Reflection on Pro-D day

For my professional development, I chose to attend the Teachers of Inclusive Education British Columbia (TIE-BC) conference. The keynote speaker, Monique Gray Smith, is an Indigenous author known for her works "Tilly" and "Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults". Her talk, "Leading with a Light Heart," focused on fostering wellness and belonging through an Indigenous perspective, emphasizing a compassionate approach to inclusive education. She highlighted the importance of care, understanding, and shared responsibility in supporting students with disabilities, inspiring a deeper commitment to creating inclusive and respectful learning environments.

In my first workshop, led by Dr. Annie Simpson, a psychologist specializing in anxiety disorders, I learned about supporting students with selective mutism. Contrary to the common assumption that selective mutism stems from trauma, Dr. Simpson explained that some students may naturally avoid speaking from a young age and perpetually have this behavior reinforced when others fill silences for them. Her strategies to encourage speech included using positive reinforcement, waiting for students to respond, amplifying their quiet words to the class, and providing support without pressure. She emphasized that positive reinforcers, or external motivators, are more effective than internal motivators for encouraging students with selective mutism. I left the workshop with practical strategies and insights to better support students with special needs.

The second workshop, "Cellphones: What's Healthy, What's Not, and How We Can Support Our Kids," offered a holistic perspective on student cell phone use. Initially, I expected school-focused strategies to address how phones and social media compete for students' attention. However, the workshop took a broader approach, highlighting that students often turn to phones when feeling anxious or disconnected, especially those with disabilities. Instead of simply restricting screen time, the speaker emphasized the need to reduce students' feelings of loneliness and anxiety by fostering connections with parents, teachers, and peers. It was also noted that maintaining attention spans for real-life tasks is essential, as it enables students to develop the focus they’ll need for long-term success. The workshop encouraged me to view student behavior with greater compassion and to consider how we, as educators and adults, can better support their well-being and growth.