Days 17 & 18: Market Days

Today was exciting!  We had our second day of "Market Days."  The kids have been working for three weeks raising money and today they sold handmade items to raise more money.  I love the excitement on the kids faces!  They are so generous and excited to give more.

The beautiful thing about kids is how quickly they understand generosity and sacrifice.  They don't compete with each other.  They just get excited for every dollar that is raised.  They all purchased from each other at the market to be an encouragement.

I know tomorrow I will have 15 precious kids anxious to hear how much they have raised all together.  I will keep them in suspense until next Tuesday and then we will celebrate!

Bridge Class, I am so proud of you!  

Day 16: Learning About Intellectual/Emotional Challenges

Intellectual/Emotional challenges are probably the hardest for me to explain to kids but in many ways, they dearest to my heart.  Children that struggle in this area are so often misunderstood and left out.  How do you help children understand what it feels like?  This challenge is much harder to simulate.

I took out a large letter "b."  I asked the kids what letter it was, then I flipped it backwards and asked them what letter it was.  Next I flipped the letter upside down and asked them what letter it was and lastly, flipped the letter and held it backwards until they had seen the letters b, d, q, and p.

I explained that it is normal for them to get these letters confused at their age but soon it should stop being confusing to them.  Someone with dyslexia, however, may have a hard time keeping it straight for years and it will be more difficult for them to learn how to read.  We then had a great discussion about how we can encourage our friends as we all learn how to read.  We need to be encouragers, not discouragers!

Later I role-played some behaviors common among people who have autism.  The children started laughing.  I asked them if they thought this person was smart and they said no.  I then told them that the person I was acting out could see the quick tiny credits at the end of the movie and recite all of the names after only seeing them once.  They were amazed at how smart he was now!

The kids had numerous questions and we were able to have a great discussion.  I can hardly wait to see how they react to the different experiences I have planned for them!

We finished our day with a happy dance!  

The kids have now raised over $1,100!! 

That is enough for 7 wheelchairs!!  

I can hardly wait for the big day tomorrow!

Great job kids!!  

Days 14 and 15: How Much Do I Really Trust?

Have you ever tried to imagine what it would be like to be blind?  The kids did!  I asked them what they would miss seeing if they no longer could.  Here are some of there answers:

• My mom, dad, and brother
• Running the bases in baseball
• Walking in the woods
• Knowing where my sister was
• Seeing my dog
• Seeing everyone that I love
• Seeing my goldfish swim
• Seeing the pictures in my Bible
• Seeing my birthday party

Their answers were honest and revealing about what is important to them.  After our discussion I told them they would be going on a "trust walk" and would experience what it would be like to be blind.

They paired up with a classmate, one of them put on a blindfold and the other offered his arm to be a guide.  We went on a walk together.  I think it was equally challenging to be blind and to be a guide.  After we finished our walk, we traded roles.

When we returned to the classroom, I asked them what it felt like to be blind.  Their answers were:

• Scary
• Hard to see
• Hard to know where you were going
• Hard to know where I was
• I felt out of control
• Everything was different
• Cool!
• Creepy...it was dark and I couldn't see

When I asked them what it felt like to be the guide they said,

• Cool and it was nice being nice to a person
• It was fun telling them where to go
• It was fun to be gentle
• It was fun holding onto her and telling her where to go
• Cool!

We concluded our time together by looking through cards that showed different types of visual impairment.  It made us more grateful for our vision and more compassionate towards those that have a visual impairment.

Days 11, 12, and 13: Letting the Work of God Be Displayed

It has been wonderfully challenging to keep up this week.  When I am teaching the unit on disabilities it is always a bit of a challenge to keep up.  If I could I would walk around with a little notebook sharing all of the things the kids say, yet I always want to be in the moment with them and not worrying about writing things down.  Within every lesson I teach, they share something amazingly simple, yet profound.  They say something that makes me laugh so hard I have a hard time recovering.  And they will also share something heavy on their own hearts such as a loved one tackling a health challenge.  

