My first year as a head start
teacher was in December 2011. There was a little girl in my class who was severely
developmentally delayed. She had trouble walking, talking, climbing, and she
was not potty trained. She was four years old when I began as a teacher
assistant. My teacher was old and didn’t seem as if his passion was there any
more. In February 2012 I was promoted to the teacher and my teacher retired. I
worked hard with the little girl all year. By the end of the year she was
talking in complete sentences, she was climbing the playground structure by herself,
she was telling her parents and her teachers when she needed to potty, and she
was spelling her name. She was also beginning to write her name. Her parents
were extremely happy with her success and praised me constantly. I also received
constant compliments from my co-workers, my supervisors, and the little girls
therapist. This was a huge confirmation that I was in the right field.
Tiffany, WOW!! These are the rewards as a teacher, to see the growth and to know that you made a difference! I taught a girl with down syndrome last year and she was not talking when we started and was saying my name and others by the end of the year, I was so proud!
ReplyDeleteYes these are the rewards of teaching :) it just warms my heart to hear stories like this!
DeleteThis is so wonderful, supporting "children with special needs" takes a lot of patience, courage and determination. your passion made you go further steps to make that incredible improvment in the little girl's situation.
ReplyDelete