Little Miss Thing in all her giggling glory

I've said it before, and I will say it nine thousand more times, but my students are remarkable. I get to spend every day with these incredible tiny humans. I like adults, sure, but they don't always laugh and dream and imagine on a day-to-day basis. Since "colleagues" are generally considered the people one works and learns alongside, I would venture to say that I have the world's cutest colleagues. 

I mean, seriously. Look at Little Miss Thing.

 She is now a sophisticated and mature 4th grade lady. She comes in every day with wisdom and poise. She is a role model to her younger (and older!) classmates, and gives her all to everything she does in the classroom. 

She wrote an essay this semester about imagination, and encouraged readers to never lose it, even when they grow up. This is the conclusion paragraph:

Other people should care about this because if you don’t use your imagination it will be a dull world for you. Imagination can change you. It can change more than one person. You just have to find how it changes you. There is more than one way, such as, imagination can brighten up your mood, when you were little imagination could bring you fun, and imagination can find your personality. And much, much more. And those are the three ways it has changed me. Are you living in a dull world? You should use your imagination. 

Well, excuse me brilliant writer. 

She prays every day for our lovely assistant, Maggie, and for me--that we would be blessed in our teaching. And I mean she prays. Not cute-little-kid-Jesus-loves-me-singsong-praying, but in God's Word, offering heartfelt intentions every day for those she loves. It is inspiring. 

She even sometimes gives me tiny chipmunk-strength back rubs when she senses that I might be stressed. She has improved leaps and bounds, and is a joyful, critical-thinking, confident reader and learner. We have been together for three years, and I am the luckiest teacher on the planet to spend each day with her. I speak in no hyperbole--just try me teacher friends. I dare you. 

We established the rule of thumb a couple of years ago--if this lady starts giggling, the day is shot. Once she gets going, she is a freight train. There is no stopping her fits of tiny laughter. 

But I wouldn't have it any other way. Keep being you, sweet girl. You are extraordinary.