Persevere

Yesterday was a special day for one of the students I work with at the elementary school.

He was chosen by his classroom teacher to lead the school in saying the Pledge over the loudspeakers during morning announcements.  In our district, all the schools (6 elementary, the junior high, and the high school) all do the Pledge as a student body with the teachers and staff, and then pause for a moment of silence, followed by announcements.  In the school where I work, different children are chosen throughout the year to lead, if they want the role.

Why is this a big deal?? Because......

He is Autistic!  He's  on the autism spectrum (high functioning.....more like Asperger Syndrome) with the classic symptoms of Aspergers:  difficulty with social relationships, a bit clumsy/motor difficulties, repetitive movements.  I cannot tell you his name due to confidentiality laws but......let's just call him A.    

A is very smart in many ways.  He is functioning in an integrated classroom with my all day support and minimal support in the special education classroom to which he goes for about 1 hour a day.  I work with him 1:1 for reading and 2:1 for math.  He is a 2nd grader and I had him in kindergarten 2 years ago.  His type of autism is "high functioning autism" yet he struggles with many things, auditory stimulation being one of them (he does NOT like loud noises or large crowds).  He also has difficulty expressing the appropriate feeling he is experiencing and has trouble "reading" the feelings in another person.  For example, he will often say "angry" when he means "disappointed".

When A's classroom teacher asked him if he wanted to be the person to lead the pledge of allegiance, I threw her a look that implied....."um...not sure about this on today of all days".  He has difficulty with change and there were 2 major changes yesterday:  we were having a celebration for Valentine's Day which meant extra people in the room (a few parents), and his special education teacher was absent.  I work as his (and a couple of other kids) special education assistant.  From past experience, I knew this day was going to be difficult for him.  I wasn't sure about tossing in the role of leading the school in the pledge.  I mean, he rarely is willing to stand up and put his hand on his heart and say the pledge with his class, let alone going to the office and speaking from memory into the microphone over the loudspeaker!

BUT...when the teacher called his name, he said YES!

I decided to follow him and the other classmate, a girl named E, down to the office.  E was going to lead out in the school pledge after our moment of silence.

A stood right next to the music teacher who leads the announcements and said he was ready.  I stood in the office doorway expecting a "meltdown' any minute.

But  A surprised everyone!

He spoke the opening words:  "I come to school" oops.....and then quickly self-corrected:  "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the......"

A loud, clear voice.  All the words spoken correctly.  Standing tall.

And I was so proud of him!!  Everyone in the office congratulated him on a job well done.  In typical A fashion, he asked " are you upset?" We all assured him that we were PROUD of him! That this was a GOOD thing!

He beamed.  The little girl he was with was beaming as well......she had been waiting patiently for her turn to lead out and she also did a great job with the school pledge.  They both were super silent during our moment of silence.

As I watched and listened to A recite, I had a lump in my throat.

I couldn't believe this was the little boy I first met at age 5 who has so much difficulty making it through a day at school (usually).  

And I thought about how we as a team (parents, teachers, therapists, aides, specialists, psychs) have persevered in teaching him. (and other special needs children at the school).  I thought back to when I was teaching preK special needs children and the thrill I  would have when one of my 10 students would take a leap and excel or improve.  I thought how exciting it is to be "just an aide" now and see the daily progress without having to do all the paperwork, lesson planning, IEP writing, documentation.......how I can teach with out the responsibility of the outcome.  Keeping anecdotal recordings is easy......and yesterday's was great:  "A led the school in the pledge of allegiance, independently and appropriately."  Hallejuah!

And I realized that it really does "take a village" to teach these precious children.  And how thankful I am for this opportunity.  How, when we persevere, and all play our part.....that we can see success.   That our hard work...and the child's hard work.....will make us all proud. 

A has many obstacles to overcome.......tomorrow he may not wanna even stand near his chair to recite the pledge.  Tomorrow he may wince and scream at the "noise" of 22 children reciting that pledge.  He may be out of control when at the next large group activity and have to be removed from class.

But....for one day....he was just like any other 2nd grader.....standing tall, speaking clearly.....and making us proud.

What most kindergartners memorize flawlessly with very little effort, has taken him 2 years to accomplish.

He is a 2nd grader who is persevering........sometimes it is in giant leaps and other times it is in baby steps.

But.....isn't that like us in our walk with Christ??

Sometimes we take giant leaps.....bounding in faith......

and other times we hesitate or take baby steps....timid....doubts creeping in.....unsure.....maybe with some kicking and screaming......

Persevere.........

the hard work will make Him proud......