As I have watched the world news over the last few months, feelings of anger, disbelief and a profound sadness quickly surface: an incredulity at where we find ourselves in society. There has been a recent shift from thoughtful, eloquent and inspiring to reactionary, rash and rude. As a lover of words, I have found this more than a little disturbing.

On Saturday – for the first time in many months – I watched the news and felt strengthened by humanity. I saw hope in the unity of people across the world.

We teach our students not to be bullies. We also teach them not to be bystanders when they see an injustice. To do something. To say something. Yesterday, more than a million people worldwide showed they will not be bystanders. They will not tolerate racism, bigotry or an abuse of power. They will stand together for what is right and just. I stand with them.

Whether the bully is 9 or 70, we cannot be bystanders. Words are powerful. Theirs and ours. I will use mine to defend those without a voice. I will use mine to show solidarity to all those who find themselves on the receiving end of intolerance and abuse. I will use mine to echo those of Martin Luther King Jr: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”

Where do you stand?

Last week I met a family who recently moved from El Salvador. When I met them, the temperature was minus thirty.

I tried to put myself in their shoes: in a new country and culture, not knowing the language, away from all things familiar, in frigid temperatures previously unimaginable.

I wonder if they question why we live here. I’m sure many people do. Yet even in extreme cold, we still function: schools stay open, busses run. In fact, in the midst of the cold spell last week I saw a man out jogging.

And as much as I welcome a warm holiday now and then, I am always happy to return. I appreciate the four seasons and the changes they bring throughout the year. Today, my walk with the pooch was especially enjoyable with the considerably warmer temperatures. Perspective is everything.

 

Too often the world news is both heartbreaking and discouraging. Yet the holiday season inspires me with good news stories: communities coming together to prepare Christmas meals for the homeless, school children making and delivering Christmas cards to seniors, the restaurant in Montreal with a sign indicating that even if you cannot pay, you can still eat.

I believe that all people deserve dignity and respect despite their circumstance. I believe in the goodness of humanity. Most importantly, I believe that each of us can make a difference.

In the words of Pope Francis: “To change the world we must be good to those who cannot repay us.”

 

With the hectic nature of this time of year – concerts, last minute shopping, wrapping, baking, more shopping, more wrapping, another concert – it can be easy to lose perspective.

A magnet on my fridge reminded me, “Today is the greatest day available.” Whatever else is going on, be sure to enjoy the moment: the stranger who holds the door open, finding a parking stall, Silent Night playing on the radio, the lights glistening on the tree, the laughter of children.

Despite the frenzy or the fatigue, enjoy today.

Last week while working with one of my small groups, I asked a student if she was ready. Her reply: “I was born ready!” She said it with such gusto that all of us burst into laughter.

This from a little girl who was quite discouraged and disheartened last year. Learning is difficult for her. And yet, she has made great strides and found a glimmer of hope.  She now understands that these symbols on a page hold meaning. She has found the key to the literate world and she is truly feeling empowered.

Words really do change worlds!

One of my goals with my struggling readers is to be as consistent as possible. Normally I’m pretty good at honouring this goal. Yet lately my schedule and my days have been a little hectic. I’ve been away a couple of days, and when I have been at school a few issues surfaced that demanded my immediate attention.

When my little readers arrive at my office door, bookbags in hand, and they realize that I’m busy, their shoulders tend to sag. And on Friday when I went into a grade one class to ask the students if they wanted to read with me that afternoon (since I missed their morning time), it was art class. Both students chose to read.

These kids are doing their part: I will keep trying to do mine!

“The world belongs to those who read.” Rick Holland

In households around the city families are carving pumpkins, preparing costumes and more than likely taste-testing the Halloween candy. Parents will send their princesses, pirates and ghostbusters to school tomorrow.

Let’s face it: students enjoy Halloween much more than most teachers. Yet if you teach in an elementary school, Halloween comes with the territory. It’s just a bunch of hocus pocus… enjoy the day!

Last week I was reminded of the thrill of emergent writers when I spent time in kindergarten and grade one. In both classes, the students were eager to write, thoroughly engaged in the process and enthusiastically able to explain what they had written.

Despite the various levels of their writing – pictures only, mock letters, a string of letters, invented spelling or more conventional spelling – all students were engaged in the process. Each stage is an important one for emergent writers.

Although our ultimate goal is to teach students to be effective writers, teachers of emergent writers must be careful not to overcorrect. Overcorrection quickly dampens the enthusiasm of our young writers. When they are still experimenting with language and letters, proper spelling and punctuation are secondary. We must celebrate their attempts at language and honour what they have written.

Rather than correct their work, we can teach the elements of good writing through modelling and explicit instruction. And by the way, good writing includes much more than proper conventions… just ask our kindergarten and grade one students!

Last week I was reminded how important it is to teach with intention. My reminders came in the form of adults working with special needs students. Everything they did and didn’t do, everything they said and didn’t say was purposeful.

The result? Students who know that the adults in the room care for them, students who are engaged and students who are learning at their own pace. In other words: education.

We are changing the world, one intention at a time.

 

On this Thanksgiving Day, I am writing to express my gratitude.

To those of you who greet me with a hug every day without fail, thank you for beginning my day with a smile.

To those of you who hang onto my every word, thank you for giving me the validation that what we do is important.

To those of you who share a cracker or a candy from your lunch, thank you for showing what it means to give.

To those of you who find learning challenging, thank you for demonstrating the true meaning of perseverance.

To those of you who have experienced abuse, neglect or trauma in your young lives, thank you for inspiring me by your courage. Thank you for giving me perspective and reminding me that life is precious.

To all of you, thank you for making my work both rewarding and enjoyable. Thank you for making me a better educator and a better person. And thank you for ensuring that I laugh – every day.

Sincerely, your teacher.