tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post2882520336655977202..comments2024-03-26T07:07:14.304-07:00Comments on Teacher Tom: Teaching Kids On "The Spectrum"Teacher Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14606781724784785338noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-38167619114364944002012-08-14T10:18:34.166-07:002012-08-14T10:18:34.166-07:00What a lovely post to read this morning! I have be...What a lovely post to read this morning! I have been following your blog for almost a year, now. I work for an organization that promotes inclusion of children with disabilities in early childhood settings. While I have always gotten the sense that your preschool is inclusive and embraces the diversity of children, I had been looking and looking for a more targeted article about what you are actually DOING to support some of the more 'extreme' diversities that exist.<br /><br />In the same morning, I have read about your superhero with the glass eye, your trooper with hemophilia, and now your young man with Asperger's. It's nice to find that more and more, people are realizing that these children are more 'normal' than different, and are so much more than just their diagnosis.<br /><br />I appreciate your analogy of walk-around algorithms. I've always tried to explain to people that some children just don't "get" the social conventions and behaviours that most children learn naturally and intuitively, but I've never thought about this kind of comparison to help the message hit home. I like it.<br /><br />Thanks for sharing.Ginahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06940731338257618401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-81984228592776838602012-07-09T21:46:54.867-07:002012-07-09T21:46:54.867-07:00Right on, Tom. As Temple Grandin said, "Diffe...Right on, Tom. As Temple Grandin said, "Different, not less."<br /><br />I would urge any parent who suspects their child may be on the spectrum to get a formal diagnosis from a qualified, *trusted* professional. Someone with a very long waiting list. Someone your pediatrician speaks highly of. <br /><br />I used to get very prickly and resistent to "pathologizing" my son's quirky behavior, but in the end that Aspergers diagnosis was the first big step toward a happier, healthier life for all of us.<br /><br />Without it, he would not have access to an IEP, much-needed support from a teacher's aide, or a proactive, non-punishing behavior plan. Without those supports, he would not be able to successfully participate in his advanced learning class. <br /><br />And now we have access to a whole community of parents, teachers, professionals, and friends who are working with Aspergers every day -- each bringing different strengths and insights, and sometimes -- often, actually -- showing me that my son is capable of much more than I would have imagined. Some parents have the tenacity to do this themselves, but I don't know where I'd be without our village. <br /><br />I've written extensively about our Aspergers journey on my blog floorpie05.blogspot.com if anyone would like to read more about it. <br /><br />Viva neurodiversity!Floor Piehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06533240227865369012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-33302910596069382812012-07-09T17:14:42.198-07:002012-07-09T17:14:42.198-07:00Thank you Teacher Tom, you get it. Moreover, perh...Thank you Teacher Tom, you get it. Moreover, perhaps this kid had overexcitabilities rather than a spectrum disorder, and brilliant that the mother supported her child, brilliant that you supported his journey through using his strengths to overcome a few weaknesses early in life and brilliant too that the kiddo understood and implemented solutions to the challenges that he faced. (applaud)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02485368075119673093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-44400445186931550992012-07-09T15:46:02.636-07:002012-07-09T15:46:02.636-07:00The world would be a very boring place if we were ...The world would be a very boring place if we were all the same. And as for the spectrum, we all sit somewhere on it, it's just that most 'normal' people don't seem to realize this.Nicholenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-34249348301863167272012-07-09T12:33:27.872-07:002012-07-09T12:33:27.872-07:00labled kids have never bothered me the way they do...labled kids have never bothered me the way they do most teachers. They are usually some of my favorite kids. I call them quirky. Maybe it is b/c my family is full of ADHD individuls. Once you figure us out, we are pretty normal. Thanks for a great post.tirzahdawnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11035688692546596706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-50705180421792841262012-07-09T11:55:21.740-07:002012-07-09T11:55:21.740-07:00Tom, I so agree. I keep seeing how different kids ...Tom, I so agree. I keep seeing how different kids think differently - whether on the spectrum or not. The way they process information, approach challenges, use materials, express themselves - each child has his own way of thinking and doing. It's my job to listen the way they "talk" - and a child on the spectrum just "speaks" in a different way. Thanks for a great post.Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11397525011462974857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-55227714573136686422012-07-09T11:13:22.153-07:002012-07-09T11:13:22.153-07:00This is probably the most positive and helpful pos...This is probably the most positive and helpful post I've read in a long, long while. Thank you!Malkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09927560751422131935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-33765404043290726652012-07-09T10:27:11.313-07:002012-07-09T10:27:11.313-07:00I love the analogy of teaching children the algori...I love the analogy of teaching children the algorithms they need to work out the things that don't come intuitively. Most of us do need it for math, but how interesting to imagine a world where teaching algorithms for social graces was the norm and having to teach algorithms for math would identify people as having disabilities. Thank you for yet another thought-provoking post.RobynHeudhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11549257304859673021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-15252730094355285262012-07-09T10:17:17.835-07:002012-07-09T10:17:17.835-07:00I have been reading recently that the current rese...I have been reading recently that the current research is testing the idea that the spectrum "disorders"are nothing more than differences in how children think and act. They are thinking that what we have labelled "on the spectrum" is just how people geared toward math, science, and engineering think and behave. As your story above illustrated, all we might need to do for them is help them with social skills.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-75813552108900464782012-07-09T09:47:04.308-07:002012-07-09T09:47:04.308-07:00Oh, Teacher Tom. I've been digging your blog f...Oh, Teacher Tom. I've been digging your blog for awhile now (since my son's preschool teacher recommended it), and now you're my hero. I'm an autistic adult, and mother to an autistic child, and there's so few folks who seem to get that we're different, but still capable.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-46924947122664781282012-07-09T09:25:35.276-07:002012-07-09T09:25:35.276-07:00Oh, how I wish more "normal" people coul...Oh, how I wish more "normal" people could learn the beauty of all our differences, and the gifts we throw out in trying to make everything the same.Teenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07624243035284358503noreply@blogger.com