Settling In

As I've mentioned before, I'm pretty slow to publish posts on here. I always think I have to have something HUGE and IMPORTANT to say in order to make it worth my, and your, time. I know, however, that there are a (very important) few of you who check this site often, looking for updates, and so I'm going to suck it up and just write down something, so you know how I'm doing, as well as what the kids are up to.

Tiny Lights, the group for 4-9 year olds that meets on Fridays, has been especially fun so far. I had mentioned before that I would be in charge of discipline, but that extremely important role has fallen instead to the very capable, and oh-so-wonderful, Miss Nancy. That's her on the left there, flashing the peace sign. (You should also know the two other ladies, as they are also a couple of my favorite people. The one in the middle is Miss Johnson, who drives the vans to and from our programs. She is HILARIOUS, and wonderful with the kids. On the right is Miss Brown, who helps us do various things, including sometimes driving the van. She rarely talks, but this summer she surprised me by telling me that she liked me a lot, and that I was "beautiful inside". She said she can tell those things. It nearly made me cry.) Miss Nancy is EXTREMELY effective at the role of disciplinarian; she knows just the right mix of toughness and love.

So I am now the "point-person" for Tiny Lights - which means I keep track of the time (telling kids when to switch stations), and keep a look out for how groups are going and which ones need more help. It's a lot of fun for me, because I get to see and talk to all the kids, and get to spend one-on-one time with those that I think really need it. Lately, I've been spending a good amount of time with Lee-lee (a nickname, not her real name; that's her and me to the left), who at 4 is the youngest in our program. She's adjusting to being here, and that adjustment is a little rough on her. She cries much easier than the others, and is quick to be intimidated by the older kids. It's been interesting, though, because S., who used to be our youngest student, has taken Lee-lee under her wing, and sticks up for her all the time. This has been wonderful to see, and the friendship being formed between the two of them is, although I hate to use this word too often, precious. Lee-lee gets strength from S., and S. is learning a little more about caring for other people through Lee-lee. I love watching that happen.

I'm also working at homework club for younger kids, which meets Monday-Thursday. Basically, it is a time for the kids to finish their homework (hence the name), and, when they are done, do fun things like Game Cube (no Mortal Combat here-only Mario Cart and other, similarly harmless, games), drawing, science experiments, journalism, etc. I was, originally, supposed to do science with the kids (and thank you to Connie G., for your very thoughtful tips. I sent them on to the new science lady), but we have discovered that I have something of a gift for one-on-one tutoring, so I am sticking to that. I really do love doing it, but I have been SO FRUSTRATED by the lack of education that these kids are getting.

One of our children, T., has been especially difficult to help. Yesterday, she had a work-sheet in which there was a series of letters. Her task was to fill in the missing letter. For example, there would be "TU_", and she was supposed to fill in "V". Or there would be "D_F", the blank, of course, being an "E". This girl had ABSOLUTELY no idea how to do this. She is in first grade. I spent the entire 2 hours helping her figure it out. (The picture to the right is of T. with her finished worksheet. You can't see it, but she has filled in the blank spots. She was very proud, and wanted her picture taken with her accomplishment.)

Now, I do not think T. is the average student. In fact, after working with her for a while (she was also in my small-group this past summer), I have become convinced that she has very serious learning disabilities. She is the sweetest thing, but is existing in her own little world, which bears very little resemblance to the real one. I have been convinced that she is actually unable to pay attention most of the time (and I am NOT one to jump to the conclusion that a kid has ADD or ADHD - I think that diagnosis has been thrown around WAY too liberally, and too many kids - and adults for that matter -have been put on medication, when the real problem is that their teachers and parents simply do not want to spend the time necessary to work with them). The tragedy is that she is being shuttled through the school system, and no one is recognizing her need for extra care. She is not learning, but no one seems to mind. They will just keep sending her on to the next grade, until she graduates without even knowing the alphabet.

This makes me incredibly angry. T. is one of my favorite students - so sweet, always wanting to give me a hug, and so proud when she actually accomplishes something academic. The DC school system is robbing her of any chance at a normal life by ensuring that she receives no education.

The majority of our kids are not getting a good education. I don't think any of them are really prepared to compete when it comes to things like applying for college or a job. T. is the most severe case I have, but she is by no means the only one. I have no idea what to do for them, either. I do not have the training to determine what their needs are, or the time necessary to catch them up to where they should be. I feel impotent half the time. The only thing I know how to do with T. is, day-by-day, help her accomplish one thing, and give her all sorts of praise when she does it.

Now would be a good time to also tell you about a student who I feel has an enormous amount of potential. She has the same name as T., but is way beyond her as far as academics are concerned. I don't know how she is excelling the way she is, considering she is in the same school as the rest of my kids, who are almost all struggling a great deal. Her own sister, in fact, is far behind her, even though she is a couple grades above. The only help this T. needs with her homework is a check when she is done, and a pat on the back, which she really craves. I think, given the opportunity, she could make it really far in life. I'm hoping she gets into a good charter school or something, and makes it to college. I do not know her mother (she doesn't have a father around), but I think it will be in large part up to her whether or not T. makes it. If her mom is supportive, she will go far.

I also wanted to take a minute to let you know about one of the wonderful people I work with - Mijin (that's her in the above picture with two of our boys at homework club). She is fabulous with the kids - she is the epitome of fun and always has a ton of energy. She is also an incredibly talented violin player, and speaks I don't know how many languages. I am so glad that she is at Little Lights, as I have been hoping for someone I can be good friends with here (in addition to my awesome roomate and co-worker, Jen, who I am ALWAY thankful for). Mijin shares many interests with me, and makes killer fried eggplant.

So.....that's all I have time for now. I have so many more stories to tell, but they will have to wait. I just want all of you to know, however, how blessed I feel to be in this job. I live in a city that worships achievement; those who go to college in the Ivy League, those who have advanced degrees, those who work on K street - these are the ones who everyone envies. But I am convinced that I have the best job out of all of them, and I need to thank God for that more often than I do. These children, as much as they try me and wear me out, are so loved by God, and are such treasures to Him, that I should be always thankful that he has given me even a small part to play in their lives.