ACCEPTING:

Matt and I met daily to practice Orton Gillingham approaches


to learning how to read. We also worked on other concepts to


help him gain a greater sense of efficacy in the classroom. One


concept that particularly challenged him was the movement of


days and time across a calendar. Although we navigated around the

calendar day-by-day, it seemed everyday we were starting anew.



Then, one day into October, after more than a month working with

the calendar, we started our lesson. To my amazement, Matt

responded like this calendar bit was the simplest idea in the world.

He answered with ease, automatically giving the correct response to

each of my questions. I was so excited, I was beside myself. I

had taught him something.


At our lesson the next day, I pulled out the calendar simply to


confirm his knowledge and satisfy his automaticity. But that


day, just as unexpectedly, he seemed completely unfamiliar with


the concepts and was unable to determine dates or days. My


heart sank. I took a deep inner sigh and started again.


Short term memory loss is common with children diagnosed with

learning disabilities. Detachment to the outcome, gives peace in the

present with presence.



Matt, a great student with above average intelligence, sat


before me twirling his soft brown curls around and brushing his


hair back from his bright green eyes. His sensory sensitivity is so


highly pitched that his mother has to cut his hair in his sleep. He


asked when he could go out for recess. “In a minute,” I


replied. “In one minute, let’s watch that time pass on the clock.”


REFLECTIONS:

I receive myself favorably. I am the gift of God I am and no



one else is exactly like me. The world awaits my gifts of self
 
QUESTIONS:
 
How can I demonstrate a deeper acceptance of myself as a

gift of God?


-Where am I accepting responsibility for someone else’s life?
 
__________
 
Children described throughout this BLOG are made-up composites of real life students and circumstances, detailed to educate and enlighten our understanding for each other, ourselves and our students.