This week was the second week for me and Ammar to spend our weekend (Saturday) together after I initiated the idea of separating the classes for both Ammar and his younger brother, Aqil.

It was somehow essential for me to take the step as I came to a dead-end with my teaching having both of them seated at the same time. Ammar, who is an autistic child, lacks vocabulary although he reads and writes well, whilst Aqil, who is just 8 years old needs normal education where his grammar concerns me the most. As the classes started, I began to feel the huge difference for both of them.

The first class with Aqil was so fruitful. I had the time to see what Aqil is capable of giving during the lesson. His English proficiency is very good for an eight-year-old boy. He giggles at his every achievement and yes, he smiles a lot yet remains his focus to the tasks at hand. Feedback was given by his parents saying that Aqil finds the class on his own was a good experience for him.

Yesterday was my second class on the weekend with Ammar. I was nearly off track for looking forward too much on continuing what we did the previous week before I realised that there is still somethings from the book that I have to cover. So, as usual, I will take Ammar to the playground for a 5-minute warm-up where he can play any equipment in the open gym before I give him his tasks.

I am often fascinated by any of my students at this point, Ammar has no exclusion for that. Just as I began to see him walk from one equipment to another, I realised I was smiling at him. The view was so satisfying. Then again, for my own personal record, I grabbed my phone to snap a few shots.

That was just a few seconds when I then realised that I stopped and looked at him with my naked eyes. Ammar stepped onto the same equipment he asked me to show him how to play with it last week. It was not the choice that had me stumble but it was the view itself. I saw that Ammar swung better on the equipment than last week. I saw his face cracked a smile and then he muttered things to himself with a lot of joy.

I put down the phone. There are some views to enjoy, some views to keep as memory – this one was to enjoy and cherish in the moment itself. He swung and swung himself. At this point, he did not call me for help, neither did he call me to look at him. I guessed he was so immersed into his own triumphant.

That single view is still in my mind making me feel glad and happy from time to time. I felt lucky I had put down the phone to just witness and realise how much potential every child holds in themselves.Thinking back, should I not asked to have Ammar and Aqil be separated, probably I do not see them as two individuals with great potentials in each other. Wallahualam.

I am quite unsure of how much Ammar actually loves the class to be outdoor although he always says the class outside is much better than inside. Nonetheless, I hope to see more of satisfaction in his face whenever he manages something. As of me, I am happy at even the smallest achievement he gets.

Would you like to share your good times when any of your special need children / students? Drop me your views and opinions in the comment area.

P/S: This article was read and approved by Ammar’s father before being published. Any kinds of resharing deserves an acknowledgement and permission.