Classroom Accomodations

As a mother I know that my twin boys are completely different from one another, and if this pregnancy is any indicator at all, their baby brother, Charlie, will be different from the twins. As a future teacher I know that none of my students will be alike as well. It is interesting to me that we have the word "normal" in our vocabulary, because not one distinct thing can be described as "normal". Our "normal" body temperature is supposed to be 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. When I tell the nurse that mine is always 96.8 degrees I am told, "Oh, that's normal." But I thought it was normal to be 98.6. A baby in his mother's womb has a normal heart beat of 130-180 beats per minute. That's a 50 beat range. But anywhere in that range is normal. Huh? That just doesn't make sense.

Nor does it make sense to suggest that students that have different learning needs are abnormal. Every child has slightly different learning needs. I need for my instructor to be quiet long enough for me to think. My friend who is dyslexic needs all the instruction she can get. I need to either wear my glasses or a football helmet. Some other student might need an interpreter. There are so many different needs that it can be difficult to prepare for each possible one.

In fact, I do not believe that we can prepare for each need our students will posses. But I do believe that we as teachers can learn how to think on our feet when assessing these student needs. And I also believe that we can be tactful in presenting these aids to our students. Imagine how it would have hurt 10 year old Mandy's feelings to be told "Mandy. I see you forgot to wear your glasses. Again. Here wear this football helmet." Nor do I think that a dyslexic student would love for the teacher to write every word backwards on the board. We must be both sensitive to the need and to the method in which these needs are met.