Terminal Illness Summary

I chose the article Preparing Classroom Teachers for the Impending Death of a Student with Terminal Illness for this reflection. This is a difficult subject to discuss because the death of a child is something that seems so unnatural and unfair. Unfortunately, it is a fact of life and there may come a time when I or someone close to me will have a student in the class with a terminal illness. The article mentioned the death of children due to homicide or suicide, which called to mind the tragic events that took place at Sandy Hook years ago. Those unspeakable tragedies come with their own set of action plans and coping skills after the fact. However, when a child with a terminal illness dies, there is often time to prepare beforehand

This environment is typically the general education classroom where the numbers of these students have steadily increased over the years. Consequently, many teachers are finding themselves faced with some of the difficult issues that come with teaching this special population of students. Teachers must familiarize themselves with how students view death at every developmental level and have a clear understanding of what stage the student with the terminal illness and his or her peers is currently in. Communication with families is paramount because their input and knowledge can assist the teacher on how best to support the child at school. Teachers should also keep in mind that parents may also need support and understanding, as well as assistance with finding and using resources that can help them during this time.

Teachers should also think about their own feeling toward death and dying. If it is something the teacher is uncomfortable talking about or he or she is unable to express feelings on the topic appropriately, then they should not be speaking to an entire class about it. Therefore, seeking out advice and counsel from others can be extremely beneficial to the teacher when navigating through this difficult