Hands & Voices is here to support you and your family as we continue moving through Winter and moving into school break! #TogetherThursday this week and last week were about keeping busy during school breaks, although there is also another message this week. :)
At the end of this year, and really every calendar year around the world, there is a lot of pressure for reflection, for setting new goals, for coming into the new year “stronger”, “better”.
If that is what you are doing for you family, I wish you a wonderful start to your year. If that isn’t what you are doing for your family, I also wish you a wonderful start to your year.
Something I share with families often, and I remind myself as much as I can, especially in 2020: “No Regrets”
Whatever you did this year to get through it, through distance learning, through social distancing, through telehealth visits, through long phone conversations and Zoom calls, doomscrolling and all the emotional ups and downs. Live with your family with no regrets.
Maybe this time next year your journey with your child will look completely different Maybe next year the IEP will decide something that radically changes educational outcomes for your child. Maybe next year everything will be totally different.
That doesn’t mean what you did or are doing now is not, in fact completely right, valid and the right choice for you and your family. That right now, the choices you are making, the choices you made six months ago for activities, communication and school were wrong, its that everything can change, on a dime and 2020 showed us that.
As we move into the last few days of Winter Break, I’ll leave you with a fun reflection activity I used to do in the classroom that you can do with any age, or you can do yourself(I definitely did it for myself):
I called it “6 things I learned this year”: Fold a single sheet of 8 1/2 by 11 inch piece of paper hot dog style, then into thirds. When you unfold it you will have six squares. Using a pencil, pen or any writing/art instrument, in each square write a sentence or word about something you learned this year and draw a picture.
I made mine digitally for you this year. Hope to see yours if you’re willing to share <3
Happy New year,
Together We Can,
Ms. Leslie
[Image description: Gold and Black text on a white background that reads “Wishing you a Sparkling and Happy 2021” with a sparkler image to the left side]