I recently had the glorious privilege of watching a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie called “Front of the Class.” I was thrilled to be sitting on my mother’s bed with my mom and my sister watching such a touching film which I would like to tell you a little bit about.
Diagnosed with Tourette’s syndrome at a young age gave significant challenge to the movies main character, Brad. All he wanted to do was be a teacher. Spontaneous barking, twitching and head jerking, as is common with Tourette’s made it nearly impossible for him to be given a chance to be at the front of the class. Time after time, Brad refused to give up no matter how hard the doors were slammed in his face.
I was inspired by his attitude and given reflection into my own weaknesses. I sometimes worry that, because of certain problems that I have, I might not be able to do what I want to. It’s so easy to fall into the disparaging thought process that constantly says “I can’t” when truly it’s the biggest lie there is. Brad overcame the opposition he was dished out from all fronts and proved to himself, his family, his students and the world that, though he had something that could sabotage every hope he had to succeed, he conquered it and found a way to live his dream anyway. I was given greater knowledge that I can do the same. Whatever there is that is holding you back is something that you too can overcome. Nothing is impossible! Go live your dreams…
Last week, we ventured out to a fabulous local park. This park has so many amazing activities–swings, slides, an AstroTurf hill to climb & slide down, moving balance beams, a spider web, a water pump, and a butterfly garden.
As we were leaving the park, though, our six-year-old discovered a butterfly on a plant. The butterfly’s wings were wet from the recent rains, and our son could hold it as it crawled and creeped from hand to arm to hand. He did not want to leave this beautiful creature that had trusted him enough to hold it.
We talked of what would happen if we took it home. Would it be safe in the car? Probably not. Do we have the right kinds of plants for it to drink? No. He continued to long for the connection he felt, yet he urged the butterfly from his grasp onto a bunch of fuchsia flowers. I felt relieved that he did what was best for the butterfly even though leaving it was difficult for him. I began to walk toward our car with a weight off my shoulders.
Then he called me back. Oh, no. Maybe he had reconsidered. I braced myself for a further plea to take it home, when, as I approached, he said delightfully, “Look, Mom, it’s drinking!” He was an enchanted witness to the beautiful butterfly sipping nectar from the soft deep cove within the flower. His letting go of the butterfly allowed the creature to live and be what it needed to be.
I am grateful for the wisdom of my six-year-old and for the lessons we have learned from a butterfly.
April Rice is our guest blogger this week. She has lived in the South but went to college in freezing Idaho. Her kind spirit and bright smile bless all with whom she comes in contact, especially her husband and her family. Professionally, she has taught for several years in Florida and Mississippi. Here she shares a few tips on some ways to empower children in our lives in the area of learning. Enjoy!
Teaching is a passion I’ve had for years. When I see a light bulb or an “ah-ha” in a child’s eyes, I realize that this child is one step closer to influencing the world, and I was privileged to be a part of it. Many people spend years researching and conducting live studies on how children learn, when children learn, and how much they retain. However, I find philosophies associated with this field non-influential; a child does not come with a textbook of philosophies, so why do we try to use one when it comes to teaching them facts, concepts, or new ideas? Each child is extremely different with incredible personalities that shape how they learn. I have found through experience and personal conviction that the main ingredient in successfully helping children learn is to help them realize that they CAN learn. Encouragement goes a long way, and when that encouragement is from a mother, it can build many positive results. A child needs to know they can learn, achieve, and create new things, even if it’s a spaghetti space station out of marshmallows and spaghetti sticks. Speaking of space stations, when children associate HANDS-ON activities with concepts, they get it. Many children are kinestetic in the sense that objects and movements used in teaching ideas bring connections to facts. I currently teach engineering, and every time I want my students to remember a concept that I feel is difficult, the lesson starts out with an activity where the concept is interwoven into the activity. When students finish designing a device, and we’ve walked through the process together, they not only learn how to apply the concept but learn it at the same time.
It is important to remember that all children learn differently, and if you, as a mother or a teacher, are to find success, remember to teach each child differently. One of my mother’s greatest attributes to her success in raising 8 children was her ability to help us learn in ways that were specific to our needs and personality. Remember a child’s mind is sponge-like, and studies show a child’s brain does not fully develop until they are in the mid-20s. As teachers and mothers and others who are privileged to be around these “little ones,” we have the responsibility to make sure what they absorb is healthy knowledge that will grow into ideas and discoveries which eventually change the world. May we help our children soak up the goodness around them.
