It's working.
Justin and I have taken another new approach to teaching our 5th and 6th graders. Since we had issues with them fighting we are starting a segment on teamwork and friendship. When I worked at Camp Galilee, I was trained to facilitate a ropes course. Along with this training came some basic off course challenges. We used one of these exercises Monday morning--the helium pole. After a bit of arguing, they figured out a system, and actually worked together to complete the task. That was the first time I had seen them come together like that it. It was beautiful.
Today we started watching the movie "The Goonies' and they are LOVING it. Justin and I originally wanted them to watch the Sandlot and have been combing the area trying to find it, but couldn't find it in time. The Goonies is great though, and definitely speaks to our theme of teamwork and friendship. Great stuff. We are going to have them watch the Sandlot at some point though. We really want them to learn more about baseball.
Speaking of baseball, there is now a team with a few of our boys on it playing here on our field on Saturdays. I didn't go last Saturday, but I heard it was rough-- I'm assuming some of the boys have never played before. I plan on being their this Saturday and the following Saturdays though. Maybe some of the other interns would want to make matching shirts with me. We could make our own little cheering section. That would be so fun!
It's hard for me to remember everything that happened yesterday and today but it's been mostly good. The weather has been cooler and rainy, but I'm not complaining! It's put everyone in a much better mood. . . except for Terrence.
I had to drag Terrence to the office today because he was causing problems at nap time. When I say drag, I mean it. He had his heels planted in the ground and I had his wrists and was literally pulling him across the parking lot. I let go of him two times because he said he could handle it , and that he could walk on his own (he's going to be in 4th grade and is entirely too old to be behaving that way... and to be in nap time)and he RAN away from me. I chased him once. That was dumb. He wanted me to chase him. Needless to say, I'm learning a lot from kids like Terrence. He can be a really sweet kid,but also quite the rascal. Apparently he's not usually a huge troublemaker. Something must be up.
When some of the kids act up I wonder is something is wrong at home, or if they have some problem they are facing. With a few of them it's pretty obvious. The kids haven't talked about home much, but in some ways that's good. I don't want them to have to think about home while they are here, though I'm sure many do.
This all brings me back to something Tasha mentioned to me Sunday when Kate, Kellie, and I were venting to her about our week. Tasha lives in our house on weekends and is working at a different camp Monday thru Friday. She lives at our house throughout the year,and has worked with our kids a lot. She told us to remember to be different to these kids than the rest of the world has been to them. Though we don't know what they are going through, we have to remember to approach them with love and compassion, because we may be the only positive thing they have. I think about that off and on all day, every day. I love these kids so much, and I hope they can see that.
Tonight we had BBQ at this really sketchy place in the hood , but it was delicious! Once again, I'm loving being with a decent sized group of people.Keeps me safe! Most of the interns and some of the staff went, so there were somewhere around 10 of us.
As always, I have more to say but have to sleep. If you are reading this, there is a very good chance I'm missing you right now. I hope everyone's summer is going well!
Love,
LH
