standard 2
Learning differences
The teacher uses understanding of individual differences and diverse cultures and communities to ensure inclusive learning environments that allow each learner to reach his/her full potential.
SPE 315 Artifact
A Social Story
The artifact I chose from this class is “A Social Story”. This meets the Learning Differences Standard because this lesson targets specific individual needs. I can alter the story to meet the challenges a student is facing. Whether it be social-emotional, transitions, or a simple “First___, Than ____” framework. In this social story I wrote, I was inspired by my younger sister and her reactions to the softball pitch. She is a very talented player but as a 14-year-old she still struggles to control her anger and frustrations. When she feels herself in the red zone, she tends to explode or throw the bat. In my story, I go through a variety of breathing techniques and calm down strategies to help bring her back to the green zone. This models how students can do the same in our classroom or when playing sports on their own time!
It’s a variation of bibliotherapy where students can see themselves in the story and connect to their own lives! After going through this process in class I know I will be using this strategy in the future. This could be used to resolve classroom conflict, model friendships and healthy relationships, and classroom SOPs. The artifact I chose from this class is “A Social Story”. This meets the Learning Differences Standard because this lesson targets specific individual needs. I can alter the story to meet the challenges a student is facing. Whether it be social-emotional, transitions, or a simple “First___, Than ____” framework. These kinds of books can be a great introduction and set a clear expectation for students so they know what to do in these situations. These stories do not only benefit students with disabilities, I believe social stories can be UDL and taught within tier 1 curriculum. When a student needs tier 2 or 3 support, then we could create a more specific book targeting an individual challenge. This assignment expanded my knowledge by empowering me to write my own story. You don’t always need to go on teachers pay teachers for resources when you can draft your own, then use it for years to come when the situation arises again.
