SKILLS FOR LIFE
Giving Kids with Learning
Differences Confidence and Tools to Grow By Joshua Faden IN A RECENT CONVERSATION, MY MOM DREW COMPARISONS BETWEEN MY CONFIDENCE-BUILDING WORK WITH STUDENTS AND THE CHILDREN’S STORY, THE LITTLE ENGINE THAT COULD. SHE SAID, “YOU HELP YOUR STUDENTS TO THINK THEY CAN!” JUST LIKE THE LITTLE BLUE ENGINE WHO SAW A SEEMINGLY INSURMOUNTABLE TASK OF PULLING A TRAIN OVER A MOUNTAIN, MANY OF MY STUDENTS FACE UNBELIEVABLY CHALLENGING CIRCUMSTANCES—IN AND OUT OF SCHOOL.
M
y joy is having the opportunity to encourage and support my students as they “puff, puff, puff,” and “chug, chug, chug,” their way to overcoming these difficulties. The key is finding ways to connect with each student as the exceptional individuals they are and to help provide them with tools for building strong foundations. The more I thought of this metaphor, the
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more I could see my work in this story. So, allow me to explain my confidence-building work through the lens of the Little Blue Engine! At first, when the Little Blue Engine saw the mountain and the size of the train that needed to be pulled, the task seemed too daunting. Similarly, when a student is learning a new concept
