Educational Strategies for Autism

Integrating children with autism into the educational environment is one area in which many strategies and innovations have been developed. Teachers have learned to identify and to develop specific tools that often help many children with ASD, even with widely varying manifesting symptoms:

Using pictures as a direct representation of the day's schedule, rather than abstractions such as words.

Providing clearly defined working environments for each activity.

Using stories as behavior modeling tools for children to learn how to better interact socially.

Controlling the environmental stimuli such as lighting or noise from other classrooms.

Providing a flexible learning environment able to adapt to varying learning styles, such as kinesthetic learners being able to walk around their desk while taking a test.

Sticking to a clear schedule with as much forewarning of variances (such as field trips) as possible.

These are only examples – many conferences and professional journals discuss what techniques work and which don't. There are also many books by pioneers such as Dr. Temple Grandin also help adults understand the disorder and therefore develop better strategies of treatment.

The one thing that needs to be remembered is that the prime motivation for working with autistic children needs to be the welfare of the children. With this objective in mind, everyone is working together toward the same worthwhile goal! -Gray Miller

Poetry As Spiritual Practice

In his inspiring book, Poetry As Spiritual Practice, Robert McDowell challenges our education system to explore creative thinking that includes poetry and spiritual understanding:

"In our schools, grades K through 12, students are not so much educated as trained to perform well on standardized tests. They aren't taught to think for themselves, question, or be curious. They're encouraged to accept what they're told without hesitation." Robert McDowell

Stories

Everyone has a story. We are story. Kids and teachers love story and have a wonderful ability to see their lives through story. Counselling involves story. When we are hurt or vulnerable our story seems broken and when we are healing our story grows and becomes the exciting journey it is meant to be. Teachers, psychologists, counsellors should encourage story writing, story telling and story exploring. The kids who give up on life have lost story....lost where they are going in the wonderful narrative of life. Tell stories, read stories and encourage the kids who are struggling to see their story. TJS

The Miracle of the Feast

There is nothing like it! When teachers, staff and principals get together to feast. Bringing food of all sorts to share with each other. Creating opportunities to build friendships and to brainstorm ideas of how to work well with the kids in school. There is a miracle that happens when we come together to share food and listen to each others stories. It is a form of bridge building which helps isolated schools to thrive and encourages each of us to realize that we are never alone. We are all connected! Good schools, great staff working with wonderful kids! ---TJS