Thursday, June 9, 2011
Hurray for 'buddy' classes
My 5th graders are 'buddied' with the students from the autistic cluster units at my school. Today, my class was walking down the hall just as one of the boys from the autistic cluster class came around the corner. This 1st grader was intently looking at each of my students until he found the one who was his buddy. A huge smile appeared on his face when he finally found him in my long line of 'big kids'. My student stopped, talked with him, gave him a 'high five' and a 'knuckle touch'. Both boys were smiling at the encounter. I am amazed at the small kindnesses that give such pleasure. It was cute to watch and made my heart happy.
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The saying is true...kill them with kindness! A small kind gesture sure does go a long way.
ReplyDeleteI love this idea. This is a win - win situation for all. What a great way to teach service and unconditional love to young people.
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing, isn't it! I am in a junior high and our dance team "adopted" our self-contained Intellectually Disabled kids. What fun it was to watch them all year! Kudos to you and to our dance teacher!
ReplyDeleteHow Sweet!!! Not only is your student helping the autistic child feel involved, important and special, the autistic child is a reminder to your student. He reminds your student that he is a role model, and gives your student another purpose at school because your student may feel responsible for helping the autistic student.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it great when BOTH students not only learn academically, but grow socially as well??? :)