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FOCUS: Fostering Our Children's Uniqueness & Spirit |
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Beloved
community, Wow, what a dynamic few months! The Universe sent me an invitation to play BIG NOW and I RSVP'd with a resounding YES! So many new adventures, collaborations, fun and utter joy to experience and celebrate. I will reveal these unfoldments with you in due time. I attribute much of this expansiveness to Brain Gym. If you haven't experienced Brain Gym yet, we are offering another opportunity on October 6th. Hope to see you there. Although I generally view myself as a nurturing and compassionate person, especially with children, there are times when I allow outer circumstances and external demands to command my inner expression. When I guest teach in classrooms and agree to painfully coerce children into activities that are not harmonious with their essential and developmental needs, I violate my identity and integrity in order to comply with a system that is incompatible with my values or beliefs simply to earn income. This breach of self often leads me down paths of inflicting personal pain upon others. Aaarrrgh! Such was the
case with Hanna. While guest teaching in a first grade class for
several days, Hanna's bright Hanna was always busy doing something…arranging supplies in and on her desk, frequently sharpening her pencil, crawling under desks, investigating her teacher's work space, disorganizing work stations, etc. She appeared to have awkward interactions with her peers. Without asking, Hanna would take personal belongings from classmate's desks or backpacks resulting in their reactions of anger, frustration, tears, tattling, or grabbing. Academically,
Hanna struggled with writing tasks. Much to my dismay, the lesson
plans required lengthy sessions of children copying math problems,
sentences, and thinking maps from the board. Aaarrrgh! I It was then
that the students informed me of Hanna's behavior plan that was
described as this: Hanna is Eventually, an uninvited teacher next door barged in to "discipline" Hanna. I know she wanted to be helpful yet instead she humiliated and shamed Hanna with comments like "first graders shouldn't cry like babies" followed with threats to take her to the principal. Students agreed, adding that Hanna was "bad" and should be removed. Aaarrrgh! I affirmed that Hanna was an important and valued member of our classroom, that I wanted her to stay so we could work through the situation and figure out some solutions to comfort her. It was at this point that I noticed fatigue consuming my body, from head to toe. Devoting constant attention to Hanna's needs was expending nearly every watt of my energy, bit by bit…and it was only mid-morning! I began formulating and perpetuating limiting beliefs about her, how to survive this situation and soon realized I was nearing my "I've had enough!" limit! Then I was saved by the lunch break!!! Time to regroup and reflect. During lunch
I refueled with silence, solitude and introspection. What bubbled
forth from this inward journey had nothing to do with Hanna. The
moment I had reviewed the teacher's lesson plans that morning, I
had allowed my feathers to get ruffled. My frustrations dominated
my thinking and thus my actions. I had not been nurturing, compassionate
or connected very well with MYSELF or ANY child, let alone Hanna.
There were times when After lunch,
we all shifted gears and enjoyed our "getting-acquainted"
time together in a talking circle. Stories Why am I sharing
this story with you? Another school year is set in motion and so
are patterns. No, I'm not speaking of the patterns children are
taught to understand similarities, differences and ordinal relations.
I am speaking of the habitual practices that typically develop over
time in an educator's career - patterns of rigidity, ruts, repetition;
patterns of narrowing, limiting thinking; patterns of blame, shame,
stress, strain, and pain. This blueprint shapes and taints our relationships
with colleagues, parents, children and vocation. End result? We
THIS IS
THE PLACE, NOW IS THE TIME I invite you,
right now, to make a commitment. This
is the place, now is the time. Given where you are now
Once you have
identified your commitment, tell someone, tell everyone, email your
database of support, shout THE REST
OF THE STORY When the classroom door had closed, the 2 easels nearby fell down. Being last in line, Hanna heard them topple after we exited and took it upon herself to go back inside to upright the easels. She asked Mikala to wait for her and she didn't. So when Hanna finished, we were no where to be found. Since it was PE, she logically figured we'd be outside and ran out to the playground to look for us. When I caught up with her, she was scared. I had been worried. We both were relieved she was now safe. I expressed my appreciation for her thoughtfulness and acknowledged her courage. We hugged and then held hands as we walked to the gym. Something magical passed through Hanna's hand to my heart and I am hoping the same was true for her. It felt as if our hearts flowed in coherence, we attuned to our interconnectivity, uniting our souls in trust, love and grace. I'm guessing Heaven was lovingly and gently holding us in her bosom. I
have come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element
... It is my personal approach that creates the climate. It is my
daily mood that makes the weather...I possess tremendous power to
make a child's life miserable or joyous. I can humiliate or humor,
hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides
whether the crisis will be escalated or de-escalated and a child
humanized or My
proclamation: I'd
love to hear yours! Hugs
of love and gratitude, Copyright
© 2007 Adrian Reznik |
