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Dive into Claire Bible's journey from elementary to college years, revealing successes, failures, and valuable advice for educators to create inclusive environments. Discover the impact of supportive teachers, challenges faced, and strategies for student success. Claire shares her experiences of growth, setbacks, and triumphs, offering a unique perspective on education and inclusion. Explore the significance of building relationships, adapting teaching methods, and embracing diversity in the classroom. Learn from Claire's story to enhance your educational practices.
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Aliza Claire Bible Unplugged: Nothing but the Truth! Inclusion Institute Pre-Conference Wausau, WI July 29, 2019
My name is Claire Bible And my life is AMAZING!
Being part of the school community. Having inclusive friendships. Rising to my family’s high expectations Elementary Years – What Worked …all led to continuous & confident growth.
Elementary years – What Didn’t Work • Being pulled out and separated for special education. • Feeling like I was followed by a bright, hot spotlight of difference. ... All I wanted was to be seen as the same as my peers.
Elementary Years - Advice • Tone down the spotlights, don’t stand by the door waiting for your students to line up. • Make it natural, connect with your students by developing relationships. • Make your classroom feel fun. • Take it outside! Let them learn in nature. • Do not make them do worksheets!!! Workbooks are just annoying and just stressful.
Middle School – What Worked • Teachers who challenged me creatively and intellectually. • Teachers who opened my mind to deeper complexities of thinking. • Teachers who challenged me and inspired within me a love of learning and study …and turned me into the “geektress” I am today!
Middle School – What Didn’t Work • Being a teacher’s pet resulted in that “too hot” spotlight falling on me, and I felt embarrassed. • Being called on to read from the text, in front of twenty middle school age kids, was a little embarrassing too. …By constantly favoring one of your students in your course, you can end up embarrassing them.
Middle School - Advice • A well placed sticky note on a homework assignment saying “you’re doing so wonderfully well” goes long way. • Don’t make students read or carry a large text or assign a bunch of pages. Packets should be fifteen pages or less. • Let students write on tests!!! Filling out Scantron sheets is too stressful. • If you know a student doesn’t have the hand-eye coordination for wood shop, don’t sign them up.
Middle School Advice Be the teacher who notices the sandals thrown up into the tree by some middle school boys, and who climbs up to rescue the sandals. Think about special education as extraordinary education. Live it, Love it, Find true passionate enjoyment in it.
High School – What Worked The inspiring teachers who provided challenging course work. The opportunity to participate in extra curricular clubs. A strong group of friends to laugh with, to love me through it all, who were always ready to share in the adventure. A quiet study area, specifically the resource room, which I could use when I needed some place quieter than my regular study hall or needed extra support from a teacher.
High School – What Didn’t Work • Lunch hour was too short. • Passing time of 5 minutes between classes is too short. • Being the shortest in the crowd, I have actually fallen not just down the stairs, but also up the stairs more then once. • Math courses before I switched to life skills. • An overloaded backpack . (The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that a child's backpack weigh no more than 10 to 20 percent of a child's weight. Jul 21, 2009 https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/21/weighing-school-backpacks/ )
High School Advice – Homework Prioritize homework. Cut it down to reasonable portions. Edit the number of books down to what you want the student to really focus on. If there are projects or reading a student can do during a class time, have them do it then. Have students take home only what they need and what is a high priority. …The goal is to open minds not break students’ backs!!!! So if you make the homework load smaller, your students will thank you!
High School - Advice • Help your students have a well-organized locker and help them know where books are by utilizing the shelves in the locker. • Key locks are better than combination locks. • Encourage students to sign up for extra curricular clubs. • My senior year, I had six to eight after school commitments and absolutely loved the time spent with my friends. • Encourage students to stay hydrated. • Instead of offering candy as part of a reward process, please consider using healthy foods.
College – What Worked • Professors: • who had faith in my abilities, • who valued me, and • who encouraged academic growth. • Course work that I loved. • Belief in myself …all resulted in supports that allowed my continued growth.
College – What Didn’t Work • Professors: • who didn’t have faith in my abilities, • who did not value me, and • who discouraged my academic growth. • Not being integrated. • Having my intelligence questioned. • Being told that it was commendable that I wanted to continue on with my education, but since I couldn’t do that level of course work, why bother. • Anything or anyone that made assumptions without knowing me.
College - Advice • A college education is but a ropes course that challenges you as you continue to grow. • When it comes to your students and their education, encourage them to be selfish. • To stay in school because they want to. • Don’t let anyone talk your students out of going to college if that is their goal.
I have confidence in me - Hilarious moments • Water skiing memories • Snorkeling and diving thirty feet for shells • Barrel racing on horse back • Girl scouts • Climbing trees • Ropes course memories • Learning how to body surf, etc. • Cliff diving
Closing Remarks • Presume competence always. • Work with students and families. Don’t ignore the parents. • IEPs should be self-directed in the elementary years and beyond. • Build in services that naturally enhance a child’s education and love of learning • When you meet resistance from your students, then you need to re-examine what you are doing. • Potential for greatness doesn’t expire. Its shelf-life is forever.
Claire’s Closing Thought Each and every child is a shimmering jewel in the rough. So when a child slides their hand into yours, know you are holding a shimmering jewel in your hands.
