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| at Two Writing Teachers! |
I've worked hard to craft a classroom where delight in learning is palpable: where we share joyful adventures in reading, bring forth treasures in writing, and truly care about each other. It has come together like magic, but it really took a lot of courage, a lot of careful cultivation of special little moments, and some amazing opportunities to belong to something bigger than school.
Focusing on DELIGHT has helped me slow down and enjoy my students, while reminding myself of what I really want them to take from my class: the skills and enthusiasm to be lifelong readers, writers, and learners... as well as the grace and dignity to be caring, confident citizens. It has helped me to be grateful for little moments of joy and to see all my blessings, even those in disguise as stressors.
Just a few weeks after one of my new students arrived, she wrote this in a feedback survey:
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| In just a couple of weeks, she saw in me the teacher I'm trying so hard to be. |
2013 may be over, but I will continue striving for delight.
oh delight is a good word! I love it. I love how it reminds me to delight in that which is in front of you: a child, yourself, nature, etc... This is great stuff.
ReplyDeleteYour word was very prominent in many of your posts, even when you didn't use the word. I think I will always associate the word delight with you. You are a delight!
ReplyDeleteLove your word...my post was a reflection on my olw too, but I haven't thought up my 2014 word...thanks for the inspiration
ReplyDelete"Delight" was the thread that wove through all your year, Jennifer. I love hearing about your students and all that you are doing. I hope you'll post about the story box sometime. Did your piece work? Looking forward to our continuing conversations in 2014. Have a wonderful new year!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Linda! I will post more about the StoryBox soon! :-)
DeleteMaybe one of my days off this spring will be your work day, and I could drive and see this delightful teacher in action! For an ELL student to say what this student said, it must be true (not that I ever really doubted it:). The phrase that will stay with me is: delight in learning. I will remember that. Happy New Year Jennifer!
ReplyDeleteThat would be so much fun, Jaana! I hope our classes can connect in this new year too! :-)
DeleteYour words speak volumes about your passion for teaching and real learning. Your actions come through with your students words: understand, smile, help, and love. Just beautiful.
ReplyDeleteDelight is something you were looking for, an outcome not a process. You could have chosen patience, because you need a lot of that. But you chose something you wanted to find. There is a big difference. Your post is helping me think through what my olw will be. Thank you so much for sharing.
You're right -- that is a big difference, even though it doesn't seem like it at first. I think that's what helped this word be so meaningful -- it was a goal that inspired me, not a quality I was trying to magically have all of a sudden. Thanks for the thoughtful reflection -- I will keep your observation in mind when I pick my future words!
DeleteI love the word delight. And I love your student's comment, "When you help, you smile." I would love it if my students said that about me!
ReplyDeleteI love your student's comment...that's what it's all about isn't it? I think it's important to look for those delightful moments because it's too easy to get bogged down in the the stressors of our lives. I hope that 2014 brings you many things to delight in and I'll be anxious to hear about your new word.
ReplyDeletePerfect word for you and perfect student comment to remember in 2014.
ReplyDeleteI just finished reading about 5 of your latest posts and once again I am amazed by the depth of your emotion and the power of your words. I loved the Writer post because you have always been a writer. I loved the Thankful post because it is clear that you live with an attitude of gratitude, even when you are tired and worn out. (And because you stated you love spending time still with your Mom and Dad. And I loved your Delight posting, for it reminds me of all of the reasons I too became an educator, and because you are my life's Delight.
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