Handful of Stars

Inspired by the first line in Mary Biddinger's poem "Empty Locket Syndrome" -- Everything is easy when you don't try.

Everything isn't getting accomplished and that


is no surprise. When was I ever reasonable about goals? If they were


easy they wouldn't be goals -- right? Something to target and go for


when you want to feel progress is being made


you aim high and grab a few stars, as they say, but


don't confuse a handful of stars with a life well-lived...


try rest and silence, nature and art.  They are the true source of everything.

Together

If we fall
              we fall together.

Let us not believe
             unwise tales.

Let us be aware
             danger lurks.

If we fail
             we fail together.

Let us remember
             our moral instruction.

Let us abolish
            the need for violence
                                 separation
                                 indifference.

We can rise
            and that means

            we
            shall 
            rise
            together.


            

25. Mic Drop

#64Challenge

Today something so unexpected happened, I'm still reeling.

Last year I taught a boy named Greg who had zero interest in reading. I could not get him interested in one thing. He is not the world's best reader, and has been retained before, so his desire was nil.

Around February or March a girl in the class suggested he read The Crossover by Kwame Alexander. Greg slowly made his way through, but never actually finished the book, even though it is one written in verse and is a pretty fast read for most kids.

This year he is in my class again, and I noticed a new maturity about him. He is much better about doing his work. I suggested a book at the beginning of the year to him, expecting he'd just keep putting it in front of himself and never actually finish. Yet--surprisingly--he did finish. Then he went to the library and got a book. Then another book. He fills out the goal-setting bookmark and turns them in. This has been going on and yes, I noticed, but didn't really pay close attention.

Today he came back from the library with a book called Endangered. I looked at the book and asked, "What made you pick this out?"  His reply: "I wanted to read a longer book. Most of the ones I've been reading are pretty short."  And he sat right down and started reading, even though it was just 3 minutes before we were leaving for lunch.

It's hours later, and I'm still stunned and delighted. Perhaps his reading life is endangered no more.

24. November Motto and More

#64Challenge

Keeping Focus

This was a week of ups and downs. Today I am not willing to dwell on the things that were upsetting or irritating. Instead, I'm celebrating a couple small successes I'd like to remember.

This is my chosen motto for November. I need to remember to be diligent on where I put my time and attention. This week I found myself getting off-track needlessly, and it didn't produce good results.

However, there were some good moments as well.

 A True Writer

Every now and then a student shows up in my creative writing class who really has the chops. This year it is a girl named Monroe -- a 6th grader. When most students are turning in clumps of nonsensical stories with nary a hint of punctuation, Monroe presented me with an 8-page story perfectly written and nearly perfectly punctuated. In addition, the story included a girl who was actually an alien. Monroe found an "alien translator" online, and included it in her story. Look in the middle of this block of text:

 I told Monroe I hope she will come back to creative writing class in the rest of her years at CLMS and share more of her awesome writing skills.  A real inspiration, that girl!

Letters

My reading classes are continuing with The Bridge Home, the Global Read Aloud, and three classes are pen pals with classes in Indianapolis. The students were to write letters to introduce themselves, describe some things they like to do, and then talk about their favorite character in the book.

In my 8th period I have a 7th grader I'll call Theresa. She is extremely quiet, takes her time with her work, and in general is a wallflower in class. When I gave the writing assignment out, I told them they could handwrite or type. Most kids typed their letter.

But not Theresa. She wrote nearly a full page (some kids barely got 5 sentences, even with typing.) She came up to me, saying how much her hand hurt from writing, but very excited to share her letter. In fact, she was bubbling over so much she started telling me what she wrote rather than letting me read it. She told all about her family, pets, and the family business -- a nail salon. Her excitement over writing a letter to a totally unknown person floored me. I now know her mode is writing. She is probably not going to be one to speak out.  But put a pencil in her hand, give her a topic she is passionate about, and wow!  I'm looking forward to the day she (and the rest of the classes) receive letters back. For a generation that knows little about this kind of communication, it is a delicious surprise.

23. Reconciliation, a Prayer

#64Challenge

Inspired by the last section of Joy Harjo's poem by the same name.

It is November and things can continue to smooth out. We've had some rough patches and this is always the time we doubt ourselves. But our vocation calls, and we are faced with the person in front of us. See them. Do the next right thing.

Of the south, we feast on the language a writer provides.

Of the west, we give up fear and move forward step by step.

Of the north, where we push beyond the way things are to find new paths to walk.

Of the east, because the work we love is the work we do.