As a teacher educator one activity that I would use with a group of teachers to support their development as an IE practitioner is “avoiding words that hurts. I choose this activity because I have observed on many occasions the response from students and parents their child is called or addressed by derogative names. Activity number four is very interesting, my adaptation of this activity is as follows:

1.      One member of staff will represent a student.

2.      Other members would be divided into two group the builders and the destroyers

3.       The groups come together and records words, phrases or sentences to build/ destroy the teacher in front of the class

4.      Starting with the builders they voice something positive as it is said the teacher is wrapped in paper. Positives response ends when the teacher is completely wrapped.

5.      In come the destroyers hurling negative statement, to every negative statement part of the paper is torn. The tearing must be done at different points

6.      The paper must not be allowed to fall off.

The groups are joined and they are asked to reflect on the effect the negative words had on the child and asked to fix it. They are allowed a few minutes to come up with ideas how to fix the broken child.

7.      Positive words are said to the child and tape is used to rebuild the child’s self-esteem and confidence.

8.      At the end they will observe that the tape was only able to hold together some of the negative comments.

It is here they will realize that tape cannot heal negative words. These words result in students becoming depressed, having low self-esteem, very withdrawn etc.

Part 2

Having gone through the TESSA tool kit what I would take from it is the fact that teachers can either build up students or break them down by the way in which we speak to or address them. The tool kit also express the importance of observation which allows for great insight of the students which would allow for better planning for them.