My heart was heavy as one of the children shared about her grandmother's recent surgery that will make her life far more challenging.  With every heavy story from a child there comes a really touching one as well.  I have a little boy that shared about his grandfather that lives in heaven now.  He wanted to have a birthday cake for him today and told his mom, "I can blow out the candles for him because I know he can't."  I love all of the thinking behind that statement!  He misses his grandfather but he is also going to celebrate him!

One little boy had been rather quiet about the fundraiser and then today proudly brought in a check for $100.  He had been working hard for his dad to earn money to help "the kids."  When I handed him 100 butterflies with his name on them, he smiled and said, "That is a lot of me!"  Indeed, that was a lot of him...his thoughts, his time, his compassion.

We have had some great discussions over the last three days regarding visual impairment or blindness.  Today I shared one of my favorite stories from scripture.  It is found in the book of John.  A blind man was begging for money.  The disciples asked Jesus if his blindness was due to his sin or the sin of his parents.  Jesus replied, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, " said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life."  I can hardly wait to introduce the kids to some powerful people, especially the ones that have let the work of God be displayed.

Day Ten: Giving From The Heart

The Bridge Class has raised over $400 now to help purchase wheelchairs for children around the world that need them.  I love the stories every bag of money represents.  It used to break my heart when they would tell me they emptied their piggy banks or gave their tooth fairy money.  It always gets to me but I know how valuable it is in their lives so it never makes me sad anymore.

We reviewed the signs we have learned and added about 20 more today.  It is exciting to see how easily it comes to them.  We also listened to a powerful composer who became deaf at the age of 30 but continued to write music that he could no longer hear.  The children loved Beethoven and many of them said they had heard his music before (good job, Mom and Dad!)  We will hear from two other musicians on Monday.  They aren't deaf but they are blind.

The highlight of my weekend was to ride my bike to a lemonade stand held by two of my students.  Their enthusiasm was priceless and it was touching to see their entire families involved!  

Day Nine: A Powerful Person That Could Not Hear

Today was wonderful!  We started the day with one of our favorite songs in sign language and then watched a fun song from "Signing Time."  I am really impressed by how quickly the children are learning sign language.  They have learned the alphabet and have now learned 46 signs from, My First Book of Sign Language.  I am always amazed by how much the kids can take in and retain.

There are so many fun and exciting things to learn about disabilities but there are also some hard things.  I told the kids that I was going to show them something that might make them a little sad but it will have a beautiful ending!  I shared about a little girl that was born quite some time ago and she was both deaf and blind.  She used to throw a lot of temper tantrums (they all gave me some great examples of a temper tantrum from their siblings) because she was so frustrated.  She lived in a world that was dark and quiet and she couldn't communicate but one day things changed.  I showed them the water scene from a movie about Helen Keller.  She couldn't see sign language but she could feel it and that is how she learned to communicate.  The kids were able to watch a reenactment of Helen giving a speech as an adult and of course the kids were amazed!

During the day we go through my butterfly box where the kids put the money they have raised for the wheelchairs.  They are always so excited to share what they did to raise money.  One little girl brought in $20.  I asked her what she did to earn it and she said, "Nothing."  I asked her how she got the $20 and she said her grandmother donated it.  I exclaimed,

"That is wonderful!  Did you share about what you are doing in your class?'  She told me that she told her grandmother all about it.  I said, 'That is wonderful!'  You have been part of the butterfly effect.  Joni told me about the children that need wheelchairs.  I told you about the children that need wheelchairs and now you have told your grandmother.  That is how the butterfly effect works!"  My sweet girl then had a big smile on her face and was very proud of her accomplishment.

We ended our time together by doing our "happy dance" song!  They have now raised enough money for two wheelchairs!

Day Eight: How To Be A Friend To Someone Who Is Deaf/Hearing Impaired

Teaching kids how to be a good friend is always fun to me.  I love to exaggerate the things we do.  I probably surprised the class next door when I started yelling everything I was teaching the kids.  I know I surprised my students!   I told them that making a scene to get a person with hearing loss' attention was not necessary and speaking or yelling louder wasn't helpful either.  Below are some of the communication skills I have been sharing with my students.  This information is provided by The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.

