I never thought I would be a teacher,
even if I am an assistant teacher, I am
helping to shape the minds and spirits
of my students.
I teach students with autism, and sometimes
I wish I was like Professor Xavier and that I could read the
minds of the kids I work with, who are a mystery
to me.
I don't have mutant powers, but I do have the
capacity to love. I learned and honed the skills
of listening to my heart at L'Arche, which is
often called the school of the heart.
I do my best to learn the lesson plans and provide
reinforcements for positive behavior, but
mostly as I engage my students I pray a simple
prayer of "Thank you. I love you."
My students are not a cumilation of data, facts,
and their diagnoses. Each one of us including
me has value, because of the breadth of life of the Creator.
Divine presence, may I treat each child with love and
with an open heart, so I may give and receive.
May I teach and be taught lessons of the heart
from my students. Thank you. I love you.
I currently work with children with autism and was a member of L'Arche GWDC for 3 years. More info on L'Arche communities as a whole: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/L'Arche