Summer school felt like a grind this year. My job was to implement intensive small group literacy instruction with struggling kindergarten students. I worked with seven groups of three kids, back-to-back, for 3 ½ hours. I pushed myself hard to fully prepare each lesson so that sessions would click along quickly and transitions between each group would take only a minute or two. All that prep required many extra hours. As much as I enjoyed the children, I felt burned out. I began to regret spending most of my summer working.
Yesterday I started formally evaluating students. One little boy, Jacob, began the summer refusing to even point at a word and he said things like, “I don’t want to read. I don’t like it.” When I assessed Jacob on Monday he said, “I can really read now!” and “I think my reading muscles grew!” I needed to hear him say those words as he smiled and looked like he could climb a mountain. I needed to see that candle flicker in his eyes as he sat tall in his chair. I needed to watch him skip down the hallway in his flip flops announcing to every passerby, “Hey, I got smarter!”
I am in awe of your work ethic and enthusiasm. I find I need the break in the summer to clear my head, begin to prepare for the fall, and to just be me...not Mrs. Brown.
ReplyDeleteI love your enthusiasm. Unlike you, I need to take the summer break for me...to be me...not Mrs. Brown.
ReplyDeleteOh, he's so proud of himself. What a gift you gave him this summer!
ReplyDeleteAnd you should be proud of yourself too. You helped him to view himself as a capable reader.
You're right--that's why we all do it. Those little moments when a student confirms that we made a difference. Your passion for teaching the little ones comes through in this piece, but I especially love the last line, "I needed to watch him skip down the hallway in his flip flops announcing to every passerby, “Hey, I got smarter!”
ReplyDeleteLet his words echo in your mind whenever you begin to feel a little burned out. Jacob and many others were the lucky ones to land on your list this summer.
ReplyDeleteHe just found out he's not a dummy, thanks to you! He was afraid he was...
ReplyDeleteThank you for being there and doing what you do.
I know the main point of your story is about Jacob, but wanted to tell you how amazed I am that you taught 7 groups back to back! You must have been tired after each day. Your enthusiasm for the responsibility to do this well paid off very well, with the success of teaching this little, resistant boy how to read. What a gift you gave him. It was a grand story to read this morning.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful gift you got through Jacob--a reflection of the time, effort and caring you gave to him and all your students. He is the reason we do this. Your students are blessed to have you as a teacher. :)
ReplyDeleteThe second paragraph lifts the spirits, leaving behind the words "push", "extra hours", "burned out", and "regret" that painted the stress in the first paragraph. Your hard work and dedication helped someone to become a reader who believes in himself. That is amazing.
ReplyDeleteAll your prep was worth it and now you have the image you need for your inspiration.
ReplyDeleteRock on Teacher,
Bonnie
What great affirmation! That sounds like it was just what you needed at that moment.
ReplyDeleteAwesome!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful way to wrap up the session. The positive affirmations always give me that extra nudge to push through those rough patches. You sound like an inspiration.
ReplyDeleteBravo to you! Print this post up and place near your desk to remind you that all you do does matter. :)Mary Helen
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure my summer work ethic is as strong as yours! I feel like I'm just a place holder right now. Oh well, we are having fun at summer school, and maybe our time together will provide seeds for stories in the fall.
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