People come from a variety of diverse backgrounds whether it be socioeconomically, culturally, through physical and mental disabilities, or something else; each person is unique and beautiful and deserves to learn and achieve their fullest potential. For me, the most important thing to remember when it comes to including these different experiences in the classroom is that I can do nothing without God. Three tools I have found useful for achieving this goal are Tiered Lesson Plans, KUDos, and Student Choice Boards.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

A few important experiences…

In the spring of 2016, I attended His Kid’s Camp at Camp Luther in Schuyler, Nebraska where I was a buddy to a camper with a disability. This is a two day, one night camp designed for people with disabilities ranging from early teenage years through late adulthood. Through this experience, I learned that people with disabilities are fun-loving and energetic. They have a lot of perseverance and do not let anything stand in their way; when they enjoy doing something, they pursue it to the fullest.

In the summer of 2017, I was blessed with a job at the Madison Public Library (Madison, NE), where I assisted in the planning and directing of the Summer Reading Program “Build a Better World.” The kids who attended the program came from a variety of cultural backgrounds and a large number of them were just learning English. This taught me the importance of having patience and understanding that can only be cultivated through interacting with people from a variety of backgrounds.

week 1: making play-doh