Educ 312

Learning Expedition

West Ottawa High School's LINKS Program

What is it?

Jenna Plewes poses for a picture with one of her LINKS students.

INTERVIEW

March 17th, 2023

Jenna Plewes West Ottawa Highschool's LINKS teacher and director.

Jenna Plewes has been the LINKS teacher and director at West Ottawa Highs school for the past few years. About a week ago, I had the opportunity to sit down and chat with her (via phone call). Throughout the interview, she spoke about what the LINKS program is and how far it has come throughout the years. I did record this conversation however, Jenna has requested that I don't use the recording. Instead, she asked if I could summarize or type out the interview instead. With this being said, the interview can be read below.

INTERVIEW

March 17th, 2023

The West Ottawa Highschool's LINKS Basket Ball Team

What is the LINKS program and what does it do?

"The LINKS program is a peer-to-peer mentor program where both GEN-ED students, as well as Special Ed students, can help support students with disabilities or students that have an IEP. The program at the High school is open to any 9th-12th grader that has a disability and who wants to be supported. Through this program, they can have a mentor assist them in class. It's really focused on the student themselves and the caseload in a class they feel they need the most support in. Sometimes on special occasions, this means that a student may have a LINK in every class, but for the most part, students will have a LINK in their top

three classes that they are struggling in. The LINK will help in a variety of ways. This is dependent on the type of class that they are helping in. The main responsibility of a LINK is to be a friend to the student they are supporting and to help with academics, socialization, and organization. It has been such a blessing to have this program " - Jenna Plewes

How are the LINKS prepared to help their peer?

In addition to the training session, "The LINKS students have required assignments and journals that they have to complete on a weekly basis. With these, they learn about other disabilities and how to be patient and interact with their peers. " - Jenna Plewes

How has the LINKS program impacted you and how have you seen is grow?

"It has changed me so much. When I first heard about the LINKS program and was asked to do it I thought it was going to be a before and after-school program to get students involved. It became more than that. It became a class, an elective. The first few years we kinda just "rolled" with it and it was more on a recruiting basis. We would go to the lunch room to advertise it and get our name out there. Now, everybody knows about it. Including the teachers, the students, and the counselors. It has kind of become just a word of mouth and the growth of it has really spread. The best part about it is seeing the students interact with

people that are different from them and just seeing more diversity in the hallways and lunchrooms and seeing them go to different events together. I try to create more opportunities for students during the school day as well as after school to interact with one another. We try to really have LINKS come out and do some fun things with us such as ice skating, bowling, and going to Griffins games. We also want them to come to Work and Study during the school

The West Ottawa Highschool's LINKS Program is out at the local ice rink to learn how to skate.

day to help provide those appropriate relationships and show what that looks like to be on the job, to be ready, and to just work as a team. Seeing that has been the most rewarding because it's different from just your everyday academics. It's more interaction based and more of a program that teaches students how to respect those that are different from them. It also helps them build an understanding of those around them that they maybe wouldn't get in another class. My favorite part is a the end of the semester when the LINKS send in

their final projects about how they explain how they were unsure about the class and then at the end saying that it really helped them decide their career path whether that be in special education, social work, or some kind of job where they are helping others." - Jenna Plewes

What kinds of tools and strategies do you use to create inclusivity and acceptance within the LINKS program?

"The first weeks of the semester are spent training LINKS. Throughout the training, we try to use various classroom settings. For example, supporting in a history class will look different than supporting in a gym class. I also have an open-door policy throughout the semester so that my students know that they can always stop by. I also coach the Special Olympics and Unified Sports teams. Recently, we just wrapped up an "All Inclusion Week" that brought more awareness to our students and staff." - Jenna Plewes

All Inclusion week

information

All inclusion week

Basketball game

Photos

The West Ottawa Highschool's LINKS teacher Jenna Plewes coaches during the All Inclusion Week Basketball game!

Photos by Laura Veldhof Photography

The West Ottawa Highschool's LINKS and their partners participate in the All Inclusion Week Basketball game!

Photos by Laura Veldhof Photography

A West Ottawa Highschool LINK and her partners participate in the All Inclusion Week Basketball game!

Photos by Laura Veldhof Photography

A West Ottawa Highschool student celebrates during the All Inclusion Week Basketball game!

Photos by Laura Veldhof Photography

All inclusion week

Basketball game

DANCE-OFf Halftime

show

All inclusion week

Full Game and

ASSEMBLY

INTERVIEW continued

March 17th, 2023

How can or how does a student's IEP support inclusion?

