A spark to celebrate

at Ruth Ayres Writes!

8 of 31 at Two Writing Teachers!

One of things I love about the March Challenge is that it makes me make time for writing. I get to do all the writing that I always mean to do, but somehow never get around to. (Of course, every year I vow that when March is over, I'll continue writing more often... and then I don't!) Anyway, the Celebrate posts on Saturdays keep calling to me, but I haven't participated yet. Since I have to write today anyway, it's the perfect chance to join the celebration!

This week was the kind of week that leaves me collapsed in exhaustion, but with a proud smile. Since I've already celebrated most of those moments in other slices, I'll focus on a different victory today.

This week, a low-intermediate student who's lived in short comics and non-fiction readers all year picked up One for the Murphys from my classroom's "We recommend" bookshelf during reading time.

Before I moved into this room, this book display thingy held textbooks. Ugh. Now my students' best-loved books (that aren't in someone's hands at the moment) live on the top 3 shelves. On my shelf, I rotate themed collections of books that I want to introduce to students. I took this picture in mid-January (see, I told you I catch up in March!) so my shelf was related to Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. 

Later, when I asked him what he thought, his face stretched into a wide smile and his eyes glittered. "It's so good! I thought it would be hard, but I can understand it!"

Not only has he found a magical book (it never stays on the shelf for very long in my room!), he's observed a noticeable improvement in his English. What a moment of pride for a student who has been in America for less than a year!

Even better, I know this book could be the SPARK that turns him into a reader. Now that's something to celebrate!