Lessons From a Classroom

This past Tuesday I observed at Watson's for the second time. My teacher talked to me a lot about the motivators they use in her classroom to help the students accomplish schools tasks and jobs. This is used the most in the morning, when I am not there. She explained to me how the students do school and have one task they do not enjoy followed by an activity they do enjoy. The biggest motivator in her classroom, is food, but my co-op tries to use other things to motivate the kids. Sometimes its surprising how a little thing like shredding paper -- can be a motivator. The example of this that I was able to observe was in connection with a little boy. They set up a system for him, so that when he gets five smiley faces, he may go and visit someone in the school (the gym teacher, or one of the faculty.) He loves visiting with adults and is so excited to do something that will earn him a smiley face. Because it is a school just for special needs children, this system works well because someone is always available to hang out with him and do something special. 
The second thing I observed and learned about on Tuesday was the different objectives being worked on in a simple task. Let me explain, I attended a special which included going to the library with four of the kids from my class. The librarian read a book, and then they worked  on folders. The purpose of the book reading was not just so they could hear the story, it also was teaching them to sit still and follow directions. The folders were a matching game that required them to communicate, imitate, follow directions, use their fine motor skills and organizational skills. Its not just a simple story and matching game anymore, it is a activity preparing them for life. 
Finally, I find it amazing how many options and solutions my co-op has in her head. If the child does not react or follow the directions well the first time, she can switch plans, and try a different strategy that is in agreement with what she is teaching. This has been such a great experience for me so far, and I am excited to see what I will learn next! :)

Thoughts

Do you ever have moments where you remember circumstances that went one direction and because of that direction changed your life? Do you ever wonder if the circumstances had gone the other direction what your life would be like right now? Its a weird thought for me, because I feel God has put lots of decisions in my path that have overwhelming impacted the outcome. He has changed my heart and my life, and even though it hasn't been easy, its amazing to be where I am today. This is a reflective post, just because today I was thinking about one particular circumstance that if it had gone another direction would've affected everything... anyway, that's the end. My life is a testimony to God's grace and love. 

An Observation:

Today I observed at the Watson Institute a school for special needs students. It is a requirement as an education student at Geneva to get an idea of what being a teacher entails before completing all the necessary courses. I was very excited about it because I get to do my special education observation before my elementary education observation. My co-op teacher at Watson's has a room with eight autistic children between the ages of eight and eleven, they are at different levels within a preschool / kindergarden grade. All the students are non-verbal, which means they communicate mostly through sign-language and picture exchange which I will explain in a moment. My co-op is the primary teacher and there are two full-time helpers and one part-time assistant. 

When I arrived, they were in the middle of "socialization time". This time stressed objectives such as communication, recreational skills, peer interaction and turn taking, I was included right into the structure of the afternoon and was interacting with the kids from the beginning. Next, we had a snack. In the classroom, each student has a picture book that contain icons. These icons help them communicate what they cannot communicate with words. For example, they have a rectangular board with velcro on it. The kids can pick the icon for "I want" and the icon for "pretzels", stick both on the rectangular board and when it is their turn they can ask for it. Not all the children were able to do this, but I was very impressed by the several children who could.  :) 

After snack, the children attended specials. Next week, I will be able to go with them, but today I spoke with the supervisor and my co-op explained some about her lesson plans and about the regular schedule. I was so excited when I came back to campus, I think this is going to be a great experience, I am so excited to see how the rest of the classroom works and to learn more about autistic children. :) 

The Girl with only ONE pearl earring.

I feel very un-responsible, and have an overwhelmingly uncharacteristic sense of loss. Today, would have been like any other day I wore those earrings. I wanted to look a little nicer for my student observation, and they reminded me of my family. Plus, they give me a certain air that I like. Its classy, just like my mom, like Shannon and like Avery to wear pearls. 

