What a whirlwind!
I admit to feeling apprehensive to starting these reflections. So much happens in a day, it feels like an impossible task to try to capture the experience. I’m also struggling with knowing that my reflections are being evaluated, but with seemingly no criteria. I wanted to acknowledge the resistance I was feeling around this project before starting.
The name of this practicum session is “Developing Relationships with Children.” By this point I feel confident that I have formed at least a small connection with each of the 16 children in the Sage room. With some of the children, like F, it took time – it wasn’t until right before I left on Wednesday that we had an interaction where he didn’t ignore me, although he still hasn’t spoken to me. Each time a connection forms, it feels like a gift.
In our Child Guidance class, we learned the importance of spending time with children before a conflict occurs, if we know a certain child is needing guidance often. By keeping this in mind, I have gotten to form strong connections with children who are generally considered to need special help or extra attention. Some are on Individual Care Plans and some are not, and some are in the process of having one written. They are all amazingly smart, caring children. I love spending time with them and learning together. It is a privilege.
Before leaving on Wednesday afternoon, I had the pleasure of speaking with G’s parents about how sweet their son is. G is on a Care Plan; our goal for him is to interact more often with others, and with less conflict. I learned that he speaks Spanish to himself while playing alone. I have been learning Spanish for years, but my oral skills are poor. I practice small phrases to use with him: “G, mi amigo!” “G, mírame, por favor. I need you to wash your hands for snack time, please.” (Look at me, please). I have learned that G enjoys physical reassurance, which no one had told me beforehand. One nap time I was asked by Teacher A to sit by G at his bed. He was moving restlessly. I was told he never sleeps. I sat at the head of his bed. I tried rubbing his back. He moved away from my hand. I stopped. I sat. After some time, he snaked his hand out and laid it on my knee. I carefully put my hand on his – he held on to my thumb. He kept moving on his bed, but kept his hand where it was, and eventually settled down. He murmured to himself in Spanish. I felt immense privilege. Teacher M came to tell me I could go on my lunch break. “Did you get G to sleep???” She asked incredulously. I said no, he was still awake. I told her I would go in a few minutes. I wanted to honor the connection we had made. I needed time to form my next sentence in my head: “G, tengo que ir para mi almuerzo” (I have to go for my lunch). He thought for a second. “Sí.”
After I started incorporating Spanish into my interactions with G, he has sought me out throughout the day for hugs and for various assistance. I think our shared language has helped us create a closer relationship than he has with some of the other educators. I say this with no judgement towards the educators of Sage room and with no pride in my achievement. As I mentioned above, I have been paying special attention to children who seem to really benefit from the extra attention, and this is very difficult to achieve in a classroom setting when the children don’t have support staff. Br and Be have a support worker, S, and as a result I have not found myself having much of an “in” with them. That is to say, when I find that I am alone and looking around the classroom/play area, I am typically looking for children who do not have an adult around them. So, when children have a support worker assigned to them I will not engage much unless we are in a larger play area with many more children. This is how I end up spending time with the “loners.”
So much more to say, so little time…. I feel a little lost around the parameters of these reflections. I have lots of thoughts around things affected outside of the time spent at the center, but I don’t know if they belong here.
Long story short: migraines / chronic pain 3 : Karolina 0