Thoughtful Thursday

I love Thursdays.  I am with my 1st/2nd/3rd group of kids.  They are inquisitive, eager, and excited about learning.  While they need affection, they aren't yet hormonal.  We struggle with transitions because they want to stay longer in a subject, not because they are dreading the next. 

I started our day with a Brainstation called Clue Cards.  Students look at 10 cards with various designs cut into their edges.  They then have to pick with card matches a particular word.  Then you flip the cards upside down and they have to match it to a more complex phrase.  It's logic and flexible thinking strategies.  We had a great time agreeing and disagreeing with each other.

I introducted their choice projects and academic contracts.  The contracts were rough to get through.  These kids don't yet know how to plan for a project in the long term.  I want to stress to them the importance of breaking a big project up into smaller parts so that it doesn't 1)sneak up on you and 2) get frustrating.  They seem excited about their projects.  I hope they turn out well.  They are definitely interestied in the topics so we will see what they come up with.

What I am thinking about today though isn't my instruction so much as the delicate balance between nature and nurture.  We are born a certain way.  Some of us have physical challenges while others have emotional challenges, and still others have mental challenges. 

 I'm a very strong believer in early interventions.  Identifying issues as early as possible and getting kids the therapies that are needed.  Young brains are such an amazing thing.  They grow, make millions of connections.  And by the time they are in the adolescents, have overcome or at least adapted to their challenges.

So where and when do we stop just looking at nature and start to focus on nurture.  Is is a balance of the two?  We are surrounded by the frustrated echoes of, "He has ADHD," or "No meds today".  "She's oppositional defiant".  And all of these said with such defeat.  I'm guilty.  When you have put everything you can into a kid and you still feel like you hit a brick wall. 

But I have seen kids with challenges turn around 360 with the love and attention of parents, friends, family members, teachers, counselors, physical therapists, etc.   These child are the reason we say, "It takes a village."  Adults loving and caring for children with any type of challenge need a network of committed individuals.  No one person will be ALL the difference, but they can be the start of a difference. 

Tonight, I'm thinking of a teenage boy who is struggling with a new diagnosis, new meds, fears, depression.  I hope he knows he has a team of people ready, willing, and able to nurture him...if he will let us. 

I beleive we can accept our nature, chose who we allow to nurture, and consciously decide to become better than we were when we thought we were alone.