Reflection of Set of Texts

Each of the books that I have chosen to critically analyze is about people with some type of disability. I think that it is important to include each one of these books in the classroom because each one represents a different disability and a different outlook on the disability. I would especially use Thank You, Mr. Falker as a prime book in my classroom as it demonstrates the struggle of one child to get through school with a disability while she is bullied by other children. Many people could relate to this book in one way or another, with or without a disability. Ian’s Walk is a good book to use in the classroom because it shows another type of disability that students may not be as familiar with but can learn from. I think that students can also relate to this book as siblings of autistic children or any children with disabilities. I think that it is important to use to inform children on the disorder, autism, and opens up their eyes to what autistic children see, think, and do. Dad and Me in the Morning, is another great book that I would use in my classroom because it teaches readers about a disability without formally saying it. I think this book is important because readers can get a sense that disabilities or impairments are not important but the bond between a parent and a child is.
I noticed that these books bring up the issues of the words “different” and “special”. All of the books address these issues in some way. Thank You, Mr. Falker addresses the word different as Trisha feels different because she struggles with reading. Trisha’s grandmother makes her feel as though she is special because she is different and explains to her that everyone is different. This is important for students to realize that they are all different and that we must accept each other’s differences. The book also uses the word special as Mr. Falker and Trisha’s grandmother try to make her feel special as she struggles. They emphasize her other abilities which make her special. Ian’s Walk uses the word the different to explain how Ian’s autism makes him do things differently than other people. I think that this is also important teach children about the disorder and for them to learn what different is in Ian’s case. Dad and Me in the Morning uses the word special to show that the little boy has special things in his life that assist him with his disability, such as his special alarm clock. He also has a special relationship with his father because they have special ways of communicating with each other. This book shows children that this boys hearing impairment makes him special and strengthens the bond between him and his father.
The article, “Understanding Disabilities through Children's Literature”, ties in all of these aspects and emphasizes on the fact that we as teachers need to use these books to teach children about disabilities. These books can be used in the Bibliotherapy technique to help children gain more self esteem and self-actualization. Students can also become more empathetic for those with disabilities, such as Trisha, in Thank You, Mr. Falker. This article focused on incorporating these books into the curriculum and the importance of these books about disabilities. I think that it is very important to include such books in the curriculum, especially the books that I have chosen to critically analyze, as they are all great books to teach children about disabilities and to help them gain a better understanding about the issues that arise from them.