I was never good at recording anecdotes from the classroom. The kind that made me feel special, or smile and most importantly the kind that reminded me of the children. One day I sat down and started to write as many as I could recollect. I will share these from time and again on Faith and I hope that some of you out there connect it with your own teaching experiences or just your memories of school.
I had to change names to keep them anonymous.
Little Girls Love Deeply
I have the fondest memories of her. I was so moved by it. This was way back when I taught kindergarten. I had gone into a month of depression and went back to school after the Christmas break. It had felt good to be back. After class I’d always sit and talk with the girls till their parents arrived. Aria she said, “We missed you” and I thought she was trying to tell me she missed her substitute teacher who looked after them when I was gone. Aria and her friends said, “No we missed you.” Then Aria went on to say how at the Christmas party she refused to enter class if I wasn’t there. I truly didn’t know what to say.
A similar experience at the same time with the older kids. I was nervous on the first day back and struggling to distribute some poems and one of my students jumped up and noticed I wasn’t feeling right and completely took over for me.
Our superiors always would tell us that we need to disguise our feelings and emotions and what’s going on inside and with our world when we’re with the students. In my view children see our truest self long before we show it or reveal yet they don’t judge us. They know their feelings and they’re natural. It’s when we turn adults is when we lose that sensitivity and everything has to be perfect and fall in place or otherwise it’s noticed and you’re always known by your weakness.
Aria showed me the depth of a child’s heart and mind that day. That memory is forever etched in my heart.
Aria I’m sure now has grown up and continues to use her sensitive and gentle side to find her path and purpose in this crazy world.
All Rounders
The two boys I was most fond of were Rahil and Ariz. Now when you’re a drama teacher you always need an extra pair of hands; someone to help with sets, costume ideas, pull the others out of class for rehearsals, filling in roles, almost everything and still not get the lead in plays. While most children won’t learn all the aspects of stage and getting fully involved. Rahil and Ariz have been by me through so many skits and short plays. They didn’t mind helping me out at all and have been my moral support even backstage on rehearsal day and the final performance. What would I have done without them?
We will we will rock you
This one class instead of the boring Good Afternoon teacher! greeted me with a thunderous We will, we will rock you! foot tapping thigh slapping hand clapping beautiful rhythm. I walked into class that day and felt every bit like a Queen.
Three Anecdotes from the Classroom pretty random though they may seem. Show us how children know and understand feelings, can be there with you for nothing in return and have the ability to make you feel special and loved.
For children understanding the heart is like decorating a cupcake with rainbow sprinkles, gently and generously.
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