I teach the little ones and tomorrow is the first day of school. Every year I am filled with excitement and anticipation as I prepare for the arrival of these young souls. Each child brings his/her own special gift to the table and I thoroughly enjoy unwrapping every one of them to discover the beauty that lies within.
I am one of the lucky ones. I LOVE my job. I belly laugh at least once a day. These children bring me so much joy. There have also been tender moments as well. I have so many stories to share and perhaps one day will share more of them with you.
Today, I think back to all of the years before. There are some children whose names I no longer remember and then there are some who I will carry with me for the rest of my life. Today, I am thinking about Tara.....and I would like to share.
The children who attend my school are for the most part, from middle class to upper middle class income familes. There are a few underpriviledged attending. Tara was one. Tara came from a single parent family. Her mom did the best that she could. She always sent Tara to school, clean and with all of the supplies she needed. The clothes she bought Tara came from a second hand clothing store or the Goodwill. Tara was a big girl. She only wore dresses. She very rarely spoke and hardly ever smiled. The dresses she wore were loud. What I mean...they had big ole flowers on them, or polka dots, bright plaids, huge sashes and bows.
While I try to foster a caring, respectful environment...there were some girls who were not very accepting of Tara. They didn't play with her on the playground. The nudged each other and whispered about her clothing. Instead of speaking to them about their behavior, I chose a different approach....
Tara walked into school one day wearing a first holy communion dress. Immediately there were giggles and elbow nudges...I stood still and said..."Oh my goodness. Tara you are absolutely gorgeous. You look like a princess." This immediately got the attention of the other little girls who looked at me with a quizical look on their faces. I could see Tara stand just a bit taller, and a small smile cross her face. The next day when she came into school, I said, "Here is my little princess. How are you today? You look beautiful." This went on for days. I would comment on her hair, or just tell her how happy I was that my little princess had arrived.
Slowly the interactions of the class began to change. The other girls started including Tara. She still did not say much. Then one day we played a little game. Something I do about once a month. It is called Compliments. We sit in a large circle and roll a ball to one another. When you roll the ball you give the person a compliment. They say thankyou and roll the ball to another. When we are finished...it is all warm and fuzzy. ( I'm a warm and fuzzy type gal.)
So the ball is rolling and of course Tara is the last child to have the ball rolled to her. And it just happened the girl rolling was one that had not been so kind in the beginning. Well the little one rolled and said, "Tara, I like the pretty dresses you wear. " That right there warmed my heart. I said, "ok. Doesn't everyone feel good? We will do this again someday."And as I went to stand up one of the little boys said, "Wait Mrs. J, you didn't get a compliment. It's your turn." So I looked at Tara...sat back down...and said,"Tara, do you want to give me a compliment?" She shook her head yes. Well we sat...and sat. I said half chuckling,"Do you need a little help?" She shook her head no. We sat and then she rolled the ball, looked into my eyes and said, "I like the way you always call me your princess. " Well if the tears didn't come before... I looked at her and said, Thank you Tara... you will always be my little princess. "
Tara moved in the middle of the school year so I was not able to keep tabs on her as she progressed through her elementary years. I wonder about her every now and then. I am sure she is not aware of how she touched my heart that day. I just hope she remembers she was once my little princess and in my mind and in my heart forever will be.
Jenna posted on Aug 27, 2006
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Comments
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Mamie said on Aug 27, 2006....
what a great story, once again, I am moved to tears...you should probably be a writer by trade!
You have a way of making people feel that way in the grown up world too. I think that is why you have so many fans. I WISH YOU COULD SEE THE LADY WE SEE: You'd never again wonder if you make or meet anyone's expectations.
You are a gift. And I, humbly, accept.
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Jenna said on Aug 27, 2006....
Thank you my dear friend for your kind words. You know I feel the same about you...you're always checkin' in making sure I'm ok. I am great. This is just a little story that I found in my heart today. Glad you enjoyed.
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rosking said on Aug 27, 2006....
Once again a beautiful post Jenna! Very informative, moving and touching. I truly enjoy reading your blog.
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secretlife said on Aug 27, 2006....
What a wonderful story!
I love knowing that there are teachers out there who try to teach more than what's on the approved 'list'...
We all know that kids can be cruel.
What we fail to remember is that kindness can be taught by example.
Thanks for sharing!
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Jenna said on Aug 27, 2006....
rosking...thank you for the compliment.
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Jenna said on Aug 27, 2006....
SL...yes...there are some of us out here who tend to stray from the "curriculum". Thank you for appreciating another side of me.
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Zayda said on Aug 27, 2006....
ahhh...jenna...what a great story. it brought tears to my eyes. perhaps because in conjunction with scalywag's story about his blowup with his son, i am reminded how much "the little ones" teach us as we teach them.
i learn such wonderful things every semester from my not so little ones--freshmen in college.
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Jenna said on Aug 27, 2006....
