Life Lately

 

Life lately has included some sights around my neighborhood.

Life lately has included watching my students grow in their love for reading. Seriously, I've never had a class who, overall, loves to read as much as this one. In fact, for their next class reward, they wanted a Reading Party (...where you'd read for hours and hours). Now, while we won't actually do that, it still makes me smile :)

 

Life lately has included Easter, which was a little different this year than years past. Parts were good. Parts weren't as great. But honestly, overall, it was still a good day, and of course, the best day of all to remember the reason for the holiday...the resurrection of my Lord and Savior.

Life lately has included dinner and games with friends and co-workers.

Life lately has included a monthly get-together with our AGWM family here in Senegal (well, some of us), full of food and fellowship, prayer, laughter and even tears. 

Life lately has included goodies for my students.

Life lately has included me raiding my "secret" chocolate stash because as one of my kids said, "Sometimes in life we just need chocolate." 

Life lately has included my friends trying their classmate's "microphone" and thinking he's the coolest kid ever!

Life lately has included me baking, something I'm not very good at. Why? ...because there are 10 kids I kind of like a little bit and they deserve it :)

Life lately has included reminders of family, whom I miss so very much.

Life lately has included a quote which is so true at times. 

Life lately has included a couple new (to me) books and the anticipation of the upcoming weekend when I'll be able to read them, since I have a rule about that... Elisabeth will not read (for fun) during the week because she cannot put a book down once she starts reading it...which could be problematic when she has work the next day :)

Life lately has included a few new ideas for my students, all with the goal of keeping them entertained, well-behaved, and learning.

  

Life lately has included watching Kid President videos on Youtube. This kid rocks! And my 4th graders love him!

Life lately has included eating blueberry muffins and playing the most hilarious and lively game of Uno ever with my favorite 10 kids.

Life lately has included a peeled orange and an almost proposal. He asked, Are you a Madam or Madamoiselle? And then he gave me a gift of an orange, peeled it for me, and then winked as he handed it to me. It was awesome! Haha :)

And if I'm being honest...

Life lately has been hard. ...like, really hard. It's not just the anniversary of my dad's death (...which is exactly one week from today, by the way). I mean, that in itself is incredibly hard. But it's just... I don't know. I can't explain it. I just know it's hard.

At any rate... Life lately has included digging deeper into the Word more than ever before because at times I feel like I'm struggling more than ever before. 

Teachers say the strangest things...

There's a saying that says, "Kids say the funniest things..."

Well, sometimes. it's the teachers who says them. A few examples of things I've said are...

Please stop licking your arm.

Yes, I know "butt" rhymes with "what." It's still not an appropriate choice for your poem.

I understand that it rhymes, but you've used the word "fart" enough in that poem.

No thanks. I don't want any candy right now. (...said after seeing that piece of candy drop on the sidewalk full of dirt.)

Take the lizard out of your pocket. ...which was followed by, No! ...not in here! Take it outside!

Did you really just lick your shoe?!

No. I do not want to hear about your mom and dad's secret conversations.

Unless there is a teacher under your desk, you need to come out and join the rest of us..

If you don't leave the Velcro alone, I'm going to take away your shoes.

Yes. I did realize I have gray hair. But thanks for loudly pointing that out.

If you don't sit down and do what I said, I'm going to call Santa.

I don't know. Can you go to the bathroom? (...said when teaching the difference in Can I and May I)

Are you eating your worksheet?

I know you're hungry. It's almost lunchtime. I promise. But sweetie, we never eat glue. 

I think the top to the gluestick ran away with our missing pencils.

Money for supplies? Nah, I don't need that. (...insert sarcasm sign here)

You just walked out of the bathroom. Why didn't you use it then?

Don't make you give you THE LOOK.

I don't care if you want to win. It is NOT okay to throw the dodgeball at someone's head. 

I realize her hair is curly, but you still can't say it looks like worms.

If it isn't food, get it out of your mouth.

Please tell me that's not spit.

I don't care if they do that in the movies. We don't spit in our hand and then shake someone else's hand.

I know you're chatting with your friend and not working on your paper. I'm not dumb.

Your friend is not a dog. Stop petting her.

No. I was not alive when dinosaurs lived.

No. I am not as old as Methuselah. 

I so miss nap time.

And last, but certainly not least...

That's fine. Call me crazy. I embrace it. 

Thursday's Thoughts Linkup

It's Thursday. So that means I'm joining Annie at Home of Malones and Natalie from East Coast Chic for their Thoughts for Thursday link-up...

So what's on my mind today?

The body truly is an amazing thing. We watched the two videos below in class earlier this week. My kids LOVED them and were on the edges of their seats the whole time. And afterwards, they had the best questions. What a fun teachable moment we had! I love my crew's genuine thirst for knowledge! It's great!

