GreyMatters Workshops: Meet Shira Wolch, A Toronto Based Educator Teaching Neurodiversity

As a primary teacher Shira focused one week per year on learning about the brain. All “regular” learning stopped. No math, spelling, reading, etc. Students learned about the nervous system and its amazing capacity for change (Neuroplasticity). They also had daily speakers who had diverse brains. Shira wanted to build inclusion for her students with visible and invisible disabilities, and eventually saw kids with all sorts of exceptionalities become understood, and then invited to play. Little did she know that some years later she would have a daughter with an incredibly rare and severe neurological disorder. Now, with Grey Matters, she is expanding this program into as many schools as possible.

The idea of a curriculum that speaks to brain-based learning, based on research on neuroplasticity has been around for a few years already. We are seeing the advent of “Neuroeducation” - an interdisciplinary branch of neuroscience and pedagogy that will play a key role in the future of education, with curricula based not just on teaching subjects but on actually preparing brains for learning. This also supports research about bilingual learning, the role of music on cognitive function and Cognitive behavioural science that shows how emotions can change brain structure.
Shira, like many other educators I have met so far on this podcast, clearly saw a need for a piece that was missing from her educational context, and so she created it. I applaud her initiative, not just because she may well create a programme that will drive the Ontario curriculum forward by exposing a gap, but also because she is working to create a more equitable world for children like her own daughter, for whom their neurological differences makes it hard to have friends who understand their challenges.

Thinking about what Shira and I talked about with labels and diagnoses, I spoke to Sara Klingstedt of Relax Your Mind (https://relaxyourmind.co/), a Finnish clinical psychologist specialized in contextual behavioural science. Sara works with psychology in educational settings with a specialisation in higher ed, but also worked as a primary school psychologist in Finland. I asked her about what teachers can learn from her practices in “psychological flexibility”, or having a curious open and warm mindset- something that all of the educators I have met so far share.

If we start with that it seems, even in a place of uncertainty, we allow each child the space and care they deserve, special educational needs or not.

For more information on Grey Matters and the workshops Shira has created, or to reach out for collaboration, you can visit https://www.greymattersworkshops.com/ 

or on instagram @greymattersworkshops

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