Sadly, at the end of today, I only possess one pearl earring. Somewhere between my rushing out the door, my trip to the library and my classes this morning I have lost one pearl earring. Maybe what is most distressing is that it was an entrusted gift that I did not guard with my life. I was probably supposed to wear those earrings for my wedding and now, I cannot. How distressing. How very saddening. I almost cried. What is maybe even more sorrowful, is that I don't think anyone would turn in a lone pearl earring. They would not know the love, the care and the memories that are attached to that one pearl. I apologize mom, for losing that gift. I am praying that somehow it will appear in an unexpected place. 

The end. 

Following your heart?

"The heart never takes the place of the head: but it can, and should, obey it."

--The Abolition of Man, C.S. Lewis

There have only been a few times in my life that I truly remember not listening to what my heart was telling me. The first time I really remember it, was the night before I left for China. My friends had thrown a huge surprise party for me, which was awesome, and then they asked me if I wanted to spend the night, which of course I did. I remember thinking that I should go home and spend time with my mom and sister - who were the only ones home that night - instead of staying with my friends, but I didn't. Even today, my heart almost hurts thinking that I didn't spend that time with my mom that I could have. It makes me sad.

Unfortunately, just because I have only a few memories of not listening to my heart, does not mean that my heart doesn't try tell me more. My problem is listening to my head and doing what I want to do, instead of listening to my conscience. In retrospect, I can see this especially in high-school. A lot of things that should have bothered me about myself, and about what I put up with in others did not bother me, and even if it did, I remember ignoring it. Thankfully though, I can say that looking back at last semester and seeing this semester, God has been working in my heart, and is bringing back that sensitive conscience.

I am learning, like C.S. Lewis says I should, to obey my heart. It is my prayer that my heart may be bursting with Christ's love and grace.

2 Corinthians 6:3-10

"We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the life; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors, known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything."

This is a beautiful reflection of how we should feel about our Christian walk.  We must commend ourselves in every way, to share the same gospel with those around us. The challenge is to let our light, and to show our confidence in Christ, through hardships like the ones listed: beatings, imprisonments, dishonor, bad reports, being regarded as an impostor, sorrow, yet through it all, rejoicing. I loved the end especially, "having nothing, and yet possessing everything." For me, these verses are almost life verses. I have not felt all of those, but pain has been a part of my life, for me, but also for my friends and family. I truly realize that I possess everything when I am in fellowship with Christ. And that is where my heart strives to be. 

In battle the victory goes to Love;

Prizes and properties fall to Love.

Love dallies the night

On a girl's soft cheeks,

Ranges across the sea,

Lodges in wild meadows.

O Love, no one can hide from you:

You take gods who live forever,

You take humans who die in a day

And they take you and go mad.

~Antigone

Books:

The Top 106 Books Most Often Marked As “Unread” By LibraryThing’s Users.

Strike-through books you’ve read before.
Italicize books you’ve read before but haven’t finished.
Copy and paste on your blog to see how “pretentious” you are.
(Stolen from The Ax for the Frozen Sea)