How to Communicate with Someone Who Has Hearing Loss

When someone suffers from hearing, it is difficult (and frustrating) for them to communicate effectively with others. While there are a variety of assistive devices available to make sound louder, it is most important that proper communication techniques be practiced in order to maximize hearing and listening performance. Here are some tips you can use when talking with someone who has a hearing problem.

Get Their Attention

Get the listener's attention before speaking. Give them a topic related to the conversation so they have a better understanding of what to expect.

Reduce Background Noise

Try to eliminate as much background noise as possible. During conversations, turn off the radio or television. When you are in restaurants and social gatherings, choose seats or conversation areas away from crowded or noisy areas.

Speak One at a Time

Try to make sure only one person talks at a time. Include people with hearing loss in the conversation, but don't talk over other people.

Speak Clearly

Face the person and talk clearly. Speak at a reasonable speed. Do not hide your mouth, eat, or chew gum.

Speak Loudly

Speak a little more loudly than normal, but don't shout. Try to annunciate your words clearly and be conscious of the volume of your voice.

Repeat Yourself

It is not uncommon for a person with hearing loss to shake their head as though they understand what you've said. Ask them if the got the information and if necessary, repeat yourself.

Re-Phrase

Rephrase your statement into shorter, simpler sentences if it appears you are not being understood.

Have Good Lighting

Stand in good lighting, use facial expressions and look at the person's face while speaking. Even if the individual with hearing loss never studied lip-reading, they can gain a great deal of information looking at the speakers face and body language.

Be Understanding

If you feel frustrated trying to speak to someone with a hearing loss, think for a minute how it must be for them. Try to make it easier by changing words or re-phrasing statements.

As much as you want the person with hearing loss to hear what you have to say, they want to be able to listen, understand and participate. Coping with hearing loss requires cooperative efforts. If you think someone you love has a hearing problem, suggest they see a doctor for a hearing test.

The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) is one of the Institutes that comprise the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and focuses on the prevention, detection, diagnosis and treatment of hearing loss and deafness.

Day Seven: Accommodating Hearing Loss

I love sharing about Jesus and the company he kept with my students.  He loved people like you and me and spent much of his time with people that had a disability.  We read a story about Jesus healing a boy that was deaf and how excited he and his friends were when he heard for the first time.

We talked about resources available to those impaired by hearing loss such as TTY's, Relay, texting, flashing lights, lip reading, speech therapy, and sign language.  The kids are growing up in an age where there are so many resources available and some of those resources all of us are using.

We also talked about our grandparents and how we can be supportive if they are experiencing hearing loss.  The kids even came up with some ideas on their own to aid in communication.

Day Six: The Deaf/Hearing Impaired

My classroom learned about another type of disability today.  We all envisioned what it would be like to be deaf or hearing impaired.  I went around the circle and asked them what sounds they would miss if they could no longer hear.  Most of them said they would miss the sounds of their friends voices and one of them sweetly said, "I would miss hearing my dad say, 'You are the best boy in the whole world!"

We did a variety of exercises to simulate hearing impairment and what it would be like.  I asked them if they would like to hear a person who is deaf speak.  I really think they thought they would sound the same.  I shared a YouTube video with the kids.  When the young lady started speaking a few of them started to laugh.  I just let them listen to her message for a little bit.  Then I asked them, "Can you imagine how difficult it would be to learn how to talk when you have never heard speech before?"  Their faces became concerned as they realized how difficult that would be.  

I told them they would probably hear a deaf person speak at some point in their life, or a person with another disability that might impair their speech.  We talked about how we should never make fun of each other for things that are challenging for us.  We should only encourage one another.

Our guest speaker came early this week since he had to work around his patients.  I have to say I am a little partial to this guest speaker, he is my husband.  Bill is the Director of Audiology for an ENT office.  He shared a clip from You Tube about how the ear works.  He went through the anatomy and function of each part of the ear.  The kids were amazed when he told them that the bones in their parents ears are the same size as the bones in their ears.  Bill talked about the function of ear wax, how to protect their hearing and showed them some hearing aides.

