I exhale as I come to this page on Saturdays to celebrate with Ruth Ayers. Ruth has cultivated a place to tend and account for the week’s treasures. A time to set aside the burdens and clear off a space to admire. Thank you, Ruth.
Every morning as I round the corner to my classroom, I have a group of students waiting. If I’m a little late, they ask why. If I’m there before they are they question why. They want to help. They want to talk. They want to be in a warm classroom. This starts my day. Everyday.
And it continues throughout the day. At recess, at lunch, after school, officially and unofficially children come to get help, borrow a ball, call their parent, get a Bandaid, “help.” These kiddos are always filling the space and filling me with their ideas and questions.This week I celebrate the students who come because they want to and because they need to.
One morning Adam* walked in and sat down at my desk, looked me in the eye and asked, what can I do to get tested today? Not a typical kid question. He wants to take his running record. No problem, I tell him. He was due for one. So as soon as class started. We sat down.
Adam is not on grade level yet. Literature isn’t his cup of tea. He prefers reading nonfiction. Right now he’s obsessed with area 51. He also has a written plan to become president in 2048. He is inquisitive and hilarious. But as he informs me, he just isn’t interested in reading fiction. I told him I understood. But, I added, if he plans to become president, he had better start reading a little more literature. We read “those” kind of books to understand people. Then I shared these quotes from a recent New York Times interview with President Obama.
Fiction was useful as a reminder of the truths under the surface of what we argue about every day and was a way of seeing and hearing the voices, the multitudes of this country.
…I think that I found myself better able to imagine what’s going on in the lives of people throughout my presidency because of the act of reading fiction. It exercises those muscles, and I think that has been helpful.
His eyes widened.
He’s still pouring over nonfiction facts, but I hope Obama’s words planted a tiny seed.
This week I celebrate Adam, his drive to succeed, and figure out area 51.
To Read To Write To Be 
You have created a safe place for these kids. I get it, wanting to hang out with the teacher, especially one who meets them where they are and takes them down the path of discovery. It will be interesting to see if Adam does pick up some fiction.
Wish I could have been there to see those wide eyes! Love this post.
Go Adam! You paint a picture of Adam so beautifully!! Love this!
I celebrate Adam and his ambition too! We need more kids like him.
Tending the garden. You do that so well as you see the strengths of your students and lead them to their potential.
Celebrating reader Adam with you. I like to read about the general classroom and especially enjoy the stories of specific students. There are so many different readers in the classroom.
Julieanne, you found just the right text for Adam to be engaged with in your culture of trust. Great Celebration!
Julieanne,
Thank you for your sweet words about our celebration community. I love this post…how in small moments and tiny details it speaks big volumes about your love for children.
Ruth