Notes From the Classroom

Hello,

In addition to writing about literacy research, ideas to try at home or in the classroom with your child, I am also going to begin writing about situations and anecdotes about the students in my classroom. These are those teachable moments or those 'AHAS" that are priceless.

I'll begin with my student who is a reluctant writer and reading used to be a close second for his least favorite things to do. This student is a 3rd grader.

If you've been reading my blog then you know about my students crocheting in the classroom during our independent reading block. Well, a couple of weeks ago my cat, Angelo, broke his arm from a fall. Yes, cats are supposed be invincible when it comes to landing on their feet but not when they are trying to land on hardwood steps and avoid being caught by their sibling cat. This happened on a Friday night. On Monday morning, my students and I share one item from our weekend. I shared my story about Angelo and how he was going to need surgery later in the week. Needless to say, my students were very sympathetic and passed on their well wishes for Angelo. But one 3rd grade boy really surprised me when he gave me a ball of yarn for Angelo as a get well present. But it wasn't an ordinary ball of yarn. He had crocheted multiple colors of yarn together in one very long chain. Then he rolled up the chain into a ball. He also explained how he secured the ends so the ball would not come apart when Angelo played with it - after his arm was better.

I asked my student if he would write a note to Angelo that I could read to him when I showed him his gift. So, throughout the afternoon my student wrote the note. He asked how to spell Angelo's name and crocheted. At the end of the day he gave me his letter. I was shocked! I asked if he had help writing the letter and he said he wrote it all by himself. Well, the letter was perfect. It had capital letters, punctuation, and all the words were spelled correctly.

It just goes to show, given a purpose, kids will rise to the occasion. And, by the way, reading is now one of this student's favorite pastimes, especially when he gets to read to a group of students who are crocheting!

Happy Reading,

Kathleen