ELMA, N.Y. (WIVB) — Mr. Mitri takes a hands on project based learning approach in his special education classroom. He has 14 students with a variety of disabilities including autism, down syndrome, and cerebral palsy.
“It was the best way for me to be able to meet all the needs of the students in the classroom using projects, and at the same time they’re having fun,” said Michael Mitri, Iroquois High School Special Education teacher.
“There’s a big communication barrier cause he can only tell me he had a great day it was fun, great day. and he will never elaborate on that,” said Marie Todoro, Carmen’s mom.
Carmen’s mom Marie says a classroom blog Mr. Mitri created for parents has made a big difference.
“It would tell me what happened that day, that week in quite a lot of detail and even the pictures that he shows on the website you can see exactly what went on,” said Todoro.
Mr. Mitri says the blog also comes in handy for his students who sometimes can’t make it to class. He records videos they can watch from home.
“Students are in and out all day long they’ve got a variety of different therapies that they have to go to so there will be times when I have 14 students in my classroom and there’s times when I have 4 students in my classroom,” said Mr. Mitri.
Parents often worry what the future will hold for their developmentally disabled child. Marie says the website shows her that her son is learning life skills that will serve him in the future.
“I know that he’s being active he’s involved, he’s having fun he’s learning he’s really learning and he’s happy,” said Todoro.