Deep in Autism Country!

While I haven’t read any of the other blogs yet – I can’t help but think that we are all going to have interesting comments about some of the controversial triggers of Autism in young children that we were told about. Panda Kouse, our guest speaker, made some arguments for delaying vaccines  or spreading them out in our infants.  The stacking of vaccines between generations was something that did catch my attention.  It would explain why we continue to see more and more cases of Autism.  As a mother I have to tell you it’s pretty scary when you go to the pediatrician’s office with your 6 month old and the needles come out and keep coming out.  You do wonder just how much this little body – and all my children were less than 5 pounds and 4 weeks early; can absorb all those different kinds of toxins.  As far as the food connection; I must admit that I have chosen to take my family entirely off gluten and we seem to be happier - less trouble with processing our food, less feeling tired and not being able to focus after eating.   While we might have our own opinions on this subject – at least we are discussing Autism!   

Who do I need to Serve?

Who do I need to serve?  A good question and I could just throw out ‘everyone ‘cause I think that is the right answer!  Jesus certainly didn’t differentiate between people and their unique needs but sometimes I can’t help but do that.  I guess I would have to ponder on the thought that having a servant’s heart is learned and not a skill set that we are born with.  Sometimes it takes a purpose of thought to think "serve" in our everyday lives.  I will gravitate toward that person in my life that is the most needing of being served – and unintentionally ignore the quiet peer that is slowly going out of their mind because on the surface they don’t seem to need anything.  I must admit that while I ignore the homeless guy that is holding up a sign asking for help while I am waiting for the light to change - every Thanksgiving my family goes with our church to help in the downtown soup kitchens.   For most people I think it is hard to ask for help and if no one does then we feel like there isn’t anyone or anything that needs to be served.  After all asking for help means that we can’t handle everything ourselves – right???  It’s that perception of weakness.  But as a Christian I know that I can’t do anything on my own – it is only through Christ that I can do all things.  So the next time someone asks for volunteers in the nursery at church I will ignore the fact that I have no time and take a deep breath and go do God’s work and not my own! 

The Shape Culture Takes in Our Classroom

Have you ever stopped to consider the concept of culture and its impact on our daily lives? I think while the word culture is such a small one it incompasses so much to so many such as:  attitudes, actions, behaviors, beliefs, and convictions.  Tollerance in the classroom should be our goal through role modeling, through dialogs with our students, through open acknowledgement of the uniqueness of each and every culture represented in our classroom. 

Things I learned about the Brain

Our brain is like our finger  prints - unique and different!  To think that each time I meet with my students I am changing, growing, and stimulating their brain cells - no pressure!!!!