2nd Singapore Math Learning Festival

Volunteer Tutors Needed!

Inviting everyone to come tutor this coming Saturday. Just 2 hours to help a child to read better, speak better English, practice the multiplication table and so on will have a big impact on a challenged life. You have much to share! Join us. Send me a note if you have questions. Please share thanks.

Come join us as we tutor the children from He Cares Foundation www.hecaresfoundation.com 

 this coming Saturday (hopefully the weather is good).

1PM, at the 3F, Brgy. Bungad Hall, QC (near West Ave. - Baler). Pls send me a message if you want to join tina@papemelroti.com thanks

Are you SPED teacher material?

photo credit: http://www.ideadeaf.org

When I learned about my son's condition, I studied special education and wanted to become a SPED teacher.  However, as I witnessed my son grow in the SPED school with his teachers, I noticed how hard it was to be a parent, and a SPED teacher as separate persons, what more if I became both?  As much as I would love to help, I will never compromise my children's well-being over others.  So, I bid adieu to becoming a SPED teacher and focused first on getting my son all better.

In conversing with his teachers and from observation, I learned that to become a SPED teacher, one has to have the following:

1.  An inherent love for children

Not just for special children, but for every child.  Teachers are second parents.  They should play the role of primary caregiver when the children are within their care.  All children have needs and these differ with every child.  Knowing the nature of a child is crucial for every teacher.

2.  Loads of Patience

Since special children need special care, teachers should have more than the usual amount of patience.  Some special children learn slower than usual, others are too hyperactive, while others are too talkative.  Just imagine a room with five to ten children with different disorders.  If a teacher cannot handle this situation, then she is not fit to become a SPED teacher.

3.  Diploma/Certification

All professionals have certain qualifications to meet in order to work in the Philippines.  A SPED teacher requires a diploma in Bachelor of Elementary Education major in Special Education.  An individual who wishes to become a SPED teacher but has a different field of study may opt to take a certification, or a Master's degree, which will take about two years to complete.

To find schools offering SPED courses, go to FindUniversity.ph

4.  Good working relationship with other professionals

Teachers of special children need to work with other professionals such as doctors, therapists, and counselors.  It is important that you understand your responsibilities with each one and that you do not overstep theirs.

5.  A wild imagination

Children have them, so should you.  It helps to keep children on their toes since most of them also do not like being bored with nothing to do.

I may have three or four of these traits, but maybe it is still not up to me alone.  I had to think of my family since I am a mother already when I started studying SPED.

Teaching is said to be one of the noblest professions.  If you have a calling to teach, then do it.  However, if you are unsure, it is best to seek another profession.  Teaching is not just arts and crafts and pretty little things.  Teaching is tears, bugs, dirt, and mucus.  Just think of all the children whose minds and dreams you might damage along your way if you're just doing this out of a whim.

If you're still sure that you want to care for God's special children, there is a 24-unit Special Education Certification Program at the Philippine Normal University.  They also have a Graduate Program with streams in teaching children with intellectual, visual, and auditory disabilities.  Check out PNU's website here.

Choosing the right school for your special needs child

my son with his SPED teachers and Principal

Assuming that you already had your child assessed, the evaluator probably will suggest therapy (occupational, physical, speech, or behavior) for your child.  The evaluator will also suggest that you child be placed in a regular school that accepts a special needs child, or a special education center/school.

Most developmental pediatricians/psychologists/diagnosticians have lists of these professionals/centers according to their location, so you can try and see which ones can work best for you.

There are considerations when choosing a school/center for you special needs child:

1.  Accessibility - or as the realtor says, "location, location, location."  Is it near your abode?  Is transportation readily available?

     Why is this an important consideration?  Depending on the condition of your child, some children with special needs are irritable and gets easily bored.  If it takes a lot of time to get to your destination, you might have a problem while on the street. Some tantrums take long to pacify.

2.   Budget - the care for a special child does not stop with paying the tuition fee.  There's other school expenses, transportation allowance, food, medicines, doctors, and the therapy (which for a year, is more than the cost of tuition fees).  Pick a school that will not be a burden for the family, especially if you have more than one child.  There are public schools that are at par with private special schools.  Public school teachers are also adept in teaching as they are required to attend seminars and conferences to enhance their craft. NGOs also finance some public school facilities. Along with the right therapy, I don't think public schooling is a bad choice.

3.   Facilities - one of the most important factor is air-conditioning.  A cool and serene place is a must for children with special needs.  Some schools also offer therapy, so you don't need to go to a different center for that.  Mobility is also an issue if your special needs child is on a wheelchair. 

4.   Class Size - what is the teacher:student ratio?  Smaller class size is better, so you'll be sure that your child gets the attention he needs.

5.   Competence of the staff/educators/principal - I placed this as number five, because you cannot be sure of their competence the first time, so you will know this along the way.

6.  Curriculum - ask for their curriculum.  Special needs children develops easily with a play-based program.

Regular schools that accept children with special needs must have staff that can handle the child.  Children who are accepted in regular schools are mostly those that can cope with the environment physically, socially,  emotionally, and mentally.  The school at least, should have a guidance counselor that has an experience in handling special children. This guidance counselor should have the capabilities to shadow teach when necessary.

The school principal together with the guidance counselor will initially talk with the parents to discuss how they can be of help to your child.  Sometimes, they will make you sign an agreement that states that you agree with their rules and regulations, like submitting required documents on a prescribed date.

