I have spent the last 48 hours traveling to and from Wichita Kansas to participate in a conference hosted by Fundamental Learning Center. It was a long trip but the company was great and the conference was awesome. The best part was the opportunity to collaborate with professionals who are equally as passionate about educating these children. Sadly these professionals are experiencing the same frustrations and road blocks that I am running into. There is comfort in numbers and knowing that these challenges are not unique to me nor are they the result of something I am or am not doing brings a level of comfort. However when I really think about it the 'sameness' of these experiences frustrates me. How can we all be meeting the same brick walls. We are say the same thing, the are working towards the same goal, and yet too many children continue to stubble needlessly. This is not a new movement....providing the right kind of education for children with Dyslexia but there seems to be so much more that needs to be done. One lady I was speaking to during lunch said, "you know the phrase, it's a drop in the bucket? This sometimes feels like I am being asked to drain the ocean with only a teaspoon to use." I have thought of this one comment as we traveled back home and wondered how could we trade the teaspoon for a bucket? How could we combine all of our individual teaspoons so we have a greater impact?
I wish I had the answers but I don't. If any of you have suggestions please feel free to share. What I do know is there are many people working towards the same goal, educational reform. We may never reform the entire system but I know with 100% certainty that I have been a catalyst for educational reform in the lives of specific children. God will continue to reveal to me my role in all of this and I will continue to pray and listen to where he is calling me to go. I will continue to collaborate with others and rely on their strength when I am feeling discouraged. Most of all I will close my eyes and picture the face of the many children who have changed my life because they trusted me enough to give me the opportunity to teach them.
So my message to night is to celebrate the successes that may seem small in comparison to what needs to happen and not get overwhelmed in the challenges that are ahead. This is what I tell my students when we begin working together. There are many educators, therapist, parents, and advocates forcing changes. Change is coming and has happened for many. What role are you going to play in this movement?
I wish I had the answers but I don't. If any of you have suggestions please feel free to share. What I do know is there are many people working towards the same goal, educational reform. We may never reform the entire system but I know with 100% certainty that I have been a catalyst for educational reform in the lives of specific children. God will continue to reveal to me my role in all of this and I will continue to pray and listen to where he is calling me to go. I will continue to collaborate with others and rely on their strength when I am feeling discouraged. Most of all I will close my eyes and picture the face of the many children who have changed my life because they trusted me enough to give me the opportunity to teach them.
So my message to night is to celebrate the successes that may seem small in comparison to what needs to happen and not get overwhelmed in the challenges that are ahead. This is what I tell my students when we begin working together. There are many educators, therapist, parents, and advocates forcing changes. Change is coming and has happened for many. What role are you going to play in this movement?
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