Bridging The Gap

Bridging The Gap

In the morning when the bell rang Ms. Lara the Teacher and an EA Mrs. Lana is smiling and welcoming grade 4 diverse needs students.

Ms. Lara is explaining the task how students in small group have to write 3 sentences and to build a bridge with materials and students need to show how it held weight. The EA Lana is noticing the 3 students at desk start looking worried one student Kyler looks in deep thoughts one student Ayan looking and trying to understand what's going on and Sara on the other side is trying to avoid the teachers instructions.

Mrs. Lana walked over to Kyler first and bending down to his eye level so he feel support rather than powering. Mrs. Lana remembered the Role of an Education Assistant textbook that Social and Emotional Learning(SEL) begins with co-regulation and emotional safety, so she want to know about feelings she start showing the visual emotions cards and Kyler pointed the yellow overwhelmed card. So Mrs. Lana said we need to took three deep breaths together then she put on his noise reducing headphones. Kyler now start working on the given task with focus.

Mrs. Lana next checked with Aryan who is new to Canada and an English Language Learner (ELL). She pulled out the vocabulary chart along with a picture of a bridge using simple English with gestors and showing with the help of a picture how to make it. She is using visual scaffolding technique to show how to make it with and paired the words with physical supplies. With all this support the Aryan eyes lit up with confidence.

Mrs. Lana turned to Sara who was ready to give up on her writing portion Mrs. Lana knows about Sara who had fine-motor challenges she is applying Differentiated Instruction, she know how we remove the barrier then its easy for the student she offered a long thick pencil along with a graphic organizer with sentence starter along with a class tab so if she want to record her voice. Sara smiled and trying to finish the task.

At the end all the groups gathered and showing their work Kyler, Aryan and Sara standing together at the front of the class and presenting their bridges to Ms. Lara and the class fellows. Mrs. Lana the EA is feeling proud to help the student by using the theories she read in her text book and now applying practically.

In the end the bell rang, Kyler, Ayan, and Sara walking out happily together Ms. Lara and Mrs. Lana smiles in the background.

Reference: Harber, M., & Rao, A. (Eds). (2023). The role of an education assistant: supporting inclusion (2nd ed.). Canadian Scholars.