From the moment you open a puzzle box, spill the pieces on the table, and begin to assemble it, you have a clear picture of what the finished product will be. Nonetheless the puzzle is still an arduous task. The puzzle has numerous pieces that take time, care, patience, and perseverance to put together which is precisely what I do when I teach my students. Just like opening the puzzle box, when I open the door to my classroom I must keep the big picture in mind for my students. I must focus on the endless possibilities and opportunities available for my students and empower each of my special "puzzle pieces" to become the best they can be.
Nine years ago, I began my teaching career as a Resource teacher at Christie Elementary. This is where I discovered my passion for working with students with Autism and Intellectual Disabilities. Now, as a Structured Classroom teacher, I love the journey I take with my students throughout their elementary years. Rod Williams, a Musician, said, "We are like pieces in a jigsaw puzzle. We are all unique, and have our own special place in the puzzle of the universe. Without each of us, the puzzle is incomplete." This rings true in my classroom as well. Each of my students are unique and face various challenges in the areas of communication, social interactions, behavior, as well as academic gaps. With the unique pieces to my puzzle before me, it is my goal and responsibility to guide them to use their strengths to discover how they fit together within my classroom and as a productive member of society.
Finding a starting point on a puzzle is tricky. It is easiest to start with edge pieces as this will build the frame for the rest of the puzzle. The frame of my puzzle is a strong relationship with my students and their parents. I want my classroom to feel like a second home, a place to belong, a place to be loved and welcomed. We all become a family. We learn to trust, respect, and accept each other. We find joy in learning and celebrate successes such as being able to walk to class independently, wave to a friend, use the restroom, or reading a tough story.
With the frame in place, it makes it easier to discover clusters of pieces that go together. Communication is my biggest hurdle to overcome with my students. Discovering a way for my non-verbal students to express themselves or a way for verbal students to demonstrate their knowledge can be challenging. Everyone has a voice, whether it is with pictures, gestures, words, or through a device, we all deserve to be heard and understood. Teaching my students to express themselves is vital to helping them find their special place within our community.
It is when they find their voice when I start to get an overview of what the puzzle looks like. I have discovered their interests, gauged their strengths, and found where the missing pieces belong. To fill in these missing pieces it takes collaboration, creativity, and perseverance. It's my job to collaborate with parents, general education teachers, speech pathologists as well as other related services. Together, we are able to find creative and innovative ways to make learning hands-on and come to life for each student. It is in this creativity where I thrive and when the "A-ha!" moments occur! This is where I hear each piece click into place as I search for strategies to incorporate their interests and build off their strengths. It's not always straightforward, nor does it work the same way or at the same time with every student. It's even possible it might not work tomorrow but I preserver so I can finish putting the puzzle together. When each piece finds its place, I can take a step back and be proud to see the completed puzzle.
It is my mission for my students to be confident, independent, and a vital part of their community. I want them to be proud of who they are and feel empowered by the challenges they have overcome as they find a special place among the puzzle of the universe.
