A Toronto teacher is using his passion for reptiles to help students in his special education class learn important lessons.
Students in Adam Poole’s class at Roywood Public School learn the usual subjects like math, language and science, but they do so with the help of some cold-blooded classmates.
The children learn to measure, for example, by stretching out three-year-old Python Marshmallow along the length of a ruler.
They also learn about overcoming their fears.
“I think the vast majority of students have a preconception (about reptiles), but once they have that one-to-one experience, they’re ideas of a reptile is, what another animal is, changes,” Poole said.
“I was scared and frightened,” said seven-year-old Jasmine, one of the students in Poole’s class. “I feel it’s good now I’m not scared of them.”
All of the children in the class have academic challenges, but with the help of more than a dozen critters -- including snakes, lizards and geckos -- they’re making good progress, Poole said.
The teacher said he first got a turtle when he was 10 years old. Since then, he’s been fascinated with reptiles. Now a teacher, he cares for his pets in his classroom.
And the students couldn’t be happier to have the animals around.
“My favourite reptile is the African fat tail…because it’s so cute,” said one student.
Poole says he’s glad he can help make learning more fun.
“Combine your passion with your job,” he said.
