Friday, November 11, 2011

'Tis the Season to Think of Others

It is hard to believe that the holidays are right around the corner, with that said.....This is the time of year to reflect on the importance of family & friends.  It is also a time of year to try and give back to your community.  What does it mean to give back? Should I involve my children? Who do you give back to?

Giving back is simply bringing joy to another person. Giving back is a wonderful experience that should include the entire family. You decide who to give back to and in what ways to give (it does not always involve money).  Let me share an inspirational story with you...

I will never forget the looks on my students faces when we adopted a family for the holidays.  I was teaching in a Life Skills class in a middle school setting.  We needed money for assistive technology (that was not warranted in the students I.E.P's, but could be beneficial), field trips, and various curriculum to enhance learning, so, I decided to set up a fundraiser right before the Thanksgiving break, also a perfect time to give back to our community. 

It was an amazing lesson (took about 3 months from start to finish) because the students were in charge of everything.  They were responsible for ordering items for the sale (Oriental Trading Co.), advertising, checking the inventory when it arrived, setting up the fundraiser in the schools main lobby and working at the fundraiser (greeter, cashier, bagger) for two days before Thanksgiving break. The entire school participated and classes came down to purchase items and my students finally gained approval, they were accepted by their typically developing peers and the general education teachers saw what they are capable of (the sky is the limit). I am happy to report that every item was sold and we raised over $1,300. 

Now, what were we going to buy? We discussed our plans over a pizza party (they deserved it).  While talking we also discussed ourThanksgiving plans and one student said, "isn't it sad some people don't have families or money for holidays" and it dawned on me, we were going to give back by adopting a family for the holiday's. We were able to adopt a family of 5 and we received their wishlist (mostly necessities...).  As a class we created shopping lists and went shopping on a fieldtrip to Walmart to purchase the items.  Another great lesson, reading prices, picking out the right sizes, being socially appropriate in the community, making the purchase...The next day, we wrapped all the items and I deliverd the gifts to the organization where we adopted the family from.  Reflection is something I reinforced in the classroom so, of course we reflected about the whole process...

The responses from the students about what they got out of this lesson was overwhelming to me (and I am a firm believer in raising the bar and making individuals with disabilities realize what they are capable of) and the feelings that they expressed truly were astonishing. They felt part of their community in school and in the town, they felt so happy to help others in need, and they truly understood the power of giving to others. The same student who sparked the idea, said upon leaving for winter break, "when I wake up on Christmas I am going to feel so happy because I know that family is going to have a nice day because of us."  So, with that being said, get out there and give back to your community!

"There is no better way to thank God for your sight than by giving a helping hand to someone in the dark." Helen Keller
                                                                                                                                    
http://www.skillfulsquad.net/
WAYS TO GIVE BACK...
http://static.reecesrainbow.org/angeltreekids/
Toys of Hope, 631-271-TOYS (Warm Coat Drive)
Local Churches
Charitable Organizations
Volunteering your time
Helping someone out
Giving a smile