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Special Needs for Special Kids

Providing you tools to save time and build confidence teaching students with the most significant disabilities

January 13, 2020

Teaching tolerance in the special ed classroom in 2021

Teaching tolerance in the classroom can be challenging. But if you teach in a special education setting, it is even more challenging.

January 6, 2021

The events that occurred in the capitol on this day will forever be taught in textbooks. The demonstration show a total lack of tolerance and acceptance. And, while many of us are still trying to understand the reasoning behind this even, we make the hard decisions of how much and what to share with our students. Luckily, we have one of the best examples of teaching tolerance in Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr who we will remember this week.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr day

This week, we will celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s dream. A dream for a world where everyone is treated equally, regardless of the color of their skin. This is a perfect time to work on teaching tolerance to our students.

Many of us will show videos, do worksheets, and probably even a craft. All good stuff meant to teach tolerance and help students make connections to the lessons from our past. But what about that deeper meaning? How can we go about teaching our students the true meaning behind Dr. King’s message? How can we teach our students about tolerance and what that means to them?

Making personal connections while teaching tolerance

Some of you may be unsure about teaching tolerance to our students with special learning needs. The same may be true about acceptance. But, isn’t this the ultimate goal? Yes, indeed it is, but we have to start somewhere. As with any new skill in special education, I find it best to take a step-by-step approach. It can be difficult to truly accept something you do not understand. In addition, it is difficult to understand something you cannot tolerate. So, I like to start there, at the beginning when teaching about tolerance.

We actually spend a lot of time indirectly teaching our students about tolerance. We teach them to tolerate:

  • Sitting in a chair rather than rolling around on the floor
  • Raising your hand and waiting rather than calling out the answer
  • Having a food you HATE even present on the same table
  • Listening to the sound of the vacuum as the custodian is working next door

Sometimes I feel like all I did was work on my students tolerating “the world” as the first step to being an active participant in it. So, perhaps talking about tolerance when it comes to civil rights and Martin Luther King may feel like a stretch and unimportant. But, maybe not.

What is the goal when teaching about tolerance?

Our goal is to provide our students with the skills they need to be the best people they can be. One of those skills is learning how to tolerate people who do not look, act, or talk like you do. Tolerance means knowing what questions are appropriate and not appropriate to ask if you don’t know the person.

My goal is that by teaching tolerance, it will eventually grow into acceptance. My hope is that by high school, my students are accepting and supportive of everyone, regardless of the color of their skin, background, culture, or disability. Actually, this is my hope for all students.

If you would like a free social story to help with teaching tolerance, then click the button below this video. Add it to the lesson plans you already have for Martin Luther King day next week.

Click the button below to download

“The highest result of education is tolerance.” ~ Helen Keller

If you need more resources for teaching about Martin Luther King, Jr then check out my unit that is in print AND digital format.

Martin Luther King unit
CLICK HERE to check out this unit.

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I'm Christa Joy

My mission is to give parents and teachers the tools they need in order to feel effective and confident teaching even the most challenging of students.
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@fantasticallyfourth so inspired me with this post @fantasticallyfourth so inspired me with this post. HUGE SHOUT OUT to the amazing lengths teachers are going to this year. Keep shining that light!!!! 💕Today was the first day my kiddos were able to see me in costume for a lesson. In a regular year it’s a somewhat usual occurance—but as we all know this year has been different. • We used @love.mrs.liebscher s Multiplicative Pizzeria where students practiced their multiplicative word problem skills as they filled orders for the pizzeria. Finally, they were able to come up with their own multiplicative recipe and creat their own pizza! • Due to our current COV!D reality, each student’s individual place was set up with a red placemat for working, their work orders, and their own chef hat (made form construction paper. One of my favorite things is seeing how many of my kiddos end up wearing their chef hat all day 😂. It’s the cutest.
Thank you @pathway2success1 for these awesome ide Thank you @pathway2success1 for these awesome ideas!!! Favorite games that work on social skills? Let me hear some! I always love adding suggestions.⁣ ⁣ #teacherspayteachers #tpt #executivefunctioning #socialskills #teachersofig #teachersofinstagram #teachersfollowteachers #iteach #specialed #specialeducation #education #teaching #classroom #teachergram #sel #socialemotionallearning #socialskills
And here it is. The PERFECT free worksheet for to And here it is. The PERFECT free worksheet for today. Don't miss it, and be sure to sign up to get a worksheet every Wednesday morning. To download this worksheet click here: https://bit.ly/2M7Q1u5 #specialneedsforspecialkids #freeworksheetwednesday #inauguration2021
That's not fair!! We have all heard it. Teaching That's not fair!! We have all heard it. Teaching kids early on that FAIR does not always mean EQUAL is an important lesson and feels like a good fit for this week. I have some tips and free downloads to help you teach this concept in your classroom or at home. Read more here: https://specialneedsforspecialkids.org/2021/01/18/thats-not-fair-how-to-teach-fair-does-not-mean-equal/ #specialneedsforspecialkids #notfair #socialskills
NEW UPLOADS!! I just added new downloads to my fre NEW UPLOADS!! I just added new downloads to my free resource library, including this one from this past free worksheet Wednesday. Also new (and perfect for winter): 🐧penguin sorting and ways to stay warm in the cold weather.❄️ The new downloads are listed at the top. Plus, there are a lot more for this time of year, including Color of Winter early reader book, snowflake matching, winter sudoku puzzle, winter scavenger hunt, and a nonfiction book on groundhogs. Check them all out here (if you need the password, I will put the link to sign up in the comments below): https://specialneedsforspecialkids.org/resource-library/
Did you get your free worksheet today? It is perf Did you get your free worksheet today? It is perfect for Martin Luther King day. Be sure to grab it here (digital link included): https://bit.ly/3oF0TxY #specialneedsforspecialkids #freeworksheetwednesday #distancelearning
Sneak peek at the worksheet coming your way tomorr Sneak peek at the worksheet coming your way tomorrow. If you are not on my Free Worksheet Wednesday list, then sign up here: https://christajoy.lpages.co/free-worksheet-wednesday-sign-up #specialneedsforspecialkids #freeworksheetwednesday #mlkday
Share with a teacher you know!!Teaching tolerance Share with a teacher you know!!Teaching tolerance in 2021. I updated this blog post and encourage you to revisit it and rethink your definition of tolerance. Meeting students where they are in a special education setting is so critical to building a foundation that will eventually grow not only into tolerance but the ultimate goal of inclusion and acceptance. Download this social story while you are there which is a great addition to your Martin Luther King Jr plans you may already have. Read more here and download you story: https://specialneedsforspecialkids.org/2020/01/13/teaching-tolerance-as-the-first-step-to-acceptance/
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