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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1987-10-21, Page 56BY MRS. FLO DYCK Huron County offers enrichment within the classroom on a daily basis, as well as regionally. That means that twice per year, students are withdrawn for 2-3 days to at- tend an enrichment workshop at a school within the region. Robertson participates in the west region of schools that includes Brookside, Holmesville, Victoria, Colborne, and R.M.P.S. Students who have been identified as re- quiring additional experiences are offered the opportunity to participate. Students are bussed to the convening school. The Board covers all additional costs. Special E ducation better th BY VITO STECCA - Remember the "Good Old Days" of education in Ontario. .The days that everyone looks back on so fondly. In those days.a student who could not cope with a prescribed program, because of emotional or physical problems or because he learned at a different speed or in a different way from his fellow students, probably failed - -flunked" as the students called it. Today, thanks to Bill..82, and new at- titudes, an attempt is being made to make all students feel worthwhile and to ensure that each student,regardless of his- excep- tionality, receives an education that will make him a useful and happy member of society. No child can today be "flunked" re- jected, or streamed out of school, because he cannot cope with an arbitrary and rigid curriculum. Today according to the Ministry of Educa- ' tion "Each Ontario school-age pupil is en- titled to access to publicly supported,educa- -tion regardless of the pupils' special needs". It follows from this that "Pupils who are ex- ceptional are entitled to Special Education programs and services' suited to their needs." This is the law. A special education student is generally a student with special attributes that make it difficult for him to reach nis full potential without special programs. The excep- tionalities can range widely. Speech impair- ment, hearing difficulties, reading disabilities, emotional or behavioural pro- blems as well as special abilities in academic areas: -The students are identified by parents and professional staff in a con- sultative manner. Parents, as primary educators of their children, have a signifi- cant role in the process. At Robertson school the needs of these students are met in a variety of ways. School resource teachers and area resource teachers withdraw students from regular classes to give assistance in specific areas of need. The intermediate special learning needs class is a small class of no more than 16 pupils in which the students are instructed at the level at which they are able to work. Emphasis is put on developing confidence and self esteem. Other teachers develop -programs to ac- comodate students who need more advanc- ed work or enrichment. Here at Robertson teachers and parents are working hard to see that all students have a chance to develop their skills at a pace that avoids frustration and leaves the child with a sense of dignity. This year at Robertson school the special education team will be supported by two Area Resource Teachers, Janice Buist (Learning Exceptionalities) and Louise Sygrove (Speech and Languages). Their main focus this year will be to: - assist with academic classroom programming - provide out of classroom ( small group instruction - conduct educational evaluation - provide speech and language support - provide resources/support for parents - provide resources/support for teachers - be a child advocate. It is hoped that with a total school team approach the needs of all children will be met. Enrichm . nt pro e Page 9 Rob Sowerby of 8C is mathematics assignment. rams .fffered daily • Childhood experience renewed by teaching assistant's work BY MARG CREAMER I have worked at Robertson School since September 1984, as a Teacher's Assistant for Becky Boyce. I have been with her, as well as the other children in the class, since Grade 1. It has given me a chance to see the children grow and mature. This is a special part for me. - My duties vary from day to day with my first priority to help Becky. I have a chance to be creative by setting up bulletin boards and preparing special activities for the class. - My own childhood experience at school has been renewed by this time spent in the primary grades learning the phonetic rules. I've been able to share and learn from the different teachers I have worked with. Some days the job is challenging but flexibility, communication and a sense of humour all help. Working with a happy, independent and determined young girl is a very satisfying job. -1-h& Mme+ Mro 1 i fan sores /TD, e v nc.o(9,5711101� COU�f IG� 90 t/v k 01- Yov n e -ed C , -:)1o>_ Leander Campbell 7A ©Q© ri✓ WILLEMS REAL ESTATE INC.. Goderich, Ontario 524-2667 Buying & selling -arms„ commercial properties' recreational' & -family residences Keith Venkiteswaran Gr. 4 Last year, Grade 5 and 6 enjoyed a treasure hunt organized by Colborne P.S. Grades 7 and 8 assembled at R.M.P.S. for a workshop on creative problem solving in May '87. Upcoming this fall term, intermediate students will be invited to R.M.P.S. for an enrichment workshop on "the student and the law". Leaders in the community involv- ed in the' legal profession will be invited to present different aspects of the law and how it may affect young people. School staff of the host school along with board support staff provide the programming. Robertson enrichment changing BY MISS H. BROADWELL The way in which enrichment is dealt with at Robertson School has changed over the last year or so. In the past, groups of students within a Division, that is, from K-2, 3-6, 7-8 were withdrawn from classes for ap- proximately one hour per week to work on a topic such as Foreign Countries, Native Peoples, or Computers. Now, enrichment is provided within the classroom as a extension of a specific unit of study. For example, part of the grade six Social Studies program this past year in - eluded Mexico and the Aztecs. The whole class studied this topic and as a result of an interest which developed in the current culture of Mexico, a group of students learn- ed conversational Spanish from Miss -Broadwell. Even though the general topic was completed within a month's time, the Spanish language group continued to meet for 35 minutes per cycle to write and learn how to speak Spanish. If the interest is still there, Robertson School could be the first elementary school in Huron County to have a Spanish Club. A CALL AWAY Quid -nisi -tool \lark Scbilhe & Peter Spain 7A