Peers in Learning is an application-based class that is offered to students who want to learn about working with people that have special needs. Last year, many students applied to be in the class, but only 14 were accepted.

“I heard about it from a friend at first,” Peers in Learning student senior Carly Doane said. “I thought it would be a great opportunity, so I filled out an application.”

During class, Peers in Learning students make up lesson plans, games and help the students with special needs with homework and other projects.

“I have the students do different things that will build our kids’ social skills,” Connections teacher Rachl Rada said. “The Peers in Learning program helps the kids learn social cues from their peers rather than adults.”

When Doane first began the Peers in Learning class, she was unsure of what it would be like.

“I really didn’t know what I was going to be doing,” Doane said. “I just came in here with an open mind.”

Peers in Learning students begin by shadowing a paraprofessional and watching how they interact with the other students.

“All the Peers in Learning students have just jumped in there and taken the time to work with the other kids.” Rada said. “They’re willing to work.”

The primary purpose of this class is to offer experience for students to work with people with special needs. It also helps students with special needs improve their peer interaction skills.

“I let them have a lot of freedom.” Rada said. “Because that’s the only way they’ll learn.”

Peers in Learning is only a semester long. Beginning second semester, a new set of students will begin the class.

“I’ve loved all of the experiences,” Doane said. “I wish it could be all year long.”

Doane plans to use the skills she learned to help her in the future.

“I have definitely gained patience,” Doane said. “I want to be a nurse, so this is teaching me how to work with different types of kids.”

Rada believes that this class offers a hands-on experience for students.

“You don’t learn about special needs from a textbook.” Rada said. “You learn about it by actually going in there and working with them.”