Teacher Tuesday: Safety Classes

Will my child be safe on her own?

Will my child recognize when a situation is dangerous?

Does my child know how to respond if a situation becomes unsafe?

All parents have these thoughts, whether their child has an intellectual disability or not, but parents of a child with an intellectual disability have an additional concern: 

Will my child be able to learn to be safe, to recognize a dangerous situation, to respond appropriately?

At Shepherds College, our goal is Appropriate Independence™ for every student that goes through our program. The students’ safety in the classroom as they’re learning to be independent, and safety following their graduation from our program, is of utmost concern. Teachers cover topics like weather safety, kitchen safety, medical safety, and safety while using tools during home maintenance projects.

Teaching methods vary too, from lecture and pictures to demonstrations and role play, so each student is offered the most effective opportunity to absorb the material in the way he or she learns best.

Last week in Daily Living Skills, the first year students learned about fire safety, an important issue to cover, especially as the students will be cooking with less supervision in the homes and apartments in the coming years. 

Firefighter Dave, a retired Oak Creek firefighter (and Kim Pechous’ dad!) came in to talk with the students and give them some tips on how to be safe when cooking. 

They also practiced a fire escape plan, and Firefighter Dave showed them a fun and easy way to remember what to do in case of a fire - the fire safety aerobics! 

Fire Safety Aerobics

1. Climb down the ladder to get out of a two-story building  

2. Test your detector once a month

3. Roll out of bed

4. Crawl to your door quickly

5. Feel the door with the back of your hand (low, middle, high)

6. Open the door slowly

7. Crawl down the hall

8. Know two ways out

9. Run to neighbor’s house

10. Call 911

11. Go to the meeting place

Megan and Sarah even got the chance to dress up like firefighters!

This week, the students discussed emergencies and non-emergencies, and when to make 911 calls. Our student Alex was able to demonstrate how to call for help in an emergency, but warned the rest of the class, "never call 911 as a prank, a joke, or for a cold, cough or sick pet."

There's a saying that goes, "Know safety, no injury. No safety, know injury." At Shepherds College, we stress the former. We pray our students take their safety classes with them wherever they go.


Shepherds College - Guiding Your Transition to Appropriate Independence. Please visit us at www.shepherdscollege.edu.

Teacher Tuesday: Quotes for the Workday

Day 16 of the 31 for 21 Challenge

There are days when work is hard.

Like the days when I feel guilty for being a working mom. Days when my husband has a day off and I want to be home with him. Days when it’s too cold or too wet or too cloudy and I want to stay under a blanket all morning.

Or those days when my responsibilities at work outlast my energy.  The days when I’m not sure what I’m doing. And days when my concentration is lacking because my entire mind is filled with thoughts, worries, hopes and prayers about the well-being of my kids.

But on these days, I work anyway. Not because the weather suddenly improved, or my workload lightened, or my worries lifted, but because I reminded myself of why I work at Shepherds College.

A simple verse from the book of Colossians keeps me going:

“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.”  Colossians 3:23-24

I work because God has a purpose for me here and the quote is a potent reminder. Even on days when my mind is filled with analytics, media coverage and board reports - like soft background music in a movie, I can hear in my head, “work as to the Lord, work as to the Lord, work as to the Lord…”

The teachers at Shepherds College have jobs so different from my own. Their work directly impacts the days, the minds and the lives of our students. On the scale of jobs ranging in importance from mannequin modeling to brain surgeon, I’d put teachers right next to the guys wielding the scalpels and IVs. 

I wondered, “What types of quotes influence the teachers’ thoughts or actions each day?”

 

“My mom always says, ‘God answers prayers in one of three ways: Yes, No, or Wait.’ This quote reminds me that He is in control.”  Kim Pechous, Residential Life Faculty

 

“’Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.’ Proverbs 3:5-6” Erin Luchterhand, Instructor

Laura Pollard, Instructor, has two quotes that are important to her, “I have a picture of my favorite Bible verse hanging up in my office  - 2 Corinthians 12: 9-10, ‘But he said to me, my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.’ It’s a reminder to me daily that His grace is ALL I need, and Jesus is going to use my weaknesses and frailties to minister to my students and those around me because I am strong – not because of anything I have done, but because of who HE is and what HE has done!!