"How the Ear Works" *Source*

"How Hearing Aids Work" *Source*

I normally stay late after school and work. Well, last night, I actually got home before 5:00. So since I had a little extra time and wasn't totally exhausted, I made a pot of soup for supper. Y'all, it was delicious! It was supposed to be chicken taco soup, but I couldn't find any red beans at the store. So it was modified a bit. But man, was it tasty. Then on the side I made a little cheesy garlic bread. Yum!

I started a new behavior plan with my kiddos this week. If you do something "really good" (i.e. above and beyond just being a good student and following the rules), you get to draw a number for your bingo card. If you do something really bad, you have to erase a mark. When you get 5 in a row, you get a prize. I'm trying really hard to focus more on positive reinforcement of good behaviors. So, insert Behavior Bingo :)

The On this Day app on Facebook is great for bringing back good (and sometimes bad) memories. Yesterday's was nice because it reminded me of last year's Easter egg hunt at my home church. My sister-in-law and I took my two nieces and they had the best time! It was such a fun day and the picture memories definitely put a smile on my face yesterday!

 

We just finished up Spring Break. It was so nice to have 2 WHOLE WEEKS with no alarm clock set. Seriously... y'all have no idea! :) 

I went to the beach for a few days with some friends. I tried out a couple new (to me) restaurants. Hello Chinese place and Redstone. I'm talking to you. I stocked up on the essentials at the American Food Store. You know what the essentials are. Right? Dr. Pepper, Cake Mix, Mac & Cheese, Siracha. I binge watched the entire series of Sue Thomas, F.B. Eye and LOVED it! I hung out with friends. There were lunch and dinner invites, families letting me invade their family time, game nights, and more. And I finally feel like I was able to slow down for the first time since the beginning of January. 

It was glorious. Well, it was glorious until close to the end when I started to go stir crazy because I'd been stuck inside my apartment for far too long. The introverted side of me loved the peace and quiet and the solitude. The extroverted side of me had hit my limit and needed to interact with people :)

Anywho - All in all, I'd say it was a good Break. And it was just what I needed to re-energize me and get me ready for this last Quarter at school. It's crazy to think that in 2 months (minus 2 days, but who's counting), I'll be back in Alabama loving on those 2 cute little girls in my "#4 thought" for today :)

Happy Independence Day Senegal

Yesterday was Independence Day here in Senegal. 

So in honor of the occasion, I asked my class to list some of the reasons they love Senegal. 

What I heard their responses, I knew I wanted to share some of them here...

Question 1 - What do you love most about Senegal?

"There is really good food here. I like spicy food. So it's super yummy."

"Have you seen the lizards here?! They're awesome!"

"Dakar Academy is the best school I've ever been to! And it's in Senegal. So yeah."

"Everyone in Senegal isn't a believer. So we can tell people about Jesus. I think that's cool!"

Question 2 - What should you bring with you when you first move to Senegal?

One child said...

 "Bring a jacket and scarves and cold weather clothes. It's super cold right now."

Then the others disagreed...

"No. It's hot here. You need sunscreen and hats and sunglasses and warm weather clothes."

But my two favorite answers were...

"Don't spend all your allowance on toys. Maybe bring some of your money to the store and help your mom buy fruit or something to help the poor people who don't have a lot of money like you."

"Bring your Bible. God is most important. And you should read and study your Bible. Oh and bring some other books, too, because reading helps you get smarter."

Question 3 - What is your favorite Senegalese food?

Everyone had a different favorite Senegalese dish. But everyone agreed on the same thing...

"The Senegalese people really know how to cook. They put tasty foods in the dishes and they make sure there is enough food for everybody. And everybody eats out of the same bowl."

One of my kids then said...

"And you know what's cool Ms. Nichols? Sometimes you even eat with your hands! It's awesome!"

Question 4 - What are warnings for Senegal?

"Take your medicine. Malaria's no joke, man."

"Traffic is everywhere. Just buckle up and be patient."

"Be polite to the policemen. They keep you safe."

"If you go to someone's house, always eat the food. ...even if it looks different than the way your mom makes it. It's rude to not eat the food because that lady was nice enough to cook for you."

Question 5 - What is tough about living in Senegal?

"It's hard how the weather changes. It's super hot. Then it's super rainy. Then it's cold."

"There is sand EVERYWHERE! And dust storms... Don't even get me started!"

"You miss your family in your passport country. Goodbyes are very sad because of this."

Question 6 - What is one last thing you think people should know about Senegal?

"Always greet people. Shake hands. Say hello. Ask how they are."

"Casino doesn't mean the same thing here as in America." FYI - Casino is a chain of grocery stores.

"The number of Christians in Senegal is very small. So we need more missionaries to come here to tell people about Jesus."

Lessons

It’s been a while since I last wrote a Lessons post. In these posts, I write little “lessons” I’ve learned on various topics. 

Over the years, I’ve written on plain ol’ everyday lessons (Examples: here, here, here). I’ve written on lessons I’ve learned from roadtrippin',  being in teacher's meetings, from good ol' L'Afrique, and even from Disney movies.

