Little Joys

I discovered recently that I go in waves of being a reflective teacher. Sometimes I am beautifully aware of the little details of daily life in our classroom--every joy and struggle that these little souls experience. But other times, it seems that my head is in the clouds. I get a bit too focused on reviewing geometry vocab,  monitoring fluency progress, mapping out verb tenses, and the endless academic checklist that accompanies the adventure of teaching a group of children with an 8 year age range.

I made such a discovery as we gathered in the library this week at the end of a busy day. We sat--all 9 of us--tired and hungry at 2:50 to finish up our day by hearing the next chapter in The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. One of us was leaning over the railing up in the reading loft. Another was lounging in the big red chair in the cave (The cozy spot under the reading loft, of course). The rest of us were strewn about on the red carpet--laying, sitting, pacing--as we laughed and gasped and cringed with each of Edward's new trials. And I noticed sometime hilarious. Everyone had a handful of tissues. Me included. We are, by far, the snottiest class in the history of snotty classrooms. The frightening, phlegmy cough that started with one of my kiddos has traveled to everyone. It hasn't kept anyone out from school, but instead we come together to learn and blow our noses all day long.

I realize this sounds borderline repulsive, but as I sat reading aloud I found it quite endearing. We all sat together wiping our snotty noses. Listening to a brilliant story. I get to journey with this crew every day. Through the good and the bad and the snotty. And I couldn't be more grateful. I desire to get my head out of the clouds and start noticing these things more frequently.

Here goes the beginning of my list of little joys in this hilarious little family. Feel free to journey with  us!

1) Snotty noses and Edward Tulane in the Red Reading Library.
2) Ginger bread cookies from one of the sweetest third grade ladies in town.
3) A different Christmas themed outfit every day from the same cute lady. (Seriously. She has a ruffled, red, velour skirt on today with reindeer socks. Stop it.)
4) Seeing one of my littles ask my English learning lady for help with a tricky word.
5) Spotting a tiny turtle through the window during Writing workshop. And, yes, everyone had to go outside to observe it. Including our friends from next door in the Montessori classroom. What a joy!