This little true story was written by a parent at Clear Horizons Academy and to me illustrates many wonderful points in working with our kiddos. Thank you for sharing with us!
It was late in the afternoon on Mother's Day and I had happily accepted my husband and son's offer to take some time to relax and read. I was deep into my book when I heard a mumbled conversation grow louder and clearer.
"What should we do?" " I know, I have an idea." I could hear some noises in the kitchen and then I heard my husband describe to my son how he intended to capture the yellow jacket, that had somehow gotten into our living room, with a cooking pot and cover it with a book so that he could proceed to let it go outside. A few silent seconds went by and then I heard screaming.
"No." "Why did you kill him?" "I love all animals even the ones with stingers and I will never ever ever forgive you." My husband had accidentally put the book down over the yellow jacket and its broken body lay squirming in the pot. "I will never forgive you - I love all animals..."
Because my son processes the goings-on around him verbally, he continued to scream out these words over and over.
At this point I had already been present for a few minutes and my son started to regulate enough to go on. In a sweet sobbing voice he said: "But you didn't even listen to my idea." In unison, my husband and I asked him what his idea was and what he shared was one of the most beautiful ideas I've ever heard.
"My idea was to pick a flower so that the bee would land on it because bees like nectar."
So often - in situations that aren't nearly as intense - we as adults problem-solve in such an efficient manner that we don't even take time to listen to our children's ideas.
Later, my son started to talk about an ant that he too had killed just the day before. "My finger was too heavy and it died." He said that later he had said a little prayer for the ant. As he processed his own guilt for having squished the tiny ant, he was able to apply these feelings to the guilt my husband felt. And then it hit me, my son was beginning to demonstrate "Theory of Mind," or the ability to begin to apply his own feelings to another person, to empathize.
And so, I too, will say a little prayer for the yellow jacket that lost its life on Mother's Day - and, in honor of that life, I will try to keep in mind that sometimes the simple beauty of a flower can not only preserve, but change a life.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Friday, June 18, 2010
Graduation
Thought this was cute. Remember, never underestimate the power of a smile...
http://abcnews.go.com/WN/Broadcast/student-autism-class-salutatorian-delivers-high-school-graduation/story?id=10933858
http://abcnews.go.com/WN/Broadcast/student-autism-class-salutatorian-delivers-high-school-graduation/story?id=10933858
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Patience
I was reading a talk today and I found a little gem I thought I'd share. The talk is "Patience, A Key to Happiness" by Joseph B. Wirthin. Here's a link: Patience.
Anyway, there was a little piece in this talk that struck me regarding teaching and working with kiddos. It says (with my little additions in brackets):
"Parents [or those called to work with children], be patient with your children. Read to your little children and help them with their schoolwork, even if you need to tell or show them the same things many times. Elder Richard L. Evans said, "If they find that they can trust us with their trivial questions, they may later trust us with more weighty ones" (Ensign, May 1971, p. 12). Capitalize on their natural curiosity [even when you are NOT curious in the same thing!] and help them develop a love for learning [and the world around them]. Teach them the principles of the gospel in simple terms [that are on their level and mindset]. Be patient with them if they disturb family home evening or family prayers [or sacrament meeting or primary sharing time...]. Convey [without language, but with Spirit and actions] to them the reverence you feel for the gospel, Church leaders, and the Savior."
This just reminded me in a small way of the very conscious effort I need to be making in my approach, thoughts and preparation for the children I work with. Reminded me that I need patience to be able to serve the children and families I work with and the only way I can be truly successful is by waiting and relying on the Lord. And, if I am patient and move forward in ways the Spirit shows me, just think of the impact that I can have.
Anyway, there was a little piece in this talk that struck me regarding teaching and working with kiddos. It says (with my little additions in brackets):
"Parents [or those called to work with children], be patient with your children. Read to your little children and help them with their schoolwork, even if you need to tell or show them the same things many times. Elder Richard L. Evans said, "If they find that they can trust us with their trivial questions, they may later trust us with more weighty ones" (Ensign, May 1971, p. 12). Capitalize on their natural curiosity [even when you are NOT curious in the same thing!] and help them develop a love for learning [and the world around them]. Teach them the principles of the gospel in simple terms [that are on their level and mindset]. Be patient with them if they disturb family home evening or family prayers [or sacrament meeting or primary sharing time...]. Convey [without language, but with Spirit and actions] to them the reverence you feel for the gospel, Church leaders, and the Savior."
This just reminded me in a small way of the very conscious effort I need to be making in my approach, thoughts and preparation for the children I work with. Reminded me that I need patience to be able to serve the children and families I work with and the only way I can be truly successful is by waiting and relying on the Lord. And, if I am patient and move forward in ways the Spirit shows me, just think of the impact that I can have.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Stanley Greenspan and CNN
LOVED this clip! Some GOOD training that has concrete ideas on how to work with some of our kiddos. Enjoy!
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/05/10/stanley.greenspan.autism/
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/05/10/stanley.greenspan.autism/
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Lessons from Deuteronomy
I learned something in Sunday School today. And I liked it. So I'm gonna pass it on.
If you read in Deuteronomy 11:18-21 the Lord is talking to the Israelites and trying to teach them that they need to be obedient, cognizant and continually grateful and faithful to Heavenly Father, even in good times. The Lord tells them how to do this. He says:
18 - Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes.
