Post by title1parent on Dec 22, 2008 7:40:35 GMT -5
This is a fabulous organization. My son's Boy Scout Troop worked a service project to help repair and clean stables. They learned so much about this great program. These horses are truly magical with special needs children.
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/1342899,6_1_NA22_HORSES_S1.article
Gift horses
Stable trip helps students with special needs learn patience
December 22, 2008
SUN STAFF
On a recent Friday morning, a group of students from Plainfield's Wesmere Elementary School arrived at the Normantown Stables in Plainfield for a hands-on lesson in team building and problem-solving.
The group consisted of 14 students in the instructional special education program at Wesmere and 10 fifth-grade students who act as peer helpers. Their teachers that day were three rescued horses who live at the Plainfield Park District Stables.
The day of learning was made possible through the Reins of Change organization. The private organization promotes learning activities by teaming up horses and students.
Reins of Change works with several groups, including therapists, hospitals and corporations, to provide mental health services and educational programs for both children and adults.
The Wesmere students participated in activities specifically designed to help them develop healthy friendship skills and to learn teamwork. The activities were also designed to improve self-esteem, confidence and communication and social skills.
The students began their day by simply observing the three horses: Izzy, rescued from the slaughterhouse; Monty, a rejected racehorse; and Blue, a medicine cap pony regarded as special in Native American culture. The students took turns visiting each of the three stations to see how the horses reacted when they brushed them with three different brushes.
"The students learned they have to be patient and sensitive when working with the horses," Wesmere social worker Joann Gumienny said. "The peer helpers learned about horses and how they react to things and made connections between how the horses react and how the students they help react."
Then the students helped set up an obstacle course with various cones, ropes and balls. Working in teams, the students used communication skills to lead the horses through the course. Even students with limited physical mobility picked up objects to help build the course.
The activity challenged the students to be creative, become more aware of nonverbal communication and helped them learn that in life everyone faces obstacles, which can be overcome with the help and support of others, Gumienny said.
"I feel the experience affected the students greatly, even in a short amount of time," Gumienny said.
One of the purposes of the trip was to provide the fifth-grade peer helper students with confidence and team-building skills to foster a working relationship with the special education students they work with and help at school.
"The special education students had a great time both with the horses and working with the peer helpers outside of the classroom, and felt a new confidence in their abilities to build and create things and show their feelings in a comfortable environment," Gumienny said.
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/1342899,6_1_NA22_HORSES_S1.article
Gift horses
Stable trip helps students with special needs learn patience
December 22, 2008
SUN STAFF
On a recent Friday morning, a group of students from Plainfield's Wesmere Elementary School arrived at the Normantown Stables in Plainfield for a hands-on lesson in team building and problem-solving.
The group consisted of 14 students in the instructional special education program at Wesmere and 10 fifth-grade students who act as peer helpers. Their teachers that day were three rescued horses who live at the Plainfield Park District Stables.
The day of learning was made possible through the Reins of Change organization. The private organization promotes learning activities by teaming up horses and students.
Reins of Change works with several groups, including therapists, hospitals and corporations, to provide mental health services and educational programs for both children and adults.
The Wesmere students participated in activities specifically designed to help them develop healthy friendship skills and to learn teamwork. The activities were also designed to improve self-esteem, confidence and communication and social skills.
The students began their day by simply observing the three horses: Izzy, rescued from the slaughterhouse; Monty, a rejected racehorse; and Blue, a medicine cap pony regarded as special in Native American culture. The students took turns visiting each of the three stations to see how the horses reacted when they brushed them with three different brushes.
"The students learned they have to be patient and sensitive when working with the horses," Wesmere social worker Joann Gumienny said. "The peer helpers learned about horses and how they react to things and made connections between how the horses react and how the students they help react."
Then the students helped set up an obstacle course with various cones, ropes and balls. Working in teams, the students used communication skills to lead the horses through the course. Even students with limited physical mobility picked up objects to help build the course.
The activity challenged the students to be creative, become more aware of nonverbal communication and helped them learn that in life everyone faces obstacles, which can be overcome with the help and support of others, Gumienny said.
"I feel the experience affected the students greatly, even in a short amount of time," Gumienny said.
One of the purposes of the trip was to provide the fifth-grade peer helper students with confidence and team-building skills to foster a working relationship with the special education students they work with and help at school.
"The special education students had a great time both with the horses and working with the peer helpers outside of the classroom, and felt a new confidence in their abilities to build and create things and show their feelings in a comfortable environment," Gumienny said.