Assignment Post #1: Children and Loss

During my fifty five hours as a learner first grade teacher, I came across two students whose personal stories brought me close to tears. One was a little boy whose mother refused to accept that he had some difficulty concentrating, (he was as capable a first grader if not moreso than his classmates when he could focus, but he could rarely focus. At the end of first grade he could not write one sentence independently and his handwriting was positively atrocious,) and the other, a little boy whose father had died two years previously. Although it had already been two years, it was clear to me that, as a consequence of his father's death, this little boy had some behavioral issues. He was constantly moving and talking, and when we read the book "The Tiny Seed" by Eric Carle, or talked about the life cycle of the butterfly, his face would freeze and glaze over, as if he were momentarily escaping the moment.

It is difficult for anyone to come to grips with the death of a loved one no matter how meticulously one prepares for it. It is perhaps even more trying for a young child who may not yet fully grasp the concept of death and it's irreversible permanence. As such, I felt compelled to include a webpage designed for teachers and parents of children who have suffered the pain of a loss. I searched the web and found a four page PDF which was adapted from a document posted by the National Association of School Psychologists just after 9/11.

Within it's pages you will find a section entitled "Expressions of Grief" which disseminates typical child reactions to loss, a section entitled "Helping Children Cope", which is self explanatory, a section which illuminates the different stages of children's understanding of death called "Developmental Phases in Understanding Death," a section on how to help children who have friends who have lost a loved one entitled "Tips for Children and Teens with Grieving Friends and Classmates," and a small section with the names of books and websites that can be used as further resources to helping children understand and cope with loss and the grieving process. Please find the address below.

http://www.nasponline.org/resources/crisis_safety/griefwar.pdf

Its cold in this lab...

This is my first blog on this site. At this point, I've already finished my school age practicum hours and am mostly done with my infant toddler hours. I just have to be observed teaching a couple of lessons. I have one lesson thoroughly planned out and one in the works. I hope it continues to be a fulfilling experience.