Brandon's Discoveries

In the summer of 1997 I was working as a preschool teacher at a local child care center. One of the children in my classroom was 4-year old Brandon. He had minimal language capabilities and explored everything. He still wore pampers and did not engage with other children. I witnessed him in parallel play periodically. When the class groups were together in the common areas, many of the other teachers at the child care center laughed at Brandon and said he would never learn.
I, on the other hand, had my own ideas. A child not learn - not possible. I made it a priority of mine to talk with Brandon and encourage engagement often throughut the day. I stood back and observed him so that I could learn where he was and what his capabilities were. In short conversations with his mom, a single mother of 2, I found out that Brandon's older brother learned at a slower pace. At this time in my career, I was not aware of community resources as far as assessments go, and let's just say the center director was not an involved, engaged director.
Over the summer, Brandon made improved and grew by leaps and bounds. I continued to plan activities that kept Brandon's interest. During outside time, I made sure I checked in with him and talked to him about what he was doing. One day he dug up a worm and was playing with it, what a teachable moment. The other teachers were amazed that by the end of the summer Brandon was almost potty trained and talking to others. Although he did not have long conversations with peers, Brandon was speaking words and making sentences. Something he was not doing just 2 short months before.
I think of Brandon often and wonder how is he doing. He would have graduated high school this year. I am hopeful that my inentional practices over that summer gave Brandon the boost he needed to be successful in his school career.
I am reminded of the saying: To Teach is to Touch a Life Forever.