The Science Fair Project

So I really hadn't decided exactly what to blog about today.  I am making dinner, well hot dogs.  Those barely count as dinner.  They are the "I have NOTHING left to cook in the house except a can of pork N beans that have been in the pantry since I moved into this house 4 years ago." Anyway, back to my story, I was talking to Matthew and he was asking about school.  I said it was fine like I always do ( I REALLY try not to bore him with the happenings of the elementary school).  He said "Really?" I had a long day and really nothing exciting happened...or even funny.  He said ok and went back to the tv.  I went to the computer and saw the word GOOGLE and I started laughing.  
Here is why...

If you are an elementary teacher or the parent of an elementary student you know that it is time for the science fair.  I was in the computer lab with a couple of students who were finishing a test.  A fourth grader came in and said, "Ms. Lamoreaux can I use a computer for my science fair project?"  I said sure.  He stood there for a moment looking a little confused.  I asked him what he was doing for his science fair project.  In a really long explanation, that I will not torture you with, he was going to compare laundry detergent.  I said, "Ok, so what do you need the computer for?" And he said, "I need to look up the research." Ummmm, what?  He proceeded to tell me that he needed to get on Google and find out the answer for science fair project.  I told that he has to do the project.  At home. Without the computer.  His response, "Why do I need to do that?  Google has all the answers"

Touche' Touche'

Out of my Mind

 

Every year I try to read 5 of the bluebonnet nominees so I can vote with the kiddos at school. I think it is important for them to see their teachers reading. So, I am reading Out of my Mind by Sharon Draper. Colleen Hicks said that all techers should be required to read this and I agree. But I also think that everyone should read it. Children AND adults with disabilities are still people. They have feelings and just because they don't speak or look "cute or groomed" doesn't mean they deserve any less love or compassion. I use to be a special education teacher and loved every minute of it. It was never a dull moment. It was hard. So many days go by and the "light switch" never comes on. But then that one magical day...there are no words to express how you feel. Parents come in and cry because of the things that their child is doing in the classroom that they didn't know they could do. And in your head you think, "Really, you're excited about this? THis isn't on their IEP?" You never know what a difference you make. As I am typing this I think of some of those kiddos that I dreaded having in my class. Not because they were not "cute" or "well groomed", but because of how difficult they could be. I am being reminded that they may scream or "act out" because they don't like something and they don't have the words to tell you. So the next time you are around a child, or an adult, that has special needs ask them their name, ask them how are they doing, treat them like a human being. You never know what they understand. You will never know how much that means to that child and maybe more importantly their parent.