Last summer a child who had moved on from my class was missing me. His mom emailed:
He said, "Mumma, I miss Jennie." I said, "I'm sure you do. What is it you miss about her? " He said, "I love to play with her. I miss that."
That was a lightbulb moment for me to write a letter and become pen-pals. We have written back and forth a few times. It is always a thrill. Always.
Over Christmas break he went to the Science Museum in Boston and.... there was Spot, the Boston Dynamics robot. He was so excited! What a surprise.
Last year we learned about their robots, thanks to their YouTube video.
We even Zoomed with their engineers, and Spot became everyone's best buddy.
It was now my turn to write a pen-pal letter. It's the dark ages in New England, and cold, and hard to find things to talk about. Still, I needed to write to my pen-pal. We both needed sunshine and smiles.
My card to my pen pal.
Hi Pen Pal!
I saw this card and it reminded me of your big, happy smile. Do you know that a smile can change the world? It always makes others feel better. I know that when you smile at me, I feel warm and happy inside.
Happy fifth birthday (a little late.) Doesn't it feel great to be five years old? Was the trip to the Science Museum a treat for your birthday?
I can't believe you saw Spot the robot dog- how exciting! Did you jump up and down? I bet you gave the biggest smile, ever!
Your friend and pen-pal,
Jennie
It's the little things that are really the big things. A smile certainly is. So is a letter to a pen-pal. You never know the difference it might make for someone else. That smile across the classroom to a child at rest time years ago changed my teaching; pay attention to children first. They matter more than the curriculum. What follows is the best learning, and a close bond with children.
I'm so glad to be a teacher.
Jennie
No comments:
Post a Comment