IN THE CLASSROOM:

The special-needs students in Lynda Zussman’s Newport Harbor High School class naturally have more obstacles than most. They have mild learning disabilities and struggle sometimes to deal with their emotions. That is why Zussman finds it necessary to create a positive atmosphere and methods to better prepare them for life’s challenges.

“Negative feelings are OK,” she tells her classroom. “It is part of growing up.”

Zussman wanted to help her students in a way that offered practical lessons. When she came across Rainer Maria Rilke’s eight principles, she saw an opportunity.

“It all comes down to making choices,” Zussman said.

So Zussman replaced the staple assignment, “Write about your vacation,” asking her students to write about the eight principles and their own lives.

“[It taught me] not to be a hot head most of the time,” 15-year-old Teran Rodriguez said.

Teran, who used to habitually forget about his homework or put it to the side, is now more motivated to take responsibility for his work ethic, he said. He likes to be more involved in school now and his grades reflect his progress.

He has also learned to deal with personal conflict.

“I just ignore them, put them aside,” he said. “I focus on the good things. You can’t change the past.”

Daily application is a key part of the lesson from Zussman. She gives them life situations, such as going to parties or cutting in line, and asks them to apply a principle to solve the problem.

As for dealing with their emotions, it’s about focus, Zussman said. Being young often complicates life and it is hard to deal with new experiences and feelings, but these children have it a little tougher. They often don’t understand what they are feeling, so Zussman helps to guide them. “The trick is to sit with your feelings,” she said in class. “Get out with nature and think things through.”

Zussman stresses there is nothing wrong with taking some alone time. Instead, she reinforces positive activities the students do, like artwork and other hobbies.

“They have so many abilities,” she said. “We don’t focus on disabilities.”

THE EIGHT PRINCIPLES

Rainer Maria Rilke was an Austrian poet in the late 19th, and early 20th centuries. He was most known for his “Sonnets to Orpheus.” His eight principles taught in Lynda Zussman’s class are:

1. Be patient with ourselves and others.

2. Practice humility.

3. Trust our intuition.

4. Be personally responsible for our own inward discipline.

5. Learn about ourselves through solitude.

6. Concentrate through contemplation.

7. Appreciate the beauty and good in nature and all things.

8. Live the poetic spirit everyday.

DANIEL TEDFORD may be reached at (714) 966-4632 or at daniel.tedford@latimes.com.