Transformations

Owen (10) recently wrote a blog post on learning to love to read. This was with many, many thanks to Goodwin Learning Centre.

But I wanted to point out what a remarkable transformation this has been.

Owen was definitely struggling in grade three and Brent and I had made a pact early on that if either child was struggling, grade four was when we would intervene. Not only did Owen have trouble with reading but he had an OT for writing and had trouble with the social aspect of school.

Goodwin lifted him up and gave him confidence and encouragement that he was special and that he could do whatever he set his mind to. At Goodwin Owen had 2 exceptional teachers who worked as a team with the 7 students they had. The environment was spacious outdoors (like the 100 acre woods in Winnie the Pooh) and cosy and welcoming indoors. There was a place for everything and everything in it's place. Routines were set and followed and Owen thrived!!

Now we move him to Grenada. We landed on a Monday morning, met with the principal at 2:00 p.m. only to find no uniforms for the boys and very little in the way of direction as to what he needed. So we ran around for the rest of the day getting school clothes and supplies only to collapse in a heap just as the 3 bars across the street started in earnest their loud tribute to the last day of freedom before school started. I believe the music stopped around 3 a.m.

Aiden's class but Owen's is the same colour!

So my boy who likes routine and structure is hurled into chaos and then expected to attend school the next day, and he did. His classroom is somewhere between lime and fluorescent green. There are twenty seven kids crammed into a classroom with one fan that might cool 5 kids if they were really lucky. The classroom is separated by a partial wall to the other grade 5 class, so everything that goes on in that room you hear in his room. The desks do not have anywhere to store personal items and how they get kids and backpacks in that room I have no idea.

Once Owen came home from school after being bullied and didn't want to go back- which is understandable. But the next morning he got his uniform on and headed out the door. Two years ago just the colour of the room would have caused countless complaints and arguments, let alone the noise, crowding, heat... So Goodwin has instilled in Owen skills to cope in a classroom, skills to succeed in a classroom. Not just their peaceful and idyllic classrooms but any classroom.

The two schools could not be more different and without Goodwin I am quite sure we would be heading home early from this placement. My boss, Sister Margaret had been praying for Owen because she knew the only reason I would leave is if the boys were unhappy. Well her prayers are answered Owen has shown a great deal of maturity in dealing with a new culture, a new home and a new school.

I couldn't be more proud of him.