Point Road School Third Graders Learn "Differently"

More than 50 parents, teachers, administrators and outside volunteers helped to organize "Different Learners Day" for the third  grade students of Point Road School in Little Silver on Thursday, March 31.

The goal of "Different to Learners Day" is to help students understand that all people have different strengths and challenges, and it is how we handle these challenges and strengths that make us who we are.

"This is a special day for the children because they're challenged to think and learn about people with differences in a new and more realistic way", this year's "Different Learners Day" chairperson and Little Silver resident, Beth Punzi, said.

The approach was hands on--how do you navigate a wheelchair through a doorway without pinching your fingers?  Is it possible to score a basket in basketball with the use of only one of your arms?  Can you identify certain smells while blindfolded?  What can you hear with ear plugs in your ears?  These were some of the exercises the students were asked to perform throughout the day. 

Five areas of difference were set up, and students spent 40 minutes in each area with volunteers.The areas of focus were:  vision, physical, learning, developmental, and hearing.