I often tell my students, "I'm so glad to be here on the planet with you today," and they look at me funny. I get it...it's 7:40 am and they are teenagers and it's 1st period. But I can usually get them to grin a little and come along with me.
I hope that it's one of the things they'll remember about my class. That and a few comma rules. And the sense that they can trust their stories, that their lives and stories matter, and that they do have something to say.
Lots more things running through my head, things I'd like to say, to tie together here, but...time to make my lunch and head to work. Time to greet my sleepy students and remind them what a good gift it is to be here together.
4 comments:
Oh, comma rules. They always seem to be changing on me.
Sounds like a good way to remind them that life is bigger than a single day, a single school year or their four years of high school.
I love this post. What a gift to help your students understand "that their lives and stories matter, and that they do have something to say." Even if they don't realize it now, what you are telling them is radical in the world we call home.
Tonight was the senior banquet at Trinity--student after student stood up to thank fellow peers and professors for the amazing experiences they've had in college. What was most significant to them, it seemed, was that people at Trinity really KNEW them--really knew their stories and their histories. I realized, while listening, that being present to someone's story is probably the most important gift I can give these students of mine.
I know you feel the same way. And I also know it didn't take you 21,172 mornings to figure that out, wise friend.
Hugs.
Annemarie
I want you to know that I really appreciate having you as part of my sisters-in-blogging. I know you are my mother, but in some ways reading your blogposts and the things you decide to talk about helps me know you as more than just my mother. I wouldn't want you to stop being my mother, but it is great to have another window into your heart, mind and spiritual self.
As a poet I find it sometimes easier to share my feelings in poems, although obviously I have no problem writing long-winded comments either. If you want to see the poem I dedicated to all of my “sisters” in the blogosphere, you can find it here.
http://poetrysansonions.blogspot.com/2012/05/my-worldwide-sisters-tribute-in-haiku.html
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