19- And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thous liest down, and when thou risest up.
20- And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates:
21 - That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the Lord swear unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth.
So, now I know you're thinking, "what in the world does this have to do with anything?!" Well, it hit me in Sunday School today the way the Lord teaches us. And, I realized, as I'm trying to teach, I ought to do the same things. So, what are those things?
1. Bind them as a sign upon your hand, as frontlets between your eyes. This reminds me that anything I want to teach needs to be clear, obvious, and direct. I need to teach concepts in simple, direct and easy language that can be placed in front of consciousness to allow students to truly remember and take in. And just as lessons bound as a sign upon my hand, I need to teach those same lessons over and over and over so they are always present right in front of my students all day as they work and play with their very hands.
2. In verse 19, this one got me because of the many positions and times that were suggested. Concepts can be taught anywhere effectively. I thought mainly of sensory here - how our kids are lying down or upside down or up and running. They are sitting and standing and going all over. But, that doesn't mean that even in these times where it seems as if no teaching can or will be effective, I should still teach. My children need to know these concepts, even if they're hanging off the edge of the couch or playing the piano with their feet.
3. In verse 20, it talks about the environment. Do I have concepts that help teach a child on my posts, on my doors, in my environment? And are these concepts easy, simple and direct to help remind both me and my students of things to learn and grow with? Many of my students are very visually based. Pictures, colors, patterns - they all hold a special meaning and attention for many of my kiddos. They are organized, they make sense, they are predictable and they are just plain wonderful to attend to. Do I use this in my teaching? Do I use pictures? Patterns? Colors? Beauty? Do I utilize the wonderful visual strength that many of my students possess to teach them in motivating, simple and personal ways? Is my environment creating a place of learning?
4. And last, the promise. Do I believe in the promises that my Heavenly Father has given to me? Do I believe that if I pray, I can get answers? And if I ask, He will help me? Do I believe that even when a child is screaming out or jumping off the pew at church or bolting out of the classroom during Sunday School that I have been called and therefore, I am qualified for heavenly and divine help? Do I believe that with some effort, some prayer and some reaching out to sources that will help, that I can change this child's life? Now. For the better. Do I believe that what God has promised will come to pass? And that means that He will give me strength to do this?
Strange what you can sometimes find in the middle of Deuteronomy, eh? Have a great Sunday!
If you read in Deuteronomy 11:18-21 the Lord is talking to the Israelites and trying to teach them that they need to be obedient, cognizant and continually grateful and faithful to Heavenly Father, even in good times. The Lord tells them how to do this. He says:
18 - Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes.
19- And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thous liest down, and when thou risest up.
20- And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates:
21 - That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the Lord swear unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth.
So, now I know you're thinking, "what in the world does this have to do with anything?!" Well, it hit me in Sunday School today the way the Lord teaches us. And, I realized, as I'm trying to teach, I ought to do the same things. So, what are those things?
1. Bind them as a sign upon your hand, as frontlets between your eyes. This reminds me that anything I want to teach needs to be clear, obvious, and direct. I need to teach concepts in simple, direct and easy language that can be placed in front of consciousness to allow students to truly remember and take in. And just as lessons bound as a sign upon my hand, I need to teach those same lessons over and over and over so they are always present right in front of my students all day as they work and play with their very hands.
2. In verse 19, this one got me because of the many positions and times that were suggested. Concepts can be taught anywhere effectively. I thought mainly of sensory here - how our kids are lying down or upside down or up and running. They are sitting and standing and going all over. But, that doesn't mean that even in these times where it seems as if no teaching can or will be effective, I should still teach. My children need to know these concepts, even if they're hanging off the edge of the couch or playing the piano with their feet.
3. In verse 20, it talks about the environment. Do I have concepts that help teach a child on my posts, on my doors, in my environment? And are these concepts easy, simple and direct to help remind both me and my students of things to learn and grow with? Many of my students are very visually based. Pictures, colors, patterns - they all hold a special meaning and attention for many of my kiddos. They are organized, they make sense, they are predictable and they are just plain wonderful to attend to. Do I use this in my teaching? Do I use pictures? Patterns? Colors? Beauty? Do I utilize the wonderful visual strength that many of my students possess to teach them in motivating, simple and personal ways? Is my environment creating a place of learning?
4. And last, the promise. Do I believe in the promises that my Heavenly Father has given to me? Do I believe that if I pray, I can get answers? And if I ask, He will help me? Do I believe that even when a child is screaming out or jumping off the pew at church or bolting out of the classroom during Sunday School that I have been called and therefore, I am qualified for heavenly and divine help? Do I believe that with some effort, some prayer and some reaching out to sources that will help, that I can change this child's life? Now. For the better. Do I believe that what God has promised will come to pass? And that means that He will give me strength to do this?
Strange what you can sometimes find in the middle of Deuteronomy, eh? Have a great Sunday!
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Temple Grandin: The world needs all kinds of minds
So, for those of you who work with kids with Autism or other Special Needs, this is a fantastic insight to the way they may be viewing the world. This is a clip from a woman who has Autism named Temple Grandin and she does a fantastic job explaining the way unique thinking and perspective in the world can result in some amazing products. It's a great reminder to me that even when the world is different than I see it to someone else, it can all result in wonderful things if I'm patient, perceptive and willing to merge my ideas with those of another. Enjoy!
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