How do you order from a menu you cannot read to a waiter who cannot speak English? Years ago, while on a visit to Japan, I discovered how the Japanese do it. Many international customers have a common problem—they can't read or speak Japanese! But the Japanese solve it by displaying very lifelike plastic replicas of their dishes—along with the prices—right in the front window. If necessary, the waiter will follow you from your table to the window, so you can point to what you want!
We found the same idea to be true in Taiwan, although it was done on a lesser scale. More than once, we found a McDonald’s and pointed our way to a good breakfast from the English-Chinese picture menu.
So what's my point?
The point is that we begin life thinking in pictures. We recognize things that are visual even when we don't know or can't remember the words that describe them. Later on, we learn to use words to describe things. But some of us have difficulty with language and learn to think in pictures.
What's wrong with that?
Nothing. Ask Temple Grandin. She has Aspergers Autism. In 2010 she was selected as one of Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People. A movie about her life, Temple Grandin, released in 2010, was nominated for 15 Emmys and received five awards, including "Outstanding Made for Television Movie". Read about it here.
In the opening of her book, THINKING IN PICTURES, she says, "Words are like a second language to me. I translate both spoken and written words into full-color movies, complete with sound, which run like a VCR tape in my head. When somebody speaks to me, his words are instantly translated into pictures. Language-based thinkers often find this phenomenon difficult to understand…"
We four-year-olds at the Frankie Lemmon School think in pictures a LOT. (I never grew up!) Some of us are learning sign-language, some of us know a few words, but all of us, to some degree, are visual learners.
What does it mean
to a disabled child
to spend a day at the fair
with friends
with sisters
with brothers
with parents
with teachers
with staff
all together?
What does it mean
to a parent
to spend a day at the fair
with friends
with sons
with daughters
with parents
with teachers
with staff
all together?
What does it mean
to spend a day at the fair
with a child?
with any child?
no time to cry
no time to sleep
no time to sigh
no time to weep
just time to laugh
just time to love
sleep is for later
life is for now
Last Friday, my friends visited Vollmer farm. Lots of chickens, ducks, rabbits and goats. We're still not over it.
All in favor of going back, lift your shaky egg!
So today was kind of a crazy, silly day. Even Board of Directors Kristin Conrad came to watch Miss Paula play her keyboard with a maraca.
Friday, we learned to milk a cow. Today, it was a rubber glove. What's next?
Yes, things were crazy last Friday with the Great Pumpkin Jump, Windmill Mountain, and even the 40-foot underground slide! It was a very nice day but hard to decide between summer and fall clothes. Maybe we should've worn pillowcases for the slide!
Speaking of Fashion (we just can't hold still)…
“Home Shopping Party” Event to benefit
Frankie Lemmon School
Event of the year! Don’t Miss it! Invite Everyone!
Come join us for the 1st annual “Home Shopping Party” event. You will be so excited to shop for birthday, anniversary, thinking of you, Christmas and “just you” gifts! Fabulous items from Tastefully Simple, Leap of Faith Clothing, Classic Tassels & More, Uppercase Living, 31, Stella & Dot, Tupperware, Usborne Books, Pampered Chef, Silpada, Mary Kay, and more!!
Tuesday, November 6, 2012 / 2:30 pm-6:30 pm
Fellowship Hall, Hayes Barton Baptist Church Frankie Lemmon School (919) 821-7436 1800 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27608
Our class themes these past couple of weeks have been apples and farm animals. We all know the usual facts about each: that apples make good eating and cows make good farm animals. But did you know that some apples and some farm animals make good therapy? Here are some lesser known facts that may interest you. (I know they did me!)
Apple therapy
Years ago, apples were used to relieve gout, skin eruptions and nerves. They are so popular around the world that they have all kinds of superstitions and traditions attached to them.
• The peasants of Westphalia used apples mixed with saffron as a cure for jaundice.
• There is also a legend in Devonshire, England, that an apple rubbed on a wart will cure it.
• On Easter morning, peasants in a province of Prussia eat apples to insure against fever.
• The Turks believe that the apples have the power of restoring youth.
Canine therapy
Yes, dogs are farm animals, too. For years, sheep and cattle handlers have used dogs to guard and control their herds; they also pull sleds and carts, track lost animals, even churn butter! And after a day's work, they can rest at the farmer's feet by the fire—therapy for both! Over the years, health care professionals have noticed this therapeutic effect of dogs, such as relieving stress, lowering blood pressure and raising spirits. So the demand for therapy dogs continues to grow. In recent years, therapy dogs have been helping children overcome speech and emotional disorders.
From apples on a TAP∙it®
To apples in a book...
If animals are good therapy,
Then so is Rosie's look.*
That old saying, "an apple a day keeps the doctor away", can also be true of dogs. Therapy dogs can soothe our nerves, relieve our stress and even bring us into a state of reverie—a state of "apple reverie", if you will.
* Our thanks to Jeanne Ressner of Canines for Therapy, for bringing Rosie the beagle to us today. It was very much appreciated!
How do you order from a menu you cannot read to a waiter who cannot speak English? Years ago, while on a visit to Japan, I discovered how the Japanese do it. Many international customers have a common problem—they can't read or speak Japanese! 
But the Japanese solve it by displaying very lifelike plastic replicas of their dishes—along with the prices—right in the front window. If necessary, the waiter will follow you from your table to the window, so you can point to what you want! 
Nothing. Ask Temple Grandin. She has Aspergers Autism. In 2010 she was selected as one of Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People. A movie about her life, Temple Grandin, released in 2010, was nominated for 15 Emmys and received five awards, including "Outstanding Made for Television Movie". Read about it here. 
