I would like to thank Karin and Mary Anne for the bloggy awards that they have passed to me!
Humane and Happy...two great compliments!
The Happy 101 Award is meant to be passed to 10 bloggers who post at least once a week
(and make me happy?!...I added that part!)
My 10:
Also, based on a comment from my previous post about ADHD, I realized that what I wrote may have not have been as clear as I had hoped. I tried to be lighthearted about my "soapbox moment" speaking about person first language and I guess I came off a lot more preachy than I intended. I would like to take a moment to try and clarify my intent.
If I teach a student that has ADD or ADHD, I think it is very important that I help the student learn strategies to manage their behavior which is why I am trying to research and learn more about the conditions and symptoms.
Recognizing that some students do have ADD/ADHD is very important as they have particular needs in a classroom setting that need to be addressed. Calling students ADD just because they are inattentive on a particular day and caused the teacher frustration, to me, is not okay.
If a student has a disability, I prefer to use person first language when I refer to the student because that type of langauge is indicative of my belief that students with disabilities should not just be known by their labels. I agree that this type of language can get a bit picky, however I agree with the intent of not only seeing students with disabilities in terms of what is "wrong" with them. They deserve more than that.
There are some teachers who use langauge when speaking about students that makes me uncomfortable. I feel very strongly about advocating for students with special needs and it makes me sad when they are not seen as individuals as much as they are simply identified by their disability category or label or referred to in negative ways due to a disability. Perhaps this is not intentional, but I like to share information about person first language to increase awareness. If this came off as know-it-all/preachy/confrontational, that was not my intent. I am simply a teacher who likes sharing information and discussing my particular interests regarding the teaching profession.
I always appreciate feedback that makes me consider other perspectives and stretch my own thinking. Please also keep in mind that I am simply expressing my own thoughts and ideas and you do not have to agree with what I say. If you disagree, please do so in a respectful manner.
Thanks!
11 comments:
I had to go back and re-read the comments because I thought you were talking about me and I was like Ah I was trying to be respectful and I don't really disagree with you at all, in fact I totally agree I just am not sure that I am into the language aspect as much as you- which is totally fine! Everyone is different right? But anyway, I think I realize now you weren't necessarily talking about me and I don't think you should think twice about the annon post- first of all anyone worth worrying about would disagree respectfully and not be an Annon post! Second of all I really didn't get their post or even what they were disagreeing with you about haha. Besides, I think you are officially a "big" blogger when you get mean comments haha- so you should have a glass of wine to making it big in the blog world! hehe.
I really hope I didn't offend you with my comment, I was just adding another perspective and I really do agree with your point :)
Thank you! I'm glad I can bring a :) to your face. That makes ME happy.
It's my first blog award! And I'm so new! I think you're my new best friend! =) Also, I absolutely agree with Kelly. When you piss people off, you've definitely made it to blogdom!
Awww, thanks so much for the award!! You're so sweet! ♥
Second, I seemed to have missed the post about the ADHD. I'm going to have to go back & read it! Whatever you said, you don't seem to me to be the type of person to ever talk down about your students, or any child for that matter {at least ones with disabilities & such---even Mother Teresa would have negative opinions about the kids on Super Nanny} :)
My Maddison has ADHD, and let me tell you, it is a struggle. A daily struggle. And not just with homework. In the last 2 weeks, we've put her medicine on hold. She hated taking it and was making life hell. So we held of a couple days, and everything was going so much smoother, so we just put it on hold for a bit. We'll see what her grades look like. I'd love to hear what you find on the subject. I'm also researching strategies to help her manage her behavior & ability to focus on the task at hand {which is her biggest struggle}. Anyway, I'd love to hear what you find on the subject.
♥s, Amber
P.S. Don't apologize to that nincompoop!
Oh by the way, I was going so crazy earlier I forgot to say Thanks SOOOO much for the award!!! You make me happy too!
Aw! Thanks for the thumbs up on your blog...!
I came over here for a bagel recipe (that I can't quite find) but i have to say... I am VERY sensitive about language used to discuss children or people in any context. I don't like when people are labeled by their special need, skin colour, anything. I know that it's just the norm but it drives me CRAZY. I too employ the person first in my language but I'm always surprised how many people don't especially when dealing with educators.
I also am a teacher, and did quite a bit of research and a thesis on ADD and its over-diagnosis and the affects on children from Ritalin, most of which we don't really know because we haven't had enough time to thoroughly see how it affects children over a lifetime. I agree with you about the labeling!!! And about the fact that these behaviors listed in the DSM are VERY subjective in nature and could be exhibited by EVERY child in a given classroom at one point or another. In researching I found that the DSM has a history of listing such "diseases" as homosexuality and being an idiot and imbecile. Today we would never accept these as scientific diagnoses, but every person I have ever met accepts ADD/ADHD as science. I am very skeptical, almost to the point that I would say it does not exist, and I would NEVER put my child on medicine for Behavior! When did we stop using discipline and start medicating our children just so they can sit quietly and learn????
As a teacher, I see it as my job to teach and control children's behavior (and hopefully the parents are helping at home by doing their job) and not the job of some chemical concocted who knows where.
Thanks for the award! I've enjoyed keeping up with you as well!
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