I saw that we both teach....different ages but yet... we have the same make up....and yes we do learn such wonderful things. Isn't it funny...I teach them to read and you teach them to write. ( Am I correct on that? )
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Zayda said on Aug 27, 2006....
yes, i teach them to write, but i have found that many of my students don't read, which of course affects their writing. it's not that they don't have the capability of reading; they do. they simply don't read much and if they do, they don't read critically.
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Expendable said on Aug 27, 2006....
Very smooth.
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Jenna said on Aug 27, 2006....
super z... ;)...How long have you been teaching. I admire your ability to teach young adults. I am much more comfortable with the ones who need to crawl up on my lap in need of a hershey kiss because they miss their mom.
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Jenna said on Aug 27, 2006....
Expendable... thanks for the comment although I am not sure what you mean...???
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Zayda said on Aug 27, 2006....
jenna: i have been teaching for 15 years now.
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secretlife said on Aug 28, 2006....
Just figured this would be a good time to say that I taught High School English for 3 years.
Actually, I taught High School for two years and middle school for one. In the middle school year, 8th reading was a separate course because the kids needed so much reading comprehension help.
So often teachers forget that reading touches every subject. If you have a hard time reading, how do you do well in school?
And if you can't make reading something everyone can do comfortably, I'm not sure how you teach critical thinking skills
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Jenna said on Aug 28, 2006....
Most of our day is spent teaching and laying the foundation for reading. I get very fruatrated with our educational system at times...because we continue to push children through to the next grade whether they are ready or not. So then, the high school teachers and college professors are left to deal with children/young adults who do not have all of the necessary skills. But that is a whole different blog and according to SW...food and sex are where it is at right now. :)
Have a good night ladies!
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CreativeWoman said on Aug 28, 2006....
Jenna,
This story should be in Chicken Soup For The Soul.
I was one of those little outcast girls when I was in fifth grade. If only I had had a teacher like you. I'm sure that little girl probably still holds you close in her heart.
CW
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hotaka said on Aug 29, 2006....
That was a beautiful story and a clever way to turn things around for Tara on your part.
I teach some small kids and I find I go through so many emotions. I want to hug them sometimes because they make me proud. Other times they make me laugh. Sometimes I just want to say to heck with the lesson and let's just play. And then there are times I want to grab them by the collar and heave them out the door. Fortunately for me and them, I cannot stay mad and I love them all anyway. I recently wrote about one of my classes. Now another SoulCaster has me really thinking about the outcome of the incident I wrote about.
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Jenna said on Aug 29, 2006....
Hotaka... forgive me for not responding to all of your posts. You are an interesting writer and I read you a lot. This whole thing is overwhelming. I have read that you teach the young ones also... must be incredibly different in an entirely different culture. I look forward to reading your post on the thoughts you have eluded to...
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Jenna said on Aug 29, 2006....
CW... my dear one... thank you for your kind words. let's imagine for a moment I am your teacher...I would see your gifts, I would hold you close and tell you just how truly amazing you really are....let's forget fifth grade... love you!
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CreativeWoman said on Aug 29, 2006....
Jenna,
Maybe I should write a post about 5th grade. It was truly one of the most awful years of my life. It was the year I firmly tucked myself inside my shell.
CW
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Alyss said on Sep 01, 2006....
I'm a teacher too and whilst I've taught up into the top end of primary school, the nursery and reception years are where I am happiest. A lovely tale Jenna.
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hotaka said on Sep 01, 2006....
Thanks, Jenna. I'll be sure to read more of your stuff too. Please give me time. There are a lot of great new people with us.
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RollingC said on Sep 03, 2006....
Every school needs a teacher like you. :)
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momsrock said on Sep 03, 2006....
Very touching story! Tara will remember you for the rest of her life!! And I'm sure there will come a day, that she will be telling the story about the one person that went the extra mile for her, giving her the opportunity to become that woman she will be. Your students are blessed to have you!
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Jenna said on Sep 03, 2006....
CW... I look forward to the post!
Alyss...thanks sweetie...(How are you doing?)
Hotaka...this place is overwhelming isn't it? So many incredible people.
Rollingc and momsrock....Thanks you two!!!!
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PAPERBACKWRITER said on Nov 05, 2006....
omigosh! i didn´t know...
i´m a teacher too...teaching english to babies, toddlers pre-schoolers, young adults in a private school
okay, calming myself!
i have to admit i have not read this yet...i´m feeling blue and i was saving your blogs for future read...actually i want to go back and read the very first blog you wrote, it´s a long story
and skimming through your blogs the title caught my eye!
it´s a bit frustrating to know someone, feel understood by them and know you will never get to know them in person...
i just wrote Zayda about this
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well, i´m a bit flustered, the last two comments were not yet there before i linked it
sorry to cut this short jenna, no matter what i love you as a person without expectations...
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Jenna said on Nov 05, 2006....
Paper.....thanks for commenting dear one....yes we are both teachers.....I get the feeling you need a shoulder to lean on right now....Lean away baby...I am pretty strong!
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