasil, Cebu City. This residential-type facility is technically an output of the missionaries' desire to help the poorest of the poor. At the present, the facility houses a good number of children and old individuals. This place really broke my heart into pieces. Living under their roof are 10-20 little kids who have been abandoned by their parents and are presently cared for by the brothers who are running this facility. These little ones really tore into the deepest parts of me as they smiled and played with us from the confines of their cribs. It makes me wonder and watch in awe as they smile and play with us using their faces since they find it really hard to move. Most of these children were afflicted with cerebral palsy. Their little delicate bodies are twisted here and there, making me shudder thinking about the pain and discomfort they must be feeling. Within those few minutes we spent there, I made a vow to come back there and do something for those little ones. This is something me and my friends are presently working on.
To cap off the entire day of learning experience, we dropped by the Parian Drop-In Center. We donated a box of school supplies and had a short chat with their resident psychologist. It was from him that we found out how the center works and what it does for the community. Aside from housing lost, abandoned and street children, it also supports those under its care when it comes to their educational needs.
We couldn't take any pictures of these individuals and children because we might use them for bad purposes, which is just understandable.However, the images of those little kids in MOP are etched in my mind ever since. I vowed to do something for them even with my own limitations. More so, their presence made me realize how better off, luckier and more blessed I am than others. They have made me realize that I have more and that I should share what I have.
They might have special needs and do require a special kind of care and understanding. However, they are just like any one of us. They like the feeling of having someone to play with and smile with. They might find it hard to smile, but they smile to show much fun they are having. They find it hard to move, but they try to extend as much of their little arms to get to touch another individual. They are special in almost every sense of the world, but they are never different from us as humans who live, love and laugh.
Understanding Special Education
What is Special Education?
~ It is an education system designed specifically to provide children with special needs the necessary and functional knowledge and skills they need in order to fully maximize their potentials as individuals.
~ It understands and takes into consideration the limitations of these children with disabilities without actually stopping their possible growth in all aspects of their lives.
For me, special education is all these and more. Special education entails a great amount of patience and an overflowing compassion for these children. They are not as capable as the regular kids and are not able to achieve what is expected at their age, but they are as human as the rest of us. This is something everyone should learn to understand and live by.
Special education is a great start to getting the public informed about the fact that these children need help. This is really a hard task especially in a country which is drowning in the depths of poverty. However, this is doable. This is achievable. It is highly possible to promote complete understanding, acceptance and respect for these individuals.
It might take some time, but I am one of the hopeful beings who strive to work toward making a difference for the betterment of the special ones.
A New Journey
I am currently on a new journey. The journey towards an understanding of the special souls in our world. The journey that will bring me closer to those who need me most. The journey to the lives of children with special needs. May the force be with me!
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