More from Ms. Logan: Life with Noah in the Classroom - Part 2

If you have followed us for a while, you already know that Noah’s middle school years were made bearable by an incredible team of teachers, staff, and administrators who loved him fiercely and guided him patiently. Ms. Logan and Miss K were two of the best, but truly the whole crew made middle school survivable, for both Noah and his parents. What would any of us do without people like them who show up for our children every single day? They surely do not get paid what they are worth, but they do it anyway, and that is something special.

Here is more from Ms. Logan on her time with Noah, and a few of the moments that kept her on her toes and laughing along the way.

What is something Noah did that made you stop and think, “Well, I did not see that coming”?

Noah is quick, sneaky, and spontaneous! From hiding markers in his pockets, to eating our finished recipe before we even had a chance to admire it, to ordering and consuming multiple meals at lunch, his soft pretzel record was three, he never failed to surprise us.

One day he even stuffed a bowling ball under his shirt to pretend he was pregnant like I was. I could not help but laugh. Noah’s weeks were filled with “wow, I did not see that coming” moments!

If you had to give survival tips to the next teacher, helper, or sitter, what wisdom would you share?

Always think five steps ahead of Noah. That skill comes with time, but it is crucial. Stay on your toes, because the moment you lower those heels, Noah will find a way to surprise you, sometimes in the best way, and sometimes in the “well, that escalated quickly” way.

Make it fun. The buy-in is the secret. Noah, like most students, wants to have fun and be engaged. And most importantly, enjoy every moment, even the chaotic ones. I truly miss seeing and teaching Noah every day.

What memory of Noah always makes you smile (or shake your head) when you think of it?

Choosing one is nearly impossible!

I will never forget Noah arriving for the Valentine’s dance, absolutely glowing with excitement to show off his outfit and perfectly styled hair.

Or the time during our school-wide dance day in Phys. Ed. class. I joined in with Noah, not realizing his main goal was to spin me nonstop. I still do not know how he avoided getting dizzy, I had to take several breaks just to stay upright!

And of course, there was the ant lesson. I decided to make it more fun by wearing homemade ant antennae and finding an interactive video. Going with the flow and giving Noah some control while modeling the desired task worked beautifully. Once he was engaged, I could fade the support and watch his independence grow.

Every memory with Noah reminds me that laughter, flexibility, and creativity are often the best teaching tools.

To see some of the moments Ms. Logan shared come to life, visit us on Facebook and watch the video of Noah’s middle school adventures. From hallway concerts to dance floor spins, it is a perfect glimpse of the joy, laughter, and love that filled those years. Be sure to follow us on Facebook for more stories, pictures, and plenty of Noah moments that will make you smile.