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell
Anna Karenina
Crime and Punishment
Catch-22
One-hundred Years of Solitude
Wuthering Heights
The Silmarillion
The Aeneid
Life of Pi: a novel
The Name of the Rose
Don Quixote
Moby Dick
Ulysses
Madame Bovary
The Odyssey
Pride and Prejudice
Jane Eyre
The Tale of Two Cities
The Brothers Karamazov
Guns, Germs, and Steel: the fates of human societies
War and Peace
Vanity Fair
The Time Traveler’s Wife
The Iliad
Emma
The Blind Assassin
The Kite Runner
Mrs. Dalloway
Great Expectations
American Gods
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius
Atlas Shrugged
Reading Lolita in Tehran : a memoir in books
Memoirs of a Geisha
Middlesex
Quicksilver
Wicked: the life and times of the wicked witch of the West
The Canterbury Tales
The Historian : a novel
A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
Love in the Time of Cholera
Brave New World
The Fountainhead
Foucault’s Pendulum
Middlemarch
Frankenstein
The Count of Monte Cristo
Dracula
A Clockwork Orange
Anansi Boys
The Once and Future King
The Grapes of Wrath
The Poisonwood Bible: a novel
1984
Angels & Demons
The Inferno
The Satanic Verses
Sense and Sensibility
The Picture of Dorian Gray
Mansfield Park
One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest
Test of the D’Urbervilles
To the Lighthouse
Oliver Twist
Gulliver’s Travels
Les Misérables
The Corrections
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time
Dune
The Prince
The Sound and the Fury
Angela’s Ashes: a memoir
The God of Small Things
A People’s History of the United States : 1492-present
Cryptonomicon
Neverwhere
A Confederacy of Dunces
A Short History of Nearly Everything
Dubliners
The Unbearable Lightness of Being
Beloved
Slaughterhouse-five
The Scarlet Letter
Eats, Shoots & Leaves
The Mists of Avalon
Oryx and crake: a novel
Collapse : how societies choose to fail or succeed
Cloud Atlas
The Confusion
Lolita
Persuasion
Northanger Abbey
The Catcher in the Rye
On the Road
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Freakonomics : a rogue economist explores the hidden side of everything
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance : an inquiry into values
Watership Down
Gravity’s Rainbow
The Hobbit
In Cold Blood : a true account of a multiple murder and its consequences
White Teeth
Treasure Island
David Copperfield
The Three Musketeers

Total: 21% Pretentious. And I wish I had read more of the these books than I have. Maybe that's what I'll do this summer. :)

Agree or Disagree?

"It would be an unconscionable act of betrayal, a stain on our character as a great nation, if we were to walk away from the Iraqi people." - John McCain










I'm not exactly sure how I feel...

Yeah

Supposedly, people write in their journals, diary's or blogs in either incredibly high and happy moods or incredibly depressing moods and if they don't, its because they are very disciplined and write everyday. So that's probably my problem, if you only knew me from reading my blog, I wonder what someone would think of me? Probably not very much. On that thought, I guess I'd rather just end this post with a verse that has been a great encouragement for me.

"For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1

Random, Stimulating Thoughts

"There comes a time in your life where you grow, you change, you find yourself somewhere deep inside, sometimes this phase of life is wonderful, as it should be. The discovery of new things, the excitement of life and the love and warmth it brings. But sometimes its not beautiful. Sometimes the changes are unwelcome because they bring anger, bitterness and resentment from loved ones. Sometimes these changes are so strong and so different from before that saying goodbye is the only way to move forward. But through this part of life whether beautiful or gray, there will be a blossoming flower, even if it is a time of hurt, of tears and of loneliness, the result will be a smile, a memory of the good times and a looking forward to the future."

^I found that. I think it says a lot of what I feel.

Today I was listening to a CD and in between the songs, there was this challenge from the artist that I had never heard and that you wouldn't hear unless you listen through the CD without skipping tracks, anyway, I think this is a good thing to remember. "Kings don't wear crowns in crowds for what? They're more smart than that." :)

Also, I need to pick a song to play with my slide show for graduation at church. I'm having some trouble, because I love so many songs and so many different kinds of music. If anyone has any suggestions, I would definitely entertain them.

Potential

I know that as a person we will always, for the rest of our lives, be changing and becoming more Christ-like as God works in us and reveals to us parts of our lives that don't reflect him and need to change, but I also know there's a time when you feel comfortable with yourself and the person who you are. Like for example, as a freshman in high school, I felt very uncomfortable with myself. Being cool, trying to be friends with the popular people and agreeing with them about everything seemed really important, but now I realize that wasn't really me. Now, I feel like I'm making a huge decision about where I'm going to college and I almost feel like I'm choosing between lives. I'm also afraid that I'm going to lose my friends that go to different colleges, and though I know its selfish of me, I don't want my friendships to grow apart. Am I supposed to be the more quiet, reserved one who doesn't always talk? Or am I supposed to be out there, challenging the other opinions and being a leader? I want to be used by God no matter where I go and what I do, but I want to reach my full potential, and I'm afraid that I won't. I suppose I will reach the potential that God wants me to reach, which is amazing, because without him I wouldn't be able to reach any potential, just unfortunately, I don't know what that potential is yet.