And now seeing as it’s been what seems like forever since I last wrote one, I thought today was a good day to start back. So, here are some lessons I’ve learned recently…

Senegal has the most eclectic options for dining out. Besides Senegalese, there is Ethiopian, Indian, Brazillian, Thai, Chinese, and more. 

Standardized tests are a pain in the rear. Also - Teachers hate them just as much as students.

When one goes without Dr. Pepper for an extended length of time, one forgets how much the caffeine in the afore mentioned drink contains and might just end up staying up way later than one prefers.

Receiving a hand-drawn picture from a 10 year old child in the mail will surely bring a smile to your face. 

Marking items off of a long To Do List is gratifying.

Living in dry and dusty Dakar will give you the pleasure (insert sarcasm sign) of having a never-ending supply of sand.

Moving student’s desks into groups is like a difficult puzzle. There are so many factors to consider. It’s crazy.

Teachers are a lot like rock stars. 

A 50% (and more) off sale is a wonderful thing.

Songs can evoke so many memories.

 

Missing your family on holidays is inevitable when you live an ocean and a few thousand miles away. ...especially when you spend the day alone.

Beauty can grow in the midst of ugliness.

A squirrel (stuffed animal) can help a class in more ways than you can imagine. 

Learning a new language is difficult. But it is totally worth it.

Resting/Relaxing isn’t a bad thing. 

Kids can often teach the best lessons.

 

You’re never too old to learn something new. Just open your mind and heart to what’s around you.

World Autism Awareness Day

Did you know that April is Autism Awareness Month?

Did you know that today, April 2nd, is World Autism Awareness Day?

Did you know that some of the coolest people I've ever met have been diagnosed with Autism? 

Throughout the years, with each encounter... These individuals have taught me more about the beauty of life, than almost anyone else. What a true gift - a blessing - each and every one of these individuals have been to my life!

So, in honor of World Autism Awareness Day, I wanted to share a few things...

Did you know there is no known official specific cause for Autism? Did you know that women can have a perfectly healthy, "normal" pregnancy, and their child may still be diagnosed with Autism? Did you know that people try to say it's caused by this or that... And yes, there are some instances where a likelihood of Autism is increased, for example: certain genetic and environmental factors... But, at the end of the day, there are still no 100% definitive causes for Autism.

Did you know that... "Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and autism are both general terms for a group of complex disorders of brain development. These disorders are characterized, in varying degrees, by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors. With the May 2013 publication of the DSM-5 diagnostic manual, all autism disorders were merged into one umbrella diagnosis of ASD. Previously, they were recognized as distinct subtypes, including autistic disorder, childhood disintegrative disorder, pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) and Asperger syndrome." (Source: Autism Speaks)

Did you know that some of the best educators on the subject of Autism are parents?

"There is this myth that children with autism don’t have empathy. I’ve found the exact opposite to be true: children with autism are instead the most highly sensitive individuals I have ever had the privilege to know. They simply express themselves differently. If Neal likes you, he may smell your hair. If he finds you to be insincere, he will walk away or throw something.

Yes, there are the difficult challenges of autism: the tantrums, the delays, the stimming, perseverating, and other frustrations. I don’t want to minimize these, yet if we dare look at all behavior as communication, we can see these actions as different forms of communicating. Perhaps the world is too loud, too fast, too toxic and it’s the so-called typical folk who need to take a step back and reflect on what we’re doing and how much we may be missing in our world. Perhaps our children with autism are here to teach us to look at the world with a different set of eyes; a new perspective. I’ve found such immeasurable joy, love, and value in the pure and simple creative connection I have with Neal and others like him.

They say it takes a village to raise a child. I think it takes a child with autism or other special needs to raise the consciousness of a village." (from The Art of Autism: Shifting Perceptions, p.128 by Debra Hosseini.

I was browsing the Autism Speaks site the other night and came across an article from Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, written by pioneering autism researcher Joaquin Fuentes, director of child and adolescent psychiatry at Spain’s Policlínica Gipuzkoa, highlighting tips from people with Autism in regards to ways people can support them.

The first tip was my favorite. 

I am not “autistic.” I am first, foremost and always a person, a student, a child; and I have autism. Do not confuse me with my condition. And please do not use the term in a negative or inconsiderate way. I deserve to be respected.

*You can read the whole article here.  

 

I'll end with this.

I follow Chrissy from Life with Greyson + Parker, a blog written by  of two boys with Autism, who said her biggest hope for World Autism Awareness Day is that all people, whether they're affected by Autism or not, would learn to...

CELEBRATE DIFFERENT

She went on to say, "To me, Autism awareness means learning to love and accept what is different about ourselves, so we can understand and love what is different about others. My sons' level of different may be greater than yours or mine, but still they are simply different. We all are."

I love that. 

Celebrate different on World Autism Awareness Day and every other day of the year too...