Letter to a student

Dear you,

You may not realize just how significant the moment was. In fact, you probably didn’t even see it pass before your eyes. To you, it was just another day, being pulled out of your classroom happenings to spend time in my small group.

We’ve been able to foster a wonderful atmosphere in our group; the personalities in our little world of learning mesh so well. And thank you for that. We’re lucky, but also determined. Thank you for the effort that you put into our time together. That is what will help you the most!

You’ve always been a quiet one – not shy, just pensive. I’ve wondered from Day One how to crack your stoic mask and get to you – the real you, the “you” that strives and pushes and falls and gets back up again. You mostly sat back, participated when asked…but that was all. I felt you just needed time to open up, encouragement to really try, and a place where it was safe to fail and start over. But it was so hard to see what you were thinking – where your motivation could come from.

Then it happened – the moment where the facade of “tough” crumbled. You got excited. About punctuation!! And that was okay. In fact, in my group, that’s encouraged! We can get excited about the littlest victories.

And that shift carried over into our other tasks. It was like a switch had been turned on. Suddenly, you were reading phrases with expression!! No more “robot reading.” It was so fresh, new, and beautiful. I caught your eyes and mirrored your grin. I was impressed. And you were impressed. Did you know you could read like that? I knew you could.

I’m not saying I even had to do with this change in you. In fact, the change had to be all you and not teacher-driven. So, revel in the fact that the door is now open, the barriers are down, and your mind is eager. Please, please, please keep that channel open. Hang onto your fresh willingness to grasp new things.

Because that’s where the real learning begins.

Here’s to many more days of expressive, fluent reading – and a bit more of that cheering over correct punctuation!

🙂

Love,
Mrs. Olson