Make Wonders

Yesterday, at the MOE-NCSS Special Education Learning Day, a local artist sang a poem "Make Wonders" which moved me to tears. The poem from what I heard from a fellow teacher was written by an autistic boy in Singapore who has a fear of communicating with people face to face. So he channels his feelings and expresses his thoughts through writing.

It was moving and so inspiring.

"MAKE WONDERS"

If you ever feel alone
Oh I feel it all the time
If you're talking to the walls
Please bear with me

Because I'm different in a world of my own
Because you've chosen to guide me along

If you ever feel so stressed
Oh I feel it all the time
If you find the going's tough
Please think of me

Because I'm different in a world of my own
Because you've chosen to guide me along
I am still trying to make sense of my world, of my world
Help me, you can help me make wonders, make wonders

If you ever feel alone
Oh I feel it all the time
If you're talking to the walls
Please bear with me

Because I'm different in a world of my own
Because you've chosen to guide me along
I am still trying to make sense of my world, of my world
Help me, you can help me make wonders, make wonders

I did not ask to be this way
Help me make wonders

Sometimes, as special needs teachers, we forget why the child behaves in such a way. And no matter how hard you try, the progress seems slow or sometimes nothing. As teachers, we get so stressed up by this and dwell in self pity. This serves as a reminder that these children feels even worse and even more confused of the world they live in.

They try, we know. May Allah protect them and give them the best. I know because He is fair.

A Chameleon is what I wanna be

I've found out that my class allocation for year 2010 will be a functional class. That means my students are higher in cognition. They are teenagers somewhere my age but with an academic level of a primary 1 or 2 child. Definitely, it will be even more exciting and much meaningful to work with a more responsive and verbal special students. A far cry from the severe and non verbal students I am currently working in.

However, it is a great pity to leave them after two terms. I've bonded and seen vast improvement in my students. They are starting to open up and have better eye contact with me when I greet them. They are starting to giggle and laugh at the sound of my voice. And understands the concept of YES and NO out of most attempts. It is terrible if they were to start all over again from square one with the change of teacher. I can't bear to risk that. But He knows best. I can't possibly stick to them forever and have them be too dependent and selective of me. Whatever the reason is, it is for the best I am sure.

I've grown throughout the process too. Speaking to parents, working with colleagues, meeting teachers from the various special schools and most importantly, adapting to each and every student's needs, I don't see myself dragging to work everyday. I start a new day everyday with a mindset of what to achieve for my class today. Even If I am extremely tired, seeing Aidil gallop like a horse around the school hall, having to struggle with Ellin as she grabs my scarf, having to convince Nana to get down the bus as she stubbornly refuses and stopping Gary from chewing pieces of paper from a magazine is a laugh and big tease of the day. Sometimes, I find myself laughing so hard I surprise myself because I never knew I can be so happy and easy about this. I try to take things in stride and learn to adapt like a chameleon.

I am truly happy alhamdulillah.

Tomorrow, I face another challenge of emcee-ing a special event infront of an audience of 1200 at our first of a kind event done by special teachers for special teachers. Its normal to be nervous, but this time, I truly want to do it no matter what. I pray for the best!

Yesterday, mum and I went trekking from Tampines to Changi Village. It was really cool to explore the different parts of Singapore. And I just love Old Tampines Road. Old fashioned houses with rusty gates and white washed out fences. New modern houses with enormous white glass windows and white painted walls hidden amongst "grandfather" trees. I call them the "grandfather" trees because they all look like they were bending and they seem to have long white beards. And I love it when the trees are aligned very nicely along the small road like soldiers guarding the area. Simply peaceful and charming.

Even with the peace and serenity, the placed seemed sad at the same time when you walk along Changi prison and the drug rehabilitation centre. As I am free to go anywhere you want, there are others who desperately wants to get out and see the flowers and sunshine. Then I can't help but feel more appreciative of things around me, of how blessed I am. I feel contented and thankful of what Allah swt has given me.


My attempt of doing a bollywood scene. But I think it looks plainly as if I was just hugging the trees. Oh wells, it is my way of showing that I love His creations. Hehe.


Mum's tired.


Love the house behind the "Grandfather" tree.

After which, we decided to do a "Go Green Campaign" at Ikea. It was weird though because we weren't doing it on purpose. Only after we went back home and look through the pictures that we realised we were somehow promoting going green. Haha.


Huda touches the curtain and says GO GREEN!


Mum says SAVE THE EARTH and GO GREEN!


Huda says REDUCE REUSE RECYCLE and GO GREEN!

Appreciate His creation, respect His creation, use His creation wisely. Use it in the way of Allah.

"Mischief has appeared on land and sea because of (the meed) that the hands of men have earned, that Allah may give them a taste of some of their deeds: in order that they may turn back (from Evil)." (Ar-Rum:41)

"And We have not sent you but as a mercy and blessing to the worlds." (Al-Anbiya:107)