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� Sitting beside Mrs. Graham is Anthony, a hearing-impaired student at Bethel High School, who is noticeably agitated. The whole class looks over at him while he sits there moaning and groaning, working on adding and subtracting, not understanding that you can't subtract a bigger number from a smaller number, �Anthony throws his pencil down on the wooden-topped desk and looks up at Ms. Graham. In sign language, he motions fast, with a confused look on his face, "I can't do this!" Mrs. Graham waits for him to calm himself and says, "Yes you can!" Then she says to him, "You would not have made it this far if you couldn't do this." With his spirits lifted just a little, he returns to his assignment with a renewed vigor. |
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As a personal belief, Mrs. Graham offers to those that ask, "I tend to be more patient with special-needs children, because they are easily frustrated and they just learn differently. Mrs. Graham, every child she comes in contact with seems to love her, with her not-so-ominous 5-2 frame. It is very easy for student to naturally take to her because she has that maternal instinct, and they automatically feel comfortable around her. Maybe it's the sweet little voice, or the short curly hair; whatever it is, it soothes her students. ����������������������� ��������������������������������������� ��������������� Anthony looks up at her and signs, with a lot less anger in his motions, "Can you help me?" She says calmly, "I am your one-on-one teacher, and that's what I am here for." Anthony already knows that a one-on-one teacher is there to make sure he understands all of the directions and can break things down for him when needed. She takes the time to break down everything, and after a few minutes, a look of contentment comes over Anthony"s face. He realizes that he has accomplished one of the goals Mrs. Graham set for him, and he feels good about himself.������������������������������� When asked how she gets her students to perform so well, Mrs. Graham gives a run down of her plan. "I have each student set small, attainable goals, and I make them write them down." As each goal is accomplished, it gets marked off in my book and the student's book, so that, when all is said and done, they have achieved an even bigger goal!" She adds with a smile, "It works every time!" ���������������������� ������� ����������������������� ������������������������������� Through all of the pep talks, the goal setting, and the daily lessons learned, she sums it up like this: "Teaching is the most challenging, yet rewarding, job I will ever have!" |
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