We are wonderfully indistinguishable

I love to travel. It is because of my travels that I have made a wonderful and personal discovery that the practices people undertake all over the world are not wrong, just different. Assuming they are wrong assumes that I am right. And there is no evidence to substantiate that.

Our neighbors all over the world are not that different. As I have learned that, I have also learned that neither are our neighbors who make more or less socioeconomically, those who are darker or lighter than us, those who live in different neighborhoods, who have more or less education, etc. We are not that different...if we take the time to look, see, and get to know each other.

Each one teach one

As I walked through the After-School Academy I saw several things going on. One group was building with legos. One group was working on homework. A few were at the computers playing educational computer games. It's been my dream that the kids in the After-School Academy become independent learners. Walking through, I couldn't help but think that is quickly becoming a reality.

As I walked out the door to the elevator I saw the scene in the picture above.

Ladaysha (3rd grade) was quizzing Hakim and Jaden (both 1st grade) on their spelling words while they casually molded play-doh. I loved it! They weren't stressed. They weren't sitting uncomfortably in wooden chairs hating homework. Instead, they nonchalantly took turns spelling. If they mis-spelled a word, Ladaysha kindly pointed out their mistake, reminded them how to spell it correctly, asked them to re-spell it, and moved on to a new word. It couldn't have been a more beautiful scene!

Independent learners.

Painless and stress-free learning opportunities.

Older students helping younger ones.

Everyone plays a role in progress.

Thanks, Danielle, for making the After-School Academy where this can happen!