Melody in Bonavista, Canada

Mrs. Hewitt"s Great Grade 5s

Matthew Elementary, Bonavista, Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada

Canada

Bonavista
(Melody #006A1113)

We included Melody in our daily routine as an honorary classmate! She listened to the Read Aloud (winter poetry), used her computer to write about snow (using figurative language like the teacher explained), watched a cool Science demonstration involving rusted objects and rotting apples, learned about the Middle Ages in a small group discussion, worked on a fractions activity gluing small coloured marshmallows in rows, and went to gym and Music!

Having Melody really here made us think about how we would treat her. We know from the book "Out of my Mind" how some students acted when she came into a regular class. Our school works to include all students as much as possible so we knew she would feel welcome here! Our school has an elevator from the first to the second floor where elementary grades are. That's what Melody used to come to our classroom! And the washroom in the main hall has lots of space for Melody. All our rooms are accessible to people who use a wheelchair. We realized that with so many desks in our main room Melody would be sort of stuck on the side near the door but we thought she wouldn't mind as we would all get turns to move around and work with her. In our other classroom there are large tables and more space to push her chair around. She would be able to look out the window and see the Atlantic Ocean, like everyone else! You have to plan how to really make your school open for all students.