 

Another fabulous quote that I turn to when I’m faced with a situation where I just want to bang my head against a wall, reminds me to just laugh! Mark Twain said it best, ‘Against the onslaught of laughter nothing can stand.’”

Daniel Gaschke, Residential Life Faculty, offered several quotes that help him as he’s working with the students, “Often times people – in an attempt to be helpful, loving and caring – do things for people with disabilities rather than training them how to do it for themselves. At Shepherds College, we seek to teach our students ‘how to fish’ rather than simply ‘giving them a fish.’ Training them – not doing for them – is what will ultimately be most helpful to our students. This quote was attributed to Abraham Lincoln, ‘You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves.’

Encouragement that God always is and always does what is ultimately good – even ‘dis’abilities are a part of God’s good design:

‘The Lord said to Moses, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who made him mute, or deaf , or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord?” ‘Exodus 4:11

“As He went along, He saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked Him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents that he was born blind?’ ‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned,’ said Jesus, ‘but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.’” John 9:1-3”

Quotes can be powerful. They come from people who have gone through something similar to what you’re going through. They put situations in context and help you find perspective. They can teach, they can guide, and they can remind.

They also say, “I can relate,” so they’re meant to be shared.

Please share your favorite quote with us. It may be just what we need to impact our day as we teach students with intellectual disabilities at Shepherds College.

Shepherds College - Guiding Your Transition to Appropriate Independence. Please visit us at www.shepherdscollege.edu.

Teacher Tuesday: The Right Stuff

As I mentioned in an earlier blog, our Residential Life staff are so much more than the RAs you might find at a typical college.  They become surrogate parents, friends, counselors, managers and teachers to our students.

It’s a big role with a lot of responsibility, and the leadership of Shepherds College is careful to fill this role with just the right person.

Kim Pechous is definitely the right person.

God brought her to Shepherds knowing that she needed to be at a place where she could grow in her faith, continue to learn and serve others all at the same time.

Shepherds College is definitely the right place.

Put the right person into the right place and you have the opportunity to witness excellence in action.

Kim worked in Special Education for three years before coming to Shepherds College. She views this experience as “the greatest blessing” thus far – constantly learning from each new situation and constantly growing in every aspect of her life.

Now Kim runs the female dorm and co-teaches Daily Living Skills with Daniel Gaschke. She oversees meal planning and grocery shopping for the first-year students. 

She incorporates the R.E.A.L. instruction the students receive during class time into the Daily Living training, such as cooking and cleaning lessons.

She manages the kitchen and oversees the rotating chore charts.

And she takes advantage of the countless opportunities to teach cooperation, collaboration, communication and many more life lessons while supervising the young women in the dorms.

Some people might feel overwhelmed with the responsibility of caring for twelve people every afternoon and evening, but Kim’s personality is particularly well-suited for the task. Her co-workers describe her with sincere admiration:

“She has a gentle and quiet spirit, and a heart of compassion.”

“She is so patient with the students, but has a good balance of control as well. The students really respect her.”

“Kim does a wonderful job of giving students space, but also helping them so the students know she is available to assist them with their problems.”

“Kim’s humility, gentleness and kindness towards both staff and students is very evident. While learning her role, she would humbly ask for help or clarification when needed and willingly accept suggestions, while at the same time, stepping right in and working hard to fulfill her responsibilities. It is a joy and privilege to serve at Shepherds College with Kim!”

Her students added:

“Miss Pechous is a good listener.”

“She is sooooo sweet!”

“I love her.”

Although Kim is very successful at gaining the respect of everyone she works with, this is not her ultimate goal, “I’d like to see the students gain confidence in themselves and in God. I’d like them to see that they can do all things through Christ. (Phil 4:13)”

Put the right person in the right place with the right attitude and what do you get? 

Students on the right path to Appropriate Independence.

Shepherds College - Guiding Your Transition to Appropriate Independence. Please visit us at www.shepherdscollege.edu.