Teaching Twins
The day I gave birth to my twins began a great adventure of
raising two babies at once. I was a home provider, so my children were together
for preschool yet they also had opportunities to develop peer relationships. They
were unique individuals from birth, with different personalities and needs. Though
they were fraternal they looked identical, and still do. I did not dress them
alike, as I wanted them to have their own identity. Upside, when we look back
at their pictures it is easier to tell who is who.
When my daughters began kindergarten I was given the choice
of keeping them together or separating them. I chose to separate them because
one twin was dominant and one twin was passive. This gave both an opportunity
to make different friends and gain an individual identity. There is research on
both sides of the separate or don’t separate twins in school.
But this decision
belongs to the parents or guardians.
As luck would have it my daughter also gave birth to twins.
They are also fraternal, but do not look alike. She has embraced their
twin-ness and dresses them the same. They
are currently in care together, with the decision yet to be made about separate
classrooms. They are unique individuals with different personalities and needs.
More and more twins and multiples are born every year.
Having or caring for twins is not like caring for two children close in age.
Initially twins have a very unique and special bond and relationship. They may
develop their own language. Twins are
individuals and may present different developmental needs and pass through
developmental milestones at a different pace. They should not be compared with
each other as that can be damaging. They must be treated as individual children
not as a pair, yet understanding that their relationship to each other is
unique. Here is some information about working with twins.
1.
Academic success is an individual achievement.
Each child will learn and understand differently.
2.
When working with or gathering children do not
pair them up: Jimmy, Becky, Alice and the Twins.
3.
Discuss with parents their preference in where a
child is placed, just like a single child.
4.
Try not to label each twin to tell them apart
any more than you would the rest of your class: Oh Tilly is the talker, Gene is
the quiet one.
5.
Just as with a single child the parent is always
the best resource for their children.
6.
Never assume twins will do anything alike, like
the same things, like the same friends, or learn in the same way.
7.
It is ok and important to let one child do
something without his or her twin: such as child of the week. Each child can
have their own week, their own chance at door monitor, etc.
8.
When doing parent conferences, observations, and
portfolios do not compare the progress of one twin vs the other twin any more
than you would compare the progress of one child over another in your
classroom. Development, personality, learning style and academic success are
individual efforts.
No comments:
Post a Comment