Being Mature

I am positive that there is no magic age to be considered mature. Dictionary.com defines it as: fully developed in body or mind, as a person. I've heard that some people never mature, and as adults they seem lacking in many ways, socially, but mostly in responsibility. My mom recently read an article that said that I cannot make really good decisions until I am 25, I guess the writers were trying to say something about consistency, but nobody makes good consistent decisions even after 25. So, does making good decisions have to do with being mature? I think it does, but what does that mean for me? I feel like me as a person doesn't really exist. Like yes, I can have ideas and opinions but if they aren't consistent with my parents, then they are bad, so my ideas and opinions don't really exist, so then I disappear, because I am basically defined by my ideas and opinions. Well, not completely because that wouldn't be honest, but the things that seem to matter to me and I want respect for, even if it is just a small "what do you think?" would make a huge difference to me. Thats all. If anybody is reading, please comment.

UnChristian?

I was reading World Magazine today, and I wanted to share about an article they published. A Christian survey organization recently "asked young people to identify which perceptions they most strongly associate with Christianity. The three most commonly agreed-upon were: anti-homosexual, judgmental, and hypocritical." The article goes on to question if, as Christians we "are [more] famous for what we oppose, rather than what we are for."
I suppose this is a touchy subject, because Christians are supposed to hate the sin and not the sinner, but are never able to do that perfectly. I guess I sympathize with people who feel judged by the church and are not given the love and mercy that God requires us to give, because they they have problems. It seems easier to try to separate from everything bad and then think that is the right thing, but I disagree. God says we are to be in the world and not of it, which means we are to understand and be there for the people that feel like they have no chance of God ever wanting them. If we think we are so high and mighty, to be haters of homosexuals, judgmental of how others speak, dress and how they use their time, to go around pretending that we are the chosen ones with the best ideas we are the ones with the problem. Yes, God has saved us and we need to share that with others, but we were just as awful as them and even worse, because we claim the name Christian and then are hypocrites. Read the article and please think about whether you are loving unconditionally as Christ commands.

Eighteen

I suppose nothing is really supposed to feel different as a Christian who turns eighteen. I still live under my parents roof, and so I kinda still have to obey them or else they may kick me out. Its never been like my parents have been super strict or super lenient, but its not going to be like suddenly they stop caring and just let me go where ever I want or do what I want as long as its legal. I've always thought it was going to be a big deal, suddenly I could tell my parents that I was an adult and make my own decisions, but not really. I don't feel any different, and I'm still treated as a child. I'm ready to go and make a difference with my life, and I'm tired of being told that I'm not old enough, but when will I be old enough? When am I expected to make good decisions? I guess I'm just at a major in between stage and again I am just called to wait.

For Christian Guys

Okay, so I was wasting my time on the internet, but I found this article/post that I really liked and that I agree with. Please read it. :)


http://homespunfervor.blogspot.com/2007/07/10-qualities-of-21st-century-christian.html

Taking A Stand

Hello everyone,

I've had some thing weighing on my mind in the past couple weeks and I just wanted to share with you. This past month in Indianapolis there was a little girl named TaJanay who was killed. She was put back into her home by the state for a 30 day trial trying to reunite her with her family, however, because of her abusive mother and mom's boyfriend, the day of her next meeting with the judge, she died. Even though this story is sad even without the details, this letter to the editor in today's newspaper really made me think.

One child named TaJanay dies and we are shocked, outraged and saddened. Every death of an American soldier makes us cringe. We ask ourselves how we can make these killings stop. On Jan. 22 we will observe the 35th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision on abortion. Since 1973, 50 million unborn children have been killed. Where is the shock? Where is the outrage? Where is the sadness?