A good school-parent relationship is vital to the development of your child, so before you talk to them, write down your questions so you will not forget key notes.

To help you with your search, click on the following links:

Regular Schools Accepting Special Children
SPED Centers in public schools
Government Special Schools
Private Special Schools

Read more information on how to choose the right school or center for your child from aboutkidshealth.com.

When to Decide on Getting an Assessment

photo credit: http://www.speechandlanguage-therapy.com/assessment

When I was teaching Kindergarten, I was asked several times by many parents how their child was doing.  Is he participating in class?  Did she recite today?  Did he get into a fight?  Those were samples of questions I get everyday.  Often, I will just smile and say that their child did good, and that there is no problem.  However, there were about one or two times that I needed to ask a parent for a serious meeting.

A serious meeting entails worry, anxiety, doubt, and confusion.  Sometimes, tears fall.  A hug, a handshake...

As a teacher, it is my duty to inform parents if there is a possibility that their child has special needs and needs to be assessed.  Sometimes, you can be met by anger, but this stems from denial and confusion; and of course, sometimes, if you do not speak well.  People do not know, so they do what they do know and that is to act as if nothing has happened.

Please note though, that when a teacher tells you that your child needs help, it is NOT a confirmation that your child has a disorder.  Some children are delayed, and this may be the cause of the worry; but, as what I always think, it is better to be safe than to be sorry.

Early intervention is the way to go in special education.  When a child is diagnosed early, then he gets help early.  This gives us more time to help the child and change some inappropriate behaviors before they get worse.

So, when the teacher asks you for a meeting, be sure to go.   There should be no "what ifs" when it comes to rearing your child.

It is not, however, the duty of a teacher to tell you that YOUR CHILD IS A SPECIAL CHILD or that YOUR CHILD HAS AUTISM (or other disorder).  A teacher is a guide, not a diagnostician.

The most effective person that can see if there is a delay in your child is you as you are with the child most of the time.  You might want to equip yourself with the knowledge of what you have to expect when your child reaches a certain age.

To start with, you might want to check if your child has Developmental Delays.  There are developmental milestones that every child has to meet.  If those were not met, then you call them a developmental delay. Delays are seen in:
      a.  Motor Skills - standing, walking, grasping objects, standing on tiptoes
      b.  Communication - ability to understand and talk
      c.  Cognitive - thinking and analysis
      d.  Socio-Emotional - show appropriate emotions or responses, making friends

A checklist is a very useful tool that evaluators use.  You can find a similar one to diagnose learning disability here.  The CHAT or Checklist for Autism in Toddlers here.  One on ADHD in children can be found here.  There are more checklists that can be found all over the internet, however, the formal diagnosis must come from a certified developmental pediatrician or psychologist.

If you suspect that your child needs to be assessed, you can find a developmental pediatrician nearest you in here:

List of Developmental Pediatricians in Metro Manila
List of Developmental Pediatricians in the Provinces

Remember, not everyone is the same.  A child loved is never lost.  Have faith. :)

1Pangako

I saw this campaign just now as I was browsing through Autism Society's website.  This is a campaign that is close to every parent's heart.

Hearing people use the word "autistic, retarded, or mongoloid" is very demeaning, hurtful, and derogatory.  We cannot stress enough to please stop using these words.  I wrote about it a long time ago, when Sonia Roco was running for senator.

Still, people use the term for their own purpose, like Fr. Villegas who said the same exact thing as Mrs. Roco. Still some, doesn't even know what autism is. My son has never been slow in his 13 years of life, Fr. Gudalefsky.

The community of special children is increasing every moment.  Special kids are born every minute around the world.  Meaning, millions of people are hurt whenever you use those terms in a negative way.

We parents should educate other people about this condition.  "They do, because they don't."  Meaning, they do it because they do not know any better.  They are not us.  They do not feel what we feel.

So, let's make a move!  Be a proactive parent, join in, and make some noise!  Set your statuses to:

"Gumawa ako ng @1pangako na kikilos para mahinto ang maling paggamit ng salitang "autistic" bilang katatawanan or insulto. Isusulong ko ang tunay na pagtanggap at pagkalinga sa mga taong may disabilidad."

Grab a twibbon:  http://twibbon.com/join/1pangako

Use your twitter accounts and follow @1Pangako.

Please help put an end to the use of "autistic" as a slur in Filipino everyday language.

Read: http://autismsocietyphilippines.blogspot.com/p/a-promise-to-end-joke.html

Like the facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/1pangako

SPED Seminars

MANILA, Philippines - Patricia Muñoz, a fully-credentialed special education teacher in California, is scheduled to conduct the following seminars:  

Preparing an Effective Individual Education Plan (IEP), a Vital Tool in the SPED Program on Aug. 12;  
Utilizing Instructional & Curricular Modifications for Special Needs Students in an Inclusion Program, Aug. 19;  
How to Cope When Your Child or Student is Special, Aug. 26; and  
Utilizing Effective Strategies to Serve the Needs of Special Children.

All seminars will be held at 98 Matatag, Bgy. Central, Quezon City with tel. nos. 0916-4280737, 383-3898 and 434-6064. Se minar hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; registration starts at 8:15 a.m. Weekday classes on the above modules may be conducted as per special arrangement.


From:  http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=833389&publicationSubCategoryId=70

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