"So for any student that has an IEP, their caseload teacher will inform the parents about the LINKS program. If that is something that they want to be included in, then we of course welcome them. However, we do have it where some students and families decline to participate in the LINKS program. Regardless of whether or not a family chooses to work with LINKS, they are still welcome to any and all of our events like the UNIFIED events. Basically, anyone with a disability can be a part of the LINKS program and be supported. Overall I would say that their IEP provides more opportunities for inclusion because they are invited to more things that are a part of the LINKS program. If a student declines, LINKS services, that is okay, however, they won't receive daily in-class peer support or other seminar activities." -Jenna Plewes

Is there a specific story or student that has impacted you?

"Well, there are two students that come to mind that are both on my caseload. These kiddos are Joshua and Isaac. They are both juniors and were both very brave this past Friday in helping put on a school-wide event. They didn't do a ton of the planning but they " -Jenna Plewes

did you know practice their scripts for making announcements at the assembly with the help of their LINKS. Just to see how far they have come and to see them get up there during that assembly and speak in front of the entire school was very impactful. It has become one of the best moments to look back on throughout my 13 years of working here.

A West Ottawa Highschool LINKS Program pose for a photo on school hat day!

Making Connections

Photo via google photos and amazon

I find West Ottawa's Links program is similar to the book 'Crashing Through'. In the book, the main character is blind. Despite being blind, the main character doesn't limit himself. Instead, he pushes himself to do things that may seem impossible or intimidating. At one point in the book, the main character ends up driving a car! (Kurson, 2007) I find this to be similar to the Links program because they rarely limit their students and instead push them to try new or different things. Personally, I think that this is a wonderful way to live life.

Making Connections

In a chapter titled 'Strategic Learning in the Classroom', the authors speak about the significance and importance of using strategic learning within classrooms. In this chapter, the authors go on to explain the definitions of various terms and their purposes as well as the possible results of using and teaching them. They do this by saying "Terms such as learning strategies, teaching strategies, and strategic learning are used widely to imply that learners can choose specific procedures for accomplishing particular tasks. These strategies can help students improve their reading, writing, math, and problem-solving performance." (pg.2, 2006) In my being a part of the LINKS program in high school as well as due to my research, I think that the LINKS program does a wonderful job of teaching-learning strategies to their students. Oftentimes, students with LINKS must attend a seminar class once a week. In this class, they teach students all of the learning strategies that they may need to learn and succeed. I find this to be significant, it often helps students reach their academic goals!

Making Connections

Authors Marilyn Friend and William D. Bursuck wrote a textbook that describes to educators how to help, interact, and teach students with disabilities. At one point, Friend and Bursuck address the ways in which teachers and other educators can help create a more inclusive learning space for their students. At one point they go on to say that teachers should "feel comfortable making accommodations, modifications, and other classroom adjustments for students in order for them to have fair access to your [their] curriculum." (Friend & Bursuck, 2018, pg. 138 ). Upon reading this, I think that the LINKS program does a wonderful job of accommodating their students' needs. I think that their program's success is not only due to the students who are involved but also because of the willingness that teachers and other staff have collaborate with Jenna, their students, and their families.

Making Connections

Peer-to-peer support isn't just significant throughout the LINKS program! According to the Mental Health Foundation, peer-to-peer support can be helpful in many situations. They display this by saying, "peer support can improve people’s well-being, meaning they have fewer hospital stays, larger support networks, and better self-esteem, confidence and social skills."(Mental Health Foundation, 2022). I think that this statement helps place the importance of as well as the influence that peer support can have on everyone.

Making Connections

Upon learning more about West Ottawa's LINKS program, I think that they have done a wonderful job of creating an inclusive space for all students to learn. An Education Week article titled 'Students with Disabilities Deserve Inclusion. It's Also the Best Way to Teach' defines inclusion by saying "carefully assessing a child’s needs and then implementing a strategic plan to support that child within the general classroom setting." (Grieco, 2022). Upon recognizing this way of defining inclusion, I think that the LINKS program does just that through its peer-to-peer support and school and family collaboration.

Resources

Kurson, R. (2012). Crashing Through: The extraordinary true story of the man who dared to see. CNIB.

Mental Health Foundation. (2022, February 18). Peer support. Mental Health Foundation. Retrieved April 5, 2023, from https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/a-z-topics/peer-support

Unknown. (2006). Strategic Learning in the Classroom. Chapter one. Published by Pro-Ed (2006)

Friend, M., & Bursuck, W. D. (2018). Including Students with Special Needs: A Practical Guide for Classroom Teachers(Eighth ). Pearson.

Grieco, H. (2022, December 8). Students with disabilities deserve inclusion. it's also the best way to teach (opinion). Education Week. Retrieved April 6, 2023, from https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/opinion-students-with-disabilities-deserve-inclusion-its-also-the-best-way-to-teach/2019/05