Shifting Focus

By Amy Sela

Starting off as a parent to a career as a paraprofessional and becoming a special-education teacher, she could be called a triple threat. She knows what parents want, what students need by working with them one on one, and finally, what struggles teachers face every day to meet those needsnot because of the childs disability, but because of the system they are placed in. She ties it all together on a new approach that will fill in the gaps on a childs success.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Mar 17, 2017
• ISBN: 9781524675783

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© 2017 Amy Sela. All rights reserved.

Editor

Richard Blassberg

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Cover Design

Irfan Tominaj

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Illustrator

Besarta Egriu

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No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 03/15/2017

ISBN: 978-1-5246-7579-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5246-7580-6 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5246-7578-3 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2017903740

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Acknowledgements

Preface

Introduction

Chapter 1 Getting Started:Changing Disabilities to Abilities.

Chapter 2 Shifting Focus

Chapter 3 Maintaining Focus

Chapter 4 Mommy’s A Dummy

Chapter 5 Conversation Starters

Chapter 6 Following Directions

Chapter 7 What’s Your Face Saying?

Chapter 8 The Difference with Routines and Routines with CWA

Chapter 9 Teaching- Students with Abilities.

Chapter 10 Schools - It Takes a Nation

Chapter 11 A New System

Chapter 12 The Men and Their Myths on Abilities.

Chapter 13 Putting the Pieces Together

Epilogue

References

Acknowledgements

I want to begin by thanking my husband, Lucu. You are an incredible husband, and the most amazing friend a girl can ask for. I also want to thank my friend, Nicole. Not only are you a good friend, but always the one who helps fill in the blanks to my ideas and thoughts. To my extremely talented cover designer, Irfan. I will never forget the first time you sent me your design for this book. Finally, I would like to thank the girl brought my chapters to life, Besarta. You never cease to amaze me with your creativity and drawings.

Finally, to all of my family and friends. I love you all with my whole heart, and thank you for always supporting me.

This book is dedicated to my children,

Fanol, Laureta, Medina, and Sofia.

It if wasn’t for the four of you, there would be no me…

Preface

As an educator, I have devoted almost a decade to helping children with special needs. Starting out as a paraprofessional allowed me to really get to know my students on a one-to-one basis. It allowed me to see each student and all their capabilities no matter what disabilities lay beneath. If I had not been given this opportunity to work with students one-on-one, I probably would not have been able to put this book together. I will always hold close what they have taught me because it is something that I could never have learned in a classroom while pursuing my teaching degree.

Completing my degree as a special education teacher gave me the skills I needed to become an effective teacher for all my students. Everything I learned throughout my education experience covered important issues that educators face everyday, including how we should address them, learn from them, and finally connect them to each other. Truly understanding how important it is to connect each lesson to real world experiences is a large part of what educators must bring to the classroom each day. Connecting worlds is what this book is mainly about. I will never forget that the only time I have become a successful teacher is the when my students are successful.

All of this was on my plate, while raising four of my own children. Being a parent allowed me to learn with my children. They showed me that it is okay to not know it all, and to be flexible, despite my stubborn ways. Each being so different from the next, brought on challenges that I had to address in different ways. The great part about it is that even though all of them had their own set of challenges, they all managed to get past them by building on their abilities and compensating for the things they had trouble with.

Connecting these worlds took some time, however, they have provided me with an abundance of learning experiences that I will take into the classroom. I will be able to apply methods that I learned working with children one-on-one with their disabilities. I also, applied some methods while raising my own children; most importantly having empathy for all my students and, doing whatever it took to get the most out of them. I will let them know I care. But, they will also know what I will be expecting of them.

My hope is to help you to look at disabilities in a different light, a more positive one. I know some of you may start reading this book, and think, This does not apply to my child. The reason I wrote this book was mainly to reach out to parents like you, parents that have gone through all ends of the world in order to help their child, parents who learned everything and anything they could to get answers to help their child.

I am handing you a different approach, detailing it step by step for you to use like a road map. I know everyone’s situation is unique. But, I can guarantee that you will be able to take at least one thing you will read and utilize it in your everyday life. Big changes will not happen overnight, but small things will happen. Those small things will turn into bigger things, and your mindset and your child will be changed forever.

Introduction

What if I told you your child does not have a disability? Before you put this book down, hear me out for a minute. Instead, what if I told you that your child has extraordinary abilities that set him apart from his peers, and that these abilities can help him to become a successful, independent adult. It’s true. Let me explain.

When a child is diagnosed with a developmental delay, it can be gut wrenching, and heart breaking for their parents. Children who are diagnosed with disabilities, are known to have trouble throughout school because they are trying to fit in and master all the skills laid out for them. They are behind the norm. Their parents and teachers are forever trying the next strategy to catch their child up so that they fit the mold of the classroom. The problem with this approach is, that these children are not built that way. Instead, these children have amazing abilities in an area, sometimes in more than one, that can even surpass their classmates.

How many times has your son or daughter who has a disability done something that made you turn your head in amazement? What if that head turning skill became your new focus on your child, and, you and his teacher built it up and polished it until that skill was life changing? What if instead of looking at what they are lacking, we started noticing what they are actually producing? If we started looking at the positive, instead of lagging behind in the negative, we can open up doors for our kids who need possibilities outside of the norm.

Working with special needs children has always been a passion of mine. These children have brought so much life into my world. They were often able to do things that were so unique and so original. And, it was my greatest accomplishment to help bring it out of some of them. Sometimes it is an obvious talent, and other times it takes a little digging. But, it is always there.

It is imperative as a parent or teacher to put the time and energy into finding it. I believe not finding it is detrimental to the child’s whole life. Think of it. If someone pointed out your best qualities as a child how beneficial that would be to your whole life. Now, think if your whole life is based on your not measuring up to where society says you should be. Which strategy would produce a more successful adult?

Years ago, most of these children would have been in regular classrooms with everyone else. Most likely they would have fallen through the cracks because they were not given the proper attention they needed to succeed. School systems opened the door to these new programs, with specialized teachers and other trained professionals, in order to help students succeed. And, they have.

You name it and, the schools have it now. Special education teachers that supply instruction that accommodate their students’ individual needs. Paraprofessionals, give each student one-on-one attention. Speech pathologists help students with language and communication skills. Occupational, and physical therapists help with fine and gross motor skills. Counselors help guide the student throughout it all. There are even play therapists, to help kids play more appropriately. The services are endless. These professionals walk in the building with one thing on their minds. And, that’s your child’s success.

That success is what is measured after your child leaves their school. Teachers gather all their data on what was taught and how much that child gained throughout the year. This data is transferred to the next teacher in order for that student to continue reaching their goals. The student’s goals are what I will focus on in this book.

What are these goals? Most times these goals are put into place to advance the students in areas that they are having difficulty. These goals are road maps for teachers to use when they modify their lessons. These lessons are then broken down further to accommodate all the students’ needs in their classroom. Each student has a differentiated lesson that is catered to them, carefully written to strengthen each student’s weaknesses, and