Day 15: The Five-Year-Old World

On Friday I handed out Braille alphabet cards.  The kids closed their eyes and felt the little tiny dots and exclaimed, "Oh I can read it.  That is easy."  When I showed them just the book of Acts in Braille their jaws all dropped.  In fact they were speechless.

We hung numerous butterflies.  They now cover both sides of the long hallways in the school.  Every year someone suggests I have one butterfly be the equivalent of $5 so that we don't have to have so many.  Five-year-olds don't really understand money or the magnitude of a number but they do understand hundreds and hundreds of butterflies down hallways.  It is always an interesting challenge for me to stop and think like a five-year-old.  In some respects their minds are so simplistic and yet, they continually blow my mind with how they get things so much easier than adults do.  I really do love living in their world for 5 hours a day :)

I think the toughest part of the unit is coming up.  How do I make the celebration at the end meaningful to the kids?  I am proud of them and want them to know that but I also don't want them to loose sight of it really being about sacrifice and helping a friend.  I would covet your prayers as the plans come together to celebrate the "butterfly effect" fifteen children generated.

Day 14: Powerful People (Who Happen To Be Visually Impaired)

Today I shared a story from the Bible about a blind boy.  He overheard some people talking about his blindness.  They wondered if his blindness was caused by his sin or the sin of his parents.  We want to think that no one thinks that way anymore, but sadly we often do.  We tend to want to think that we have much more control over things than we really do.  If we do or don't do something then we won't get cancer.  If we eat right we won't have any health problems.  If we don't make any bad choices everything will turn out great.  Of course I advocate making good choices and eating right, but things still happen.

In scripture it says that this boy was born blind so that God's power could be demonstrated through him.  I love telling the kids that I have seen God's power through so many people with disabilities.  People that have overcome huge challenges in order for God to be glorified.  

We also watched some clips of some incredibly talented people that happen to be blind.  They loved listening to the music of Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder.  They had a number of questions about glasses and how they can play the piano when they can't see, but they were definitely impressed by their talent.

We spent some time talking about when one sense is missing some of the other senses move to the forefront and help compensate.  I shared a video of a blind man that made a basket at a basketball game and won McDonald's for a year.  This man was blind yet made the basket.  I asked the kids what sense he relied on and the first several kids said he must have felt the basket.  I told them he didn't.  Eventually they guessed hearing but couldn't figure out what he heard.  They were amazed when I told them he had a friend call to him while standing under the basket.  I love watching the kids brainstorm and find a different way to do something.  I hope this skill will help them in their lives.  I know it has been a valuable tool for me.  My dad would always give me different scenarios and ask me what a "reasonable accommodation" would be for a particular person with a disability.

We read a great story today about a dog with some special needs.  He was born small and weak and people said he would never be a sled dog on a team.  Due to the dedication of his owner and musher, he proved everyone wrong.  He went on to win many competitions.  The kids loved hearing a story about a dog and seeing him overcome his challenges.

Just before lunch we had a few fun activities.  We blindfolded the children, spun them around and then had them sign their name on a piece of paper.  They enjoyed taking off the blindfold and seeing how they did.  Afterwards I had the children spread out across the classroom and one at a time say hello to our aide in the classroom.  She had to guess which one called out to her.  I must say she was pretty amazing.  She got 7 out of the 11 that we there.  It is a lot tougher than it seems!

It has been a great week full of excitement.  I am excited to say...

The kids have now raised enough for 10 wheelchairs!!!  

I am so proud of their hard work!

Day 13: How To Be A Friend To Someone With a Visual Impairment

Today we focused on tips provided by Joni Eareckson Tada on "How To Be a Friend To Someone With a Visual Impairment." I am always surprised by how well the children remember the suggestions.  In essence we talked about not yelling or raising your voice at someone with a visual impairment.  We should also say who we are when we approach someone that is blind, as well as anyone that is with us.  Don't walk around while you are talking to the person or at least let them know where you are going.  We shouldn't pull them around but rather, offer our arm to them to guide them if they want us to.  We should also not pet a guide dog without asking permission first since the dog is doing a job and is working.

I am so grateful for the information Joni has provided.  It has been invaluable in teaching the kids how to be a good friend.  Please visit www.joniandfriends.org for more information.

Day 12: Their Sacrifice is Pure and Beautiful!

We started the morning by hanging butterflies down the hallway.  The kids were excited that we had filled one long hallway and have now started on another one.  The kids enjoy stepping out of class and being the special helper that hangs up the butterflies.  I love how they all cheer each other on and congratulate one another when they are hanging their butterflies.  We are still about 300 butterflies behind so tomorrow will be another exciting day!

Today we talked about visual impairment.  I held up a sheet of wax paper and looked around the room with it.  I told them I could see the light in the windows and could see the dark doors but that was about all.  I shared with them that some people with a visual impairment can only see light and dark.  I then held up a piece of wax paper with a hole in it.  I told them this is similar to tunnel vision.  The person can see right in front of them but they don't have peripheral vision.

We talked about different tools people with visual impairment use to help them such as glasses, contacts, canes, guide dogs, Braille, and other tools.  One of my students wore glasses for the first time today and all of the kids were telling her how great she looked.  She was very proud and one of my other students told her that she would help her with her glasses.  We also talked about vision problems that you may have when you are young versus vision problems that can occur when you are older.

I told the kids I wanted to try an experiment.  We talked about when one sense is gone or impaired  other senses kick in even more.  They remembered some of the things they learned from Helen Keller and how she used the sense of smell and touch to know who was coming towards her.  I closed my eyes and asked the kids to line up in front of me and not say a word.  One-by-one I guessed who they were by feeling their faces and hair.  I guessed them 100% correct (except for when my substitute aid got on her knees and got in line...that really threw me off!)

