Barb

I feel very fortunate to have been able to attend Barb's lecture. So many of her words have stuck with, even now a day later--after only 2 hours of sleep :( Yet, I'm still reflecting on the experience. I keep thinking about the excerpts from her book--how she takes the time to appreciate the rainbow of colors from a droplet of condensation on a cup or how she can feel her hair follicles expanding as she feels the warmth of the sun. This message couldn't have come at a better time for me. I often juggle so many things at once and forget to take time to just..be. 

Barb's words about there being a flip-side to every neurological coin really made me think. So often we jump to medication. Barb urges us to consider the fact that we don't what we are missing if we medicate it away. This made me think about how I will approach this matter in my own classroom. For example, a child with ADHD who can't sit still and wants to move--I should let them move. I want my students to be themselves and be comfortable. If that means standing up while they are taking a test while everyone is sitting because they are more comfortable, that is fine with me. Barb's favorite quote, by Dolly Parton "Find out who are, and be that on purpose"captures the kind of environment I want to have in my classroom. I want to inspire my students to be comfortable in their own skin and enjoy life. 

To do this, Barb suggests that teachers should not be afraid to meet these individuals where they are--get on their level, find out where they are comfortable, be patient, and be open to other communication levels.

What really stuck with me however, is how strong her voice really is. It is clear that Barb is remarkably intelligent, strong-willed, passionate, and equipped with a tremendous sense of humor. In her lecture, she mentioned that without the technology that Stephen Hawking uses, he wouldn't have a voice either.  No one would know. He would have been "another tree falling in the woods for no one to hear." This makes me think about how many other individuals are out there who are disguised as poor thinkers. How many other strong voices are out there? I will always remember Barb's.