Journal 5

Today I met a teacher named Mr. Trey, I think he was substituting for Ms. Michelle since she was not there last friday. He works as the afternoon teacher for the kids who usually stay past 12 because their parents can't make it due to work or whatever. He was really nice. We took the kids out to play in the back where there is a play ground and I spent some time chasing after them playing tag. They're too little to understand the concept though, because after a minute every one was tagging everyone. It was hilarious. After that I was pushing a little girl named Anabelle down the slide, when all of a sudden I look up to see a line of kids at the top of the slide waiting for their turn. I couldn't help but to smile. Mr. Trey sang the "lunch time song" and gathered all the kids so we could go inside and help the kids open their lunch boxes and heat up their food. Cade insisted on me sitting with him, so I did. and Gustavo sang the entire time, that was funny. It gets sort of chaotic during lunch time, but after that the kids all take a nap and that's when I tend to leave. I plan on continuing my volunteering at Westview. I'm glad this program in Biology helped me connect with Westview. All of these kids are really starting to gain a special place in my heart.

Journal 4

I officially will be working with Ms. Michelle now, who is a younger teacher at Westview and is straight out of college. We got to talk a little bit about each other to better get to know one another while the kids were at recess. A few minutes before we had to go back inside for lunch time I played with some of the kids. There's a little boy about three years old who is apparently obsessed with spherical shapes. I asked Ms. Michelle about this obsession and she said things like this were normal for kids with autism. They "stem" or obsess over specific objects whether it be a ball, a shade of light, or even the movement of a fan in the classroom. My group of kids are very easily distracted. It can be pretty hard to make them pay attention to lessons, because two out five usually can't seem to sit still in there chair. But Ms. Michelle is teaching me how to be more authoritative (still remaining nice of course) in order to make them listen. I learned that kids with autism usually require more pressure (holding them) as you're trying to tell them something. So most of the time they need you to grab their arms and tell them for instance "Cade, sitting, please" They don't usually grasp on to full sentences yet such as "Cade please sit down and eat your food" I'm learning more and more every day! and I feel as though I'm gaining some attachment to some of the kids in my group. I find myself looking forward to Fridays even more so now. They were put some light in my world. The faculty and staff here are awesome as well.

Journal 3

The kids are opening up to me. I can't wait for next week, we're going to do an activity that consists of helping the kids make paper plate piggies. The staff is absolutely amazing and nice. I feel at home here. Gustavo and Isabel are two kids in my group and the love dancing and singing. Today a little boy by the name Cade came up to one of the teachers and told her that he was ugly, because that's what another little boy had told him. Cade took it as though he was ugly because he was different. This enraged me and made me sad all at once. The teacher handled it by telling him that he was no different than anyone else, in fact he was an amazing and brilliant little boy. The boy smiled and walked away. Cade physically looks like every other little boy, but he has a speech impediment and does not like to play with others. He is becoming one of my favorites. He sits with me at lunch time and I he always comes and sits down in my lap for reading circle, where the teachers or sometimes myself read to the children gathered in a circle.

Journal 2

I will be volunteering at WestView School for Autistic Children. It is located within fifteen minutes of Guinan Residence Hall, which is perfect for me, since I have reliable transportation. This school provides affordable special education for students who learn differently and with a more specific environment. They are usually socially awkward and need a lot of help getting started on their motor skills like holding a spoon or fork right, or even a pencil. The pace of this school allows children to not be surpassed as they would be in public school. They also have a small class size in order for the teachers to be able to better tend to their specific needs. I visited on Friday and I met a boy named Seth who was the smallest out of his group and he was extremely cute! He did not like hugs that much, but he loved to play by himself with a few toy cars. Most of the kids play on their own, they don't tend to hang out in a group for some reason, I asked the teachers and they said that this was one of the characteristics of autism: independence and isolation. I'm already learning so much. I will be going every Friday for a few hours. I can't wait to meet more kids and become comfortable with everyone.

Journal 1

I hope to learn many new ways to teach and shine light on children who may not have the opportunity to learn what they should in a overcrowded public schools. I currently tutor now, so I'm excited for the challenge of teaching younger kids. I've volunteered at Westview, a school for children with autism, and that was an amazing challenge. The kids there taught me so much love and patience. I'm hoping to learn something new from the kids I will be tutoring. If I don't get to teach them anything, I hope to at least be a good listener to their needs or a positive presence. Can't wait!