Brick by Brick...

At the academy, this was a great week. Bonds are forming. Cultures that normally have no contact or if any, is negative, have deepened in understanding and relationship. One of the girls is a Somalian refugee and muslim, and another a Vietnamese montagnard refugee. Earlier in the week, they were required to assist one another with reading. One of a higher level and the other considerably below. It was during this time that they were able to truly connect. You see, it is impossible to hide in our small classroom of five girls. You cannot get looked over when you do not understand or feel like participating. You get zeroed in on. And these two, when paired together, forgot the things that frustrated them and kept them distant from one another, and developed a closer friendship that carried over into lunch and after school, and beyond. (What I need to tell you as background info, is that for the past few weeks we have really struggled with these two. They 'put up a fight' about uniforms, language, participation in PE, etc. The work was hard, they were struggling academically, mentally and socially. They were the two hardest in the room.) It was to all of our delight, when Jacki, our teacher said that they connected. Truly connected! This was the TRUE turn around in the classroom! Walls are being broken down, and lives are being changed!