Filed under: Education
Monday (is that all it is?!?!)
Excellent full day again. We started in the ICELP Special School on the premises visiting 2 very focussed classes: one (8 children; 1 teacher; 1 National Service; 3 assistants) working with 1/2 pupils with a member of staff; the other (4 children (3 away doing one to one) with 1 teacher; Speech Therapist; 2 ~National Service; 2 Assistants) working as a class with teacher direction then mediation by other adults. Both classes in lower to mid-teen age range. Key thought: Calm, intensive and concentrated interactions in a structured high-demand but friendly manner.
We then had an excellent introduction to the IEBasic Programme (Instrumental Enrichment) which is the basis of much of the work done with children. I personally found the emotions unit useful relating to pupils on the Autistic Spectrum. A lot of interesting thoughts for any pupils about working on analytical thinking development rather than impulsive answers – many pupils would benefit. Key thought: Importance of analytical breakdown of everything accompanied by vocabulary explaining it to the child what he is learning and how it helps him in other areas.
The next session was shunted by Professor Feuerstein himself wanting to return to present the MLE (Mediated Learning Enrichment) criteria and categories of interaction. Again we were treated to a rich wealth of experience and wisdom that we all appreciated. Key thought: The ability of the brain to develop and expand with activity rather than to lose a fixed capacity as a result of damage. Not everyone agrees and so can be amazed at the results of the Institutes’ work with children and adults others have written off.
Time was running out so we only had a short time to observe three pupils going through the assessment programme (LPAD – Learning Propensity Development Programme) Again, very interesting. Key thought: “Propensity” not “Potential” as we are being encouraged to consider the modifiability and development of the brain.
45 minute lunch break to find an eaterie, choose, be served at leisure, pay and return in time (or not!) for …..
Work with pupils on the ASD (Autistic) Spectrum came next. A very experienced lady (Shoshona Fox-Levin) presented from her experience outwith and using Feuerstein thinking and techniques which gave a useful balance and grounding for our thinking. Having been a Play Therapist she also showed some of the techniques she uses in assessing and working with these children. Key thought: Look for the “Islands of Normalcy” in the child and build on them.
Still not finished the day …..
Sara Alony spoke to us about the role of training parents and other professionals in the techniques to ensure continuity of interaction and thinking development. (She was very good, but my brain was “nippin’” by this time and I did not recognise what was behind the notes I had taken when I re-looked at them even though they were in my handwriting!) Key thought: We identify the child’s modifiability not his intelligence.
And finally Elana Bucholtz (High School Science teacher) spoke of how she used the techniques to develop thinking skills in a science context. A very fast interactive talker, she paced a lot in (but who did not?). Key thought: Why in Science? Because the development of thinking applies across the board and facilitates all learning for all pupils with or without special needs (However, to prove it was important, a question in the thinking style was inserted into the end of unit exam!).
Then tonight into teh Old City for a wander – a meal – and a rainshower!
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