The Cowardly Lion

One of the ladies I work with decided that in order to help Sue make it through the week she would give her a stuffed animal to carry around with her. So on Tuesday night she went home and asked her son, Thomas, to let her have one of his toys. Thomas asked why this was necessary and she explained that this child had a rough home life, giving some specifics.

A few minutes later Thomas comes back with a little lion. He said, "It's like the cowardly lion from The Wizard of Oz. It will help her have courage to make it through." Wow! thought the lady, He really gets it!

Sue was not at school on Wednesday, so the lady gave the stuffed animal to Sue on Thursday morning. She told Sue nothing about Thomas and the reasons for the toy, just gave it to her. Sue looked at her and said, "O look! It's my own cowardly lion to help me have courage. You know, like from the Wizard of Oz?"

The lady almost cried.

All day Sue carried it around with her. Yesterday afternoon we created weather podcasts using some laptops I borrowed from the district. The way that the groups worked out made a situation where Sue could work alone like she wanted to. She made her entire weather forecast with "Little Cowardly Lion." They took lots of pictures together and she even has a part where she makes the lion out to be like a real weatherman.