The bell rings, signaling the end of third period. Students fill the halls, slowly making their way toward their next classes, some more reluctant than others. However, for some students, fourth hour is something to look forward to, and they happily head for room 1113.
MN proudly bears the title of being a Unified school, meaning certain sports and classes are open to both ACP (Alternate Curriculum Program) and General Education students alike.
Spanish teacher Angela Lallman has taken on the role of teaching Unified Spanish, a class in which students from both the ACP and Gen. Ed. programs can come together to learn about the Spanish language and culture.
“Because of my daughter, Olivia, who was born with Spina Bifida, and who she is, I just have a love for this very special, small, differently-abled world,” Lallman said.
Unified Spanish class looks a bit different from the classes most students are familiar with. Each class period follows a similar routine featuring songs to help students learn and remember vocabulary.
“Songs are good, and they help these students remember what we’ve learned, like the weather,” Lallman said. “We do a lot of crafts as well. For the weather unit, we painted the window, so we had an almost ‘stained glass’ window to look at the weather through.”
Another fundamental aspect of the class’s curriculum is its inclusivity. By making changes based on individual students’ needs, Lallman can help to ensure that everyone is able to learn.
“We really differentiate [our teaching methods] between students. Some students are nonverbal, so they have a talker that has some of the Spanish words programmed onto it, so they can touch the button that says ‘bien’, for example, and communicate that way,” Lallman said. “We’ve also learned to do some easy signs, like for the days of the week and some other things like that.”
Apart from making sure the class is instructive and educational for the participating students, it’s important that it’s enjoyable as well. Favorite activities include birthday celebrations, and, for junior Benny Clanton, watching and singing along to Disney movies.
“[My favorite Frozen character is] Elsa,” Clanton said.
One of the most notable features of Unified Spanish, and other Unified classes, is how it brings together students who may not have had the chance to interact otherwise. Senior Neal Mosser finds the connections he forms with his fellow students to be the most fulfilling part of the class.
“Last year, there was a kid named Teddy, and the relationship I got to build with him was the coolest thing I’ve ever experienced,” Mosser said. “He doesn’t know sign language, but we became so close that he would do different things and I would know what he meant, like we had our own language.”
Students and teachers alike agree that Unified Spanish is a rewarding experience.
“It’s my favorite class,” Lallman said. “Just seeing the joy on everyone’s faces as they come together as a sort of family and enjoying their time together is such an amazing thing to be a part of.”
These meaningful experiences don’t stop outside the Unified classroom. Lallman urges all students to reach out and seek connections with others, whether they’re a part of the ACP program or Gen. Ed.
“Just be kind to everyone,” Lallman said. “Don’t be afraid to come up and chat with someone in a wheelchair, or someone with different abilities than you, because when it comes down to it, we’re all humans and we all need a friend.”