Introductions: Hello fellow ACTers

My name is Jason and I am a teacher of a grade 2 class in Canada.  This year, I have the opportunity of working with a child who has been labeled “autistic.”  I am quite excited about using my understanding of PCT and ACT to help Sophia "be the best she can be."  I've also decided to blog about it.

I invite you to check it out:  PCT and a Student with Special Needs (link below and to the right)

My contribution to this blog will be posts of "A-Ha!" moments while my blog will be updated weekly.  I hope to generate discussion so please feel free to comment and share your ideas.

In the meantime, here's an excerpt:

"I always start my school year with the “Connected School” lesson plans.  I use the first two weeks to create classroom beliefs, rules, and a list of “jobs” for students and teacher.  In control theory terms, what I am doing is creating common reference perceptions at various levels of perception in order to have everyone connected.

I made sure Sophia, who is autistic, was present for all these lessons. I also made sure to call upon her to participate and share her ideas.  It made no difference to me whether she actually spoke or contributed.  What was important to me was that she was exposed to the info and activities and that she in some way experienced them.  In control theory terms, humans learn by experiencing something, then labeling that experience and finally self-evaluating.  I could expect other students to experience and label at the same time, but I was not expecting that from Sophia.  I only wanted her to experience the lessons.  I would label her behaviour afterwards throughout the school day.  I was also controlling for Sophia to feel a connection to everyone in the class at some level of perception."