After our discussion I told them we were going to go on a trust walk.  They would have a partner and one of them would be blindfolded and the other partner would be their guide.  One of my kids was a little apprehensive but was soon excited about the adventure.  They were all great.  The only accident that occurred was when my aide was blindfolded and one of the kids guided her.  She walked into a sign-in table and knocked it over.  We were surprised at first but we were soon laughing once we knew everyone was fine.  We came back into the classroom and talked about how it felt to be blindfolded and how it felt to be a guide.  They all felt challenged by the experience but learned some great lessons.

The other interesting conversation that happened today was over "The Wizard of Oz."  The kids said, "You know, Mrs. Boggess, that movie is about people with special needs."  I was impressed by their insight.  I never looked at the movie that way but I said, "yes, they all had their own special challenge and they encouraged each other and supported each other as they faced them."  I don't think I will look at the movie the same way again!

The kids put more money and butterflies in the butterfly box today and I appreciate every single dollar they raise.  It doesn't matter how much the kids raise.  What matters is the difference the process makes in their heart and in the hearts of those that are watching.  The kids have had such pure hearts in this process.  They are happy every time another child will be able to get out of bed, play, and go to school.  They have all worked so hard and have sacrificed.  

I do want to share a special moment with one of the kids though.  It was a great way to end my day!  I was having dinner out with my husband and mother when the phone rang.  A little voice said, "Mrs. Boggess, Mrs. Boggess, it is Auri.  I raised $186 tonight!  Her excitement was pure and beautiful!  She had served dinner and had a concert in the park and charged $10 a person.  Members of the class were there to support her.  I hadn't been able to attend due to another important commitment.  It made my day that she wanted me to be part of it and share in her excitement.

I close with one of my favorite verses,

But Jesus called for them, saying, “Permit the children to come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these."
Luke 18:15-17 

Day 11: A Special Greeting

This morning I was greeted by my triplets carrying in bags of money and butterflies and all with huge smiles on their faces.  They were so excited to put more money in the butterfly box! They were followed by several more children with bags of money and butterflies.  I had one little girl come in with $285 from selling birdseed cakes!  The kids have now raised enough for 8 refurbished wheelchairs!!

Between celebrating, hanging butterflies, chapel, and phonics we weren't able to start our next section, "How To Be A Friend To Someone With A Visual Impairment" but we will tomorrow.  We will all go on a "trust walk" and have a variety of experiences to better understand what it is like to have a visual impairment.

Day 10: Market Day Was Blessed

On Friday the children in my class had their second market day to raise money for "Wheels For the World."  It was fun watching their faces light up every time someone purchased something.  The even more beautiful thing is they understand the money is for someone else.  They are always anxious to hear how much money came in and how many wheelchairs will be refurbished and distributed with the money they raised.  On Friday we were able to have 2 more "happy dances!"  We celebrate with a "happy dance" every time we have raised another $150.  I have a feeling there will be a few more happy dances tomorrow!

I was pretty exhausted by Friday afternoon and jumped in the car to head to Houston.  During the drive it brought me great joy to think about how much the kids have done and all they have sacrificed.  I am so proud of them.

While I was in Houston I had the opportunity to go to "Space Center Houston" with my son-in-law and grandson.  They loved a station that was set up to make paper airplanes with the chance to fly them through a variety of hoops.  I loved watching them fly the planes.  I also loved it when a young girl came forward to fly some planes.  She was apparently affected by cerebral palsy and was in a wheelchair.  Everyone cheered her on as she flew her planes and offered up their planes so she could fly them as well.  Everyone clapped when she made it through the first hoop.  She was so happy.  

This is one of the biggest concepts I want my students to learn.  We should all be cheering each other on no matter what our challenge is.  We should also celebrate with each other when our challenges no longer hold us back.

Day 9: Powerful People

Today we had our first market day to raise money for "Wheels For the World."  To say the kids were excited would be an understatement!  I was so impressed with them and so proud.  They all came up with ideas and so many of them truly matched their personality.  They were friendly, proudly presented their wares, made suggestions to shoppers, made change, and thanked them at the end.  They were awesome!

Here are some of the items they sold:  Angry Birds drawings (which sold out!) and homemade cookies, bracelets and homemade "Play-Doh," a wonderful carnival booth in which you spun the wheel to see what your prize was (snack, sweet, toy, etc.), goldfish, Rice Krispie treats, snack bags and a variety of drinks, fruit snacks, a raffle for a quilt made by one of the kids and her mom, gently used books and clothes, bookmarks, potholders, refrigerator magnets, personally designed "Lego" sets, and gently used books and toys.  I don't know how much money they raised yet but they sure did a great job today!  I couldn't be more impressed!

After the morning market, we came back to the room and talked about "powerful people" who have a hearing impairment.  We started off by listening to Beethoven.  I was impressed by how many of the five-year-olds recognized the music!  Then we watched a clip from a movie about Helen Keller.  They were shocked by her temper tantrums and I explained how frustrated she was because she didn't have a way to communicate.  They were fascinated by watching Anne Sullivan, her teacher, use sign language in Helen's hand.  Their looks of concern diminished when I showed a clip of Helen Keller as an adult.  They were impressed by the challenges she faced and yet how much she did with her life.

At the end of our day, we held our market again and had numerous hungry tummies stop by for a snack.  It was a wonderful, wonderful day but I must say I am a little tired tonight....see you tomorrow!