Robert
Primary Special Education teacher
Silverthorne Public School
Ontario, Canada Hello fellow teachers, parents, administrators, counselors, and anyone else who wants to make a difference in a young person's life. My name is Robert, and I am the lone Canadian contributor to "A Day in The Life, " a definite honour for me (please note the "our" ending on the word honour – a truly Canadian touch!) My school is in Mississauga, Ontario, a suburb of Toronto. Last year, ours became the first Canadian school board to develop an official partnership with Schools Attuned. Our staff was eager to participate in the Core Course, which many of us did in the summer of 2002. At Schools Attuned training in August, one of the first messages we received was that we would be embarking on a journey. Hearing that message was both exciting and overwhelming, and sure enough, I have already experienced those emotions many times. My intention for writing these articles is to take you on that journey with me, my school, and--most importantly--my students. Our school is relatively small, with approximately 300 students (K-6). I teach in a contained primary special education behaviour class. Students are in my class because they are unable to manage behaviourally in a mainstream class. Collectively they have been diagnosed with every behaviour-related syndrome or disorder you can think of--ADD, ADHD, ODD, OCD, bipolar, etc. Despite their similar labels and diagnoses, no two students in my class are alike. They were diagnosed on a cluster of traits, which lumped them into a group but failed to take into account their individuality. Schools Attuned provides a clearer picture of each unique student. I feel empowered by this focus. Which leads me to the most consistent emotion I have felt since the Schools Attuned training…optimism. By doing away with labels and looking at my students as individuals with strengths and weaknesses, I believe I am in a much better position to help my present and future students. I still have a lot to experience and learn as I work through my first “Schools Attuned” year, but hey, the fun is in the journey!