The kids loved learning about the ear but they became fascinated by Bill's impairment...he had a serious hand injury.  All of the boys especially wanted to know about the table saw accident.  Bill shared about the things he was no longer able to do and also shared about how he has learned to do a lot of things differently.  Bill wears a golf glove most of the time because it provides grip and stability for his hand.  He also wears it because your brain cannot interpret pressure and pain at the same time very well so wearing the glove makes his brain think about pressure, rather than pain.  Since he no longer has a pinkie he asked the kids who would like to pinkie swear and they all laughed.

As I thanked Bill before he left the girls all started chanting, "Kiss him!  Kiss him!"  Five year-olds are always full of surprises!

Day Five: Powerful People Who Happen To Have A Physical Disability

I love it when I have the opportunity to introduce children to amazing people.  They won't even have the opportunity to limit someone's potential if they understand the possibilities at such an early age!

Today I told the children to lie down on the floor and just listen to some beautiful music.  It was so calming and worshipful.  As the song was coming to a close I picked up my ukulele and started to gently strum it.  I told the kids it was a ukulele and the person I wanted to introduce them to plays the guitar but they are similar in how they are played.

As I was strumming, I asked the kids, "Now, how would you play an instrument like this if you don't have any hands or arms?"  They, of course, instantly knew the answer because I had shared a story of a young man that could type without any arms.  They all yelled in unison, "With your toes!".  I then put the ukulele on the floor and showed them how difficult it would be.

I asked the kids, "Do you want to meet my friend that can play with his toes?"  They were all excited to meet Tony Melendez.  I encourage you to watch him on youtube:  Tony Meléndez (Part 01) - You Are My God.  All of their five year-old jaws dropped.  It was priceless!

Next they were introduced to Nicholas James Vujicic No arms No legs No worries! wmv YouTube.  He is another one of my heroes.  It is amazing to watch their faces change as they change from uncomfortable to thinking Nick is funny to loving him in the span of just a few minutes.  We talked about all of the things Nick is able to do because he uses his disability as a platform to share his love for God.  We concluded our time with hugs all around, Nick style of course!

Day Four: Physical Disabilities and Therapies

Today we had a wonderful visit with a physical therapist.  She has visited my classroom for a number of years now.  She is a wonderful partner in teaching kids about disabilities and how to be a great friend.  Unfortunately, I was called out for a family medical problem and couldn't be there but I knew the kids would have a great day learning all about physical therapy.

When I returned the next day the kids were so excited to share about the equipment they had seen:  wheelchairs, "crunches" (crutches), and therapy balls.  They were even able to try them!  They were also excited about the videos they watched of people in wheelchairs playing fast and exciting basketball.  My kids are becoming amazed by all of the things people with disabilities can do rather than focusing on things they cannot do.

Thank you for partnering with me, Melissa.  The kids had a great time with you!

Day Three: How To Be A Friend

Today one of my little girls came into the classroom in her twirly pink Easter dress with a smile on her face and a tiara on her head.  She proudly handed me a baggie with three one dollar bills and one 100 dollar bill.  She told me she had raised the money for the wheelchair by singing one of her favorite songs to some of her friends.  I love it when kids use their talents to make a difference in our world!  It took us a while to write her name on 100 butterflies and get them hung up but we had a great time doing it!  The kids were so excited when they walked out into the hall and saw the ribbon of butterflies in the hallway.

We read a couple of books about children with physical disabilities and then we discussed how to be a friend to someone with a physical disability.  I love demonstrating the crazy things we do when we encounter someone in a wheelchair.  The kids quickly caught on as I exaggerated a variety of situations.  They were great at picking out what behaviors were polite and which ones weren't.  I only wish I could be a fly on the wall as the kids act out polite behavior for their parents at the dinner table tonight.

We closed our time with one of the educational clips from the Joni and Friends website.  Here is the link to their "Kid's Corner."  http://www.joniandfriends.org/kids-corner/be-a-better-friend/

I highly recommend their videos, "Friendship Adventures," that teach children (and adults) about disabilities.  The clip we watched today was entitled, "It's Nice To Get Close."

Tomorrow we will have a physical therapist visit our classroom.  She will simulate what it is like to have a physical disability, as well as show them some therapy treatments.  I appreciate all of the people that partner with me to teach kids about kids!

Day Two: Can You Catch A Disability?

