An introduction to special school work / by Marion F. Bridie.

  • Bridie, Marion F.
Date:
1917
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An introduction to special school work / by Marion F. Bridie. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    we try to focus the attention on essential differences and sunilarities. The only satisfactory way of training the child to observe, is by contrasting and comparing by means of any of the senses, and by letting him find out for himself the means whereby he can detect differences. An early sorting exercise consists of dividing out a heap of small mixed cubes and small mixed balls into two boxes ; all the cubes, irrespective of size, are put into one box and all the balls into another. Cubes, pyramids, tablets, balls, etc., can be sorted in the same way, gradually increasing the complexity, thus establishing muscular co-ordinations between eye and hand. A finer exercise consists in sorting various small articles such as beads, buttons, thimbles, and nibs ; they can be separated into compartment boxes, an exercise which exacts thought and attention from beginners. ‘These compartment boxes can be made quite easily by fitting in a number of small pin boxes, or draper’s boxes, into a larger cardboard one; this is convenient as it prevents the little boxes bemg knocked over. Sorting exercises, such as above, may be found too elementary for the children found in most special schools, but occasionally there will be noticed children who will ask for a sorting box over and over again, and it 1s most fascinating to see the obvious improvement in work which otherwise might appear hopeless, and it has a curiously satisfying and soothing effect on the child to know from his own observation that he is improving. For a further development, scraps of material from the rag-bag, or drapers’ patterns can be used ; a large number are needed and can be sorted in endless variety: all the plain patterns together, all the ones with a stripe, all with flowers, with spots, and with different colours. At first the division is into two piles; those of a given colour