Being a SPED teacher, I can share my journey and how to becomes more resilient and patient.
Truth be told, the pandemic brought by COVID-19 has widely affected the teaching and learning process in schools. Having to teach children face-to-face has always been ideal to teachers since we can personally connect with them.
Teachers like me began to realize the handful numbers of responsibilities that we shoulder to be able to provide quality education for the learners especially that we have limited access to learners who are at home. It is an even greater challenge for teachers like me who cater to children with special needs.
Children with special needs are those who have clinical diagnosis and functional development problems. They require assistance that can be medical, mental, physical, or psychological.
These children hold a special place in my heart. The joy of teaching these angels is a rare gift anyone could get only if they would allow themselves to understand.
I have been teaching learners with Intellectual Disability, Learning Disability, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Speech Disorder, with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and children with Cerebral Palsy. Each of them has different personalities like any other kids only that you will have to exert extra efforts to win their trust and attention. They throw unimaginable tantrums, so I have to find tons of ways to calm them down.
I have experienced being slapped, punched, spitted, and kicked many times. I even experienced chasing them all over the school ground feeling that surge of exhilaration while they run. The most challenging part is in teaching them since they are mentally, physically, emotionally, and psychologically challenged.
As a special educator, I needed to study and analyze their individual needs and behaviors, and brainstorm for techniques and strategies to be more efficient in handling them. I have been teaching these children for some time now and as their teacher I must say that it has always been an extremely wonderful experience regardless of the hardships that we are encountering right now due to the pandemic.
Initially, I have experienced a series of anxiety, stress, nervousness, and frustrations.
I was so worried on how to handle my special learners especially that they are only limited in the four corners of their home. However, this did not stop me even when the situation has been very challenging on my part. From creating modules, telecommunicating with parents, and making them understand the situation, everything was inevitably mind-bending and back breaking. It was never easy to teach them face-to-face and now we are further challenged distance learning. However, I am still grateful that regardless of what is happening, I was able to learn new skills, techniques, and strategies through online trainings.
The Department of Education has been very supportive to the teachers as well as to the learners. The random modalities have given us ideas and options on how to handle the difficult situation at hand. Every experience has taught me to become more resilient and patient. Furthermore, the parents aptly cooperated with me hand in hand in providing continuous education to the children. Together, our partnership made the special distance learning possible. Getting a grip of what we experienced and being able to conquer every provocation now has proven that by working together despite the pandemic, everything can be worked out. Personally, it has made me become more versatile and knowledgeable in random circumstances.
I believe other educators have experienced the same transformation as well. Having the same fighting spirit and perseverance has made learning possible. Educators have no choice but to be flexible and resilient in these trying times. These are all for the children who rely on us and whose future depend on our strength and endurance.