[Pibe-division] Student needing to use utensils

[Carlton Anne Cook Walker]

Emily,


Your ideas are great.


Here are a few more:

Please consider providing the student with several options of utensils
from which to choose.  Of course, ideally, we'd want the student to
use the utensils available at home and at school.  However, she may
not be interested in them at this point (or she may have had some
adverse experience with them as a small child which has resulted, at
least partially, in her current aversion to utensils).  By providing
utensils of different materials, shape, weight, texture, design
(color, if applicable), etc., you will be affording her some control
in this situation (and perhaps exerting control is part of the issue
in this matter).

If the child is of below-average academic ability (which I am assuming
from the self-contained classroom placement), it might be appropriate
to explore role plays with her.  This might be appropriate for any
child, actually, but social pressures might dictate such activity
occur outside of the view of peers, such as at home.  She could be
encouraged to "feed" her doll, bear, etc. with a spoon or fork.  This
will help lay the groundwork (and the concept basis) for feeding
herself with utensils.  As noted before, presenting the student with
options of utensils she likes might be helpful.



Just some thoughts on this icy, no-school day in South Central
Pennsylvania . . .


Carlton
-- 
Carlton Anne Cook Walker
Anna's Mom
Student in a TVI program
213 North First Street
McConnellsburg, PA    17233
Voice: 717-485-3383