The late Rep. Julia Carson had a reputation for speaking for the voiceless, but she supported abortion. Columnist Dan Carpenter defends every downtrodden cause that comes along, but he won't defend the unborn. I don't get it. We all know these babies are being killed and we don't care as long at they're hidden away at a Planned Parenthood clinic and we don't have to experience it.

The deaths of 50 million children should be the number one issue for every voter who goes to the polls this year. How can it not be? Our American way of life is not going to disappear because our property taxes are too high, or we don't kill enough terrorists or the Dome is not big enough for the Colts. It will be destroyed because we are killing a million of our children every year and we know it and we don't care.

Stephen J. Martin

All of this keeps reinforcing it self on my mind. On Sunday, we had a guy from the Central Indiana Crisis Pregnancy Center come and preach at our church, focusing on the sixth commandment "thou shalt not kill." I really appreciated his sermon, and even though it seemed like review, I was challenged and it really makes me want to do something about it.

The last thing that has to do with this whole post, is that we just finished reading a book called "The Second American Revolution" by John Whitehead in worldview. While I didn't agree with everything in this book, I enjoyed reading it, especially the part where he calls Christian to action. Here's a quote from his book:

"In Matthew 5 Christ states that the church is to be the salt or preservation in society. If not, Christ said, then the church is "good for nothing, but to be cast down, and to be trodden under the food of men." (v. 13) When the church is silent, then there is a need for Christian rebels. With the humanistic consensus gaining a stronger foothold each day, it is not a far-fetched notion to envision a time when we will see the church trodden under the feet of humanists. The unthinkables of yesterday - abortion, infanticide, euthanasia and rational suicide - are here. The church cannot be a spectator in the war that is raging. It must take a stand or there is no hope for a return to a society that cherishes life and seeks meaning."

So where does that leave me? Sometime i feel so inadequate. I know if I was a boy that I would want to be a pastor and to be completely on fire for God and to conquer the world, but I'm not and I can't become a RP pastor, and I can't be in any sort of leadership position because I'm a girl or because I'm not old enough or have enough experience. Its rather frustrating and as much as I want to do something, I suppose my place for right now is to wait. So I'm waiting.

Screwtape Letters

"Here are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight." - Screwtape Letters by CS Lewis

I am reading the Screwtape letters with Shannon for our Bible study time. This past week we talked about how real the devil and demons are. So far, this book has made it clearer all sorts of the things the devil uses to get into our minds and turn them from God. The annoyances of others, praying for someone's "soul" and distractions during church. There is no way for us to overcome the devil without Christ, so we need to be constantly asking Him to protect us from evil.

so.

I've come to realize that my last kiss: wasn't really sincere coming from Daniel.

I am listening to: the silence of my house before anyone else wakes up.

I talk: and I usually hope people will listen.

I love: people who don't always love me back.

My best friend: won't answer her phone when I try to call her.

Number six is: the evil number. (don't quote me on that)

I hate it when people: use something that I'm struggling with against me.

Love is: real.

Marriage: is something for the future.

Somewhere, someone: is being productive.

I'll always: be me.

I have a secret crush: but you aren't allowed to know.

The last time I cried was because: writing papers is incredibly depressing.

My cell phone: has a name, it is Horatio.

When I wake up in the morning: I make myself a hot cup of coffee.

Before I go to bed: I usually talk on the phone.

Right now I am thinking about: all the thinks I have to accomplish today.

Babies are: beautiful, but loud.

I go on MySpace: but tend to become annoyed.

Today I: slept until eight.

Tonight I will: watch a German movie. I don't speak German.

Tomorrow I will: attend church.

I really want to be: truly alive.

Someone who will most likely repost this is: someone who finds it amusing.

Quote

"I am a princess. All girls are. Even if they live in tiny, old attics; even if they dress in rags; even if they aren't pretty, or smart, or young. They're still princesses. All of us. Didn't you father ever tell you that? Didn't he?"
- Sara, A little Princess