Being the Best Me and Learning to Push through my Challenges
By: Jonah
I always make myself a healthy breakfast in the morning. I usually have oatmeal with bananas and scrambled egg whites. I notice that I need to do a little bit more than some other kids do to get through the day. I struggle sometimes to concentrate at school. I get tired and need a lot to eat throughout the day and I need breaks from listening. With my hearing, I have to work hard to hear everything well even with my hearing aides. I have to hear through others talking and noises going on. My hearing aides work through vibrations in my head and I feel it through my whole body. That makes me tired more and my body feel a little tired too. I go to another classroom with my special ed teacher to have sensory breaks. When I’m having a rough day from being sick or not getting enough sleep or having a hard time feeling calm in my body, it’s something I have to work through. Once in a while I have really awesome days. When I get lots of sleep and a great breakfast and find my calmness in the morning, this helps me.
My sensory breaks at school are different for when I need different feelings or if I’m sick or having a rough day. Sometimes I can ride a low bike in the hallways, take a quick long walk around in school, go on a swing, have quiet calm time, play no-stress chess with a friend or teacher, eat a snack, use a sensory sock or heavy weighted blanket, and other things. I go to a really good school. They are helping me learn to work through my frustrations and feelings about my challenges. It’s been harder to do schoolwork as it’s gotten harder and I’ve gotten older. It seems so easy for some kids to just sit at their desk and listen and work. I just have to do things differently to be the best me and learn. The past two years I’ve had some bad behavior like yelling and hitting because things just feel so hard. Im learning that I need to find better ways to push through or take breaks. To be a good friend and student, I need to be safe and respect others too.