     I feel like we are on an amazing vacation in my classroom!  The kids are so excited and they cannot wait for the next adventure.  This morning we talked about some of the crazy things we believe about people with disabilities.  I asked the class if you can catch a disability from someone.  They looked at each other and said, "I don't know.  What do you mean?'  

     I said, "Well, if your little brother has a cold and he sneezed on you, you might catch his cold.  Could you catch a disability?"

     One of the kids said, "No, they don't sneeze!"

     I responded by saying, "Well, yes they do sneeze if they have a cold or allergies, just like you do."

    To top off the discussion, one of the kids said, "Well, yesterday I sat next to 'Michael' all day (he has a broken arm) and my arm is doing just fine."  Do you see why I love five year-olds!!

     Later I read a story from the Bible about Mephibosheth, the grandson of King Saul and the son of Prince Jonathan.  He was injured at a young age and was unable to run or walk again.  He was heir to the throne but people didn't know how to respond to his disability and marginalized him and treated him as an outcast.

     Later when David became the King, he extended kindness and compassion to Mephibosheth and welcomed him in the palace and had him eat at the king's table.  This changed everything!  Since Mephibosheth was accepted by the king, others began to accept him too.

     I told the children they have the power to change the world by how they treat people.  If there is a little boy or girl in their class that has a disability they can change everything for them by being the one to accept them and befriend them.  Others will follow the example set for them.

     I have to say, I am already proud of my students!  One of my kids fell and severely broke his arm last week.  They have all been so kind to him, each taking turns to protect him, help him and play with him.  The butterfly effect is already happening :)

Day One: You Can Change The World

Day one was fabulous!!  My students and I started a unit on "How To Be A Friend to Someone With  a Disability" today.  I decorated the classroom with butterflies and explained the butterfly effect by lining up all of the kids and having them put their hands on the shoulders of the student in front of them.  I nudged the last student in line and watched student after student in front of her move forward.  Then I explained the theory behind the butterfly effect.  As a butterfly flaps its wings it moves molecules of air that in turn move more molecules of air until the effect of the butterfly's wings can be felt across the world.  Similarly, as the children earn a dollar it will cause another child to earn a dollar and then people watching will also contribute a dollar until the effect causes hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars to be raised to purchase and refurbish wheelchairs that can be distributed around the world.  As Andy Andrews shares in his book, The Boy Who Changed the World, each of us can change the world!

This morning we all shared about skills we are good at.  I loved their answers.  Some of them included Math, art, learning about sharks, soccer, dribbling a basketball, taking care of babies, loving our parents, and coloring in the lines.  They were so excited to talk about the things that come easily to them.

Then we talked about skills that are challenging or difficult.  Their answers included sharing with their brother or sister, gymnastics, football, ice skating, climbing trees, being patient and one of my favorites, flushing the toilet (he said he can never remember to flush!).  We talked about how some of our challenges can get easier with practice and some of them will always be difficult.  We talked about the skills that would be difficult if we were paralyzed.  Then I shared with them that God can show his power through our weaknesses.  I told them they will meet some amazing people over the next couple of weeks that God has shown His power through.

I then introduced them to one of my personal heroes, Joni Eareckson Tada.  Their jaws dropped when they learned that she is paralyzed but she can sing beautifully, has written 67 books and is an incredibly talented artist.  In fact, they tried painting with a paintbrush in their mouths the way Joni does!  When I showed them some of her paintings they were amazed!

I was able to share a photograph of one of my students and the governor of Texas, Greg Abbott.  He is in a wheelchair but he has a very important job!

As our day came to a close we had the added bonus on one of my dear friends and a staff member at our school, come and share about her late husband's struggle with ALS.  She shared that one of the most hurtful things that happened was people stopped talking to her husband when she pushed them in a wheelchair and they only talked to her.  She reminded them to always talk to the person in the wheelchair.  She also shared about some amazing technology that allowed her husband to communicate by blinking his eyes.  Blinking his eyes would act as a computer mouse allowing him to type e-mails.

I can hardly wait for the adventures and lessons ahead for us.  I hope you will join us as we learn about a variety of disabilities and the powerful people impacted by them!