46. progress

The nice thing about not having many children present in the classroom, is that the not so  fast children now have much more opportunity to have their say.

Richmond, for example, never knows the answer to a question in the circle: not what day it is, not what song is next. But now that the "screamers," who always know an answer, aren't there, Richmond knows! And he suddenly speaks much more clearly.

Priscilla (volunteer during her holidays) and Kojo heard Tina talk! That is progress! Unbelievable! When Tina first came, she was always singing. The text was; 'jaijai-jaijai'. She would sing very loudly. For her, that meant a bit of safety: ‘when I sing loudly, I know I'm there, and that it's safe, something like that’. Now she says she doesn't want something. Not always (I really haven't heard it yet), but she's starting to feel safer!

Apatawen, the youngest of 4 years, doesn't talk either. We know about him that he can talk very well, because he tells exactly what is happening at school at home. But in class you only hear him when his car is in danger of being taken away. He then 'screams', very softly, but the message is very clear. Since this week he has been calling me! Wow! I suddenly hear, also very softly, but still: 'Madam!'

What progress we are making! Slowly, but steadily! Yippee!