![]() He does not give up even through temptation. He does not defend himself to Pontius Pilate. I hear his anguish in the garden of Gethsemane. The pain He experiences, emotionally and physically to complete the journey – who else could endure it? I read his loving words to the people. He prays for the Father’s will to be done. My mind shifts to my Savior, sent on a mission. “I will not give up.” Come on, just a few more steps. So hard to keep going when it looks like failure. So hard to keep going when it all seems in vain. So hard to keep going when you can’t see the future. Remember – “I will not give up.” This is so hard you all. Even if you fail, it is about the journey and the discoveries you make along the way. Say it again, “I will not give up.” Keep going, there’s only a few more steps. When you are down, ready to quit – try saying, “I will not give up.” Continue through the struggle. Later as I thought about that experience, I told myself – now if YOU could only do the same. My heart was full as I left for home that afternoon. This was the kind of experience you dream of as a teacher, being able to witness an outcome of your teaching. ![]() We had talked about persistence, frustration, and about not giving up. That little boy saw it through to completion telling himself not to give up. He made the decision to build that vehicle following a set of instructions. No one told him he had to build it, no one told him he needed to do it on his own. ![]() He was motivated, motivated to accomplish that task. I loved the self-talk that took place that afternoon – “I will not give up.” We made a big deal of the fact that he kept trying. It’s not easy to keep going when things get tough, when things are hard. It was a proud picture of accomplishment! His smiling face was next to the vehicle he had constructed. His mom later sent me a picture of the completed vehicle which he finished on his own. So, we marked his page and he took it home. He was still working when his mom arrived to take him home. I will not give up.” And that sweet boy continued to construct and did not give up. I heard the little boy quietly say, “I will not give up. I walked the room, observing the children as they played. He said that he wanted to put it together all by himself. I told him if he needed any assistance, I would be happy to help. I was amazed at how well he was doing: looking at each page, following the diagrams on each picture, building on his own. A little boy at York Academy of Discovery sat quietly, following a booklet of Lego instructions as he built a Lego vehicle (a street sweeper). It was a windy day, and as we completed our journey, leaves continued to blow and float and dance around us. One of the kids said, “It’s okay, the leaf is already flat, so the cars won’t hurt it.”Īnother child chimed in, “Well, it’s okay – the leaf can come alive again and float up into the sky. They worried that it would get run over by the cars. The kids were sad that the leaf was in the road. ![]() We loved the leaf, and the leaf loved us.Īs we continued our journey back, we noticed a leaf blowing in the wind. What a silly leaf! We liked the leaf it was our friend. I replied, “If that leaf came alive it would fly up and pinch Emmalynn’s nose.” (The kids laugh.) “Then,” I continued, “it will fly to Uri and pull on his ear.” (More laughter) “Last, it will fly to Kinlei and tickle her toes.” One of the children noticed a leaf and said, “What if that leaf came alive?” We were walking back to York Academy of Discovery, holding hands, and looking at the nature around us. We had just finished playing on the playground. And most of all – it provides an opportunity for parents/guardians to share in the joy of reading. It also helps to establish a home “library”. Providing books for our kids brings excitement in receiving new books. These books are purchased by York Academy of Discovery funds (provided by donations), just another way that we support all children and families in our program. Every month ALL children receive two brand new books that they are allowed to take home and keep. So, as we began York Academy of Discovery, I decided that our program would purchase books for each of our children. I felt such pride as I was able to receive a new book just like the other kids.Īs I became a teacher, I watched the same scenario unfold with some of my students. Every so often, my mom would gather coins together so I could select a book. Each month I would watch as kids eagerly looked through their purchased books. I remember the envy I felt as the other children in my classroom received books that they had ordered from the monthly book club.
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