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Rosetta Ramjattan Post 1

• 23 April 2021, 4:05 PM • Edited by the author on 23 April 2021, 4:08 PM

Activity1.4 Developing positive attitudes

Working as an educator in both the Primary and ECCE schools over the years, I have seen many instances where an unhelpful attitude has caused problems.  One such instance is that of a teacher not wanting a child in her class because he had a speech disorder and stuttered badly.  The teacher would ask him questions and not have the patience to wait for him to answer, sometimes dismissing him with a snide remark.  This caused the child to withdraw into himself and therefore he participated less in class.  The teacher just moved on with the others in the class as if he was not important.  When she asked if he can be moved to my class I accepted him and began to work with him giving him extra attention by keeping him close to me, which allowed me to talk to him a lot and also gain his trust.  After some time there was a marked improvement in his participation and performance in class.  As his confidence grew I found that the spoke more and with less stuttering.

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Giselle Girod Post 2 in reply to 1

• 23 April 2021, 6:22 PM

Interestingly, we share similar experience, though I am new to the profession, I have had past experience as an On the Job Trainee where all that is needed for a child to progress is someone who shows interest and gives the child the opportunity to build confidence and self-esteem. In addition, most of all the need to feel wanted because sometimes there are other factors the child has to relate to at home and sometimes school is the only safe place and when that child does not feel safe at school the child tends to withdraw himself or herself.

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Kenda Holder Post 3 in reply to 1

• 23 April 2021, 9:46 PM

Hi Rosetta,

Yes there are a lot of unhelpful attitudes in society towards children with special needs and disabilities. I appreciate the approach you took with it and as a result of it you where able to see a difference in that child.

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Ann Ramlakhan Post 4 in reply to 1

• 23 April 2021, 10:16 PM

I have had similar if not the same types of experiences over the years teaching. I can definitely say that the more I work with these amazing children the more motivated I am to continue. When I heard a child say his first word after helping him using specific strategies it filled me with so much pride and joy that even his parents were ecstatic and overjoyed.