Tried and True

Monday morning I will begin another 180-day journey; much of it, happily, is a complete unknown. I have seen my students’ test scores, but I have not seen them. I do not know their hopes, their fears, their struggles or their strengths. I am unaware of who has support at home, or of who is the support at home. Yet we will embark on our journey together, fortified by the power of our contributions to our community of learners.

After the proverbial question-and-answer period I will initiate a discussion around the word journey. What does the word mean? What is a journey? What types of journeys do people take? All of this will segue nicely into my task at hand: to craft writers.

Writing is discovery. We write for a variety of reasons; not the least of which is to have our voices heard. Perhaps the most challenging (and important) part of my role as their teacher will be to help my students believe that they have a voice worth hearing. To do this, I will rely on my own voice, as well as the voices of others.

Our journey of discovery will find strength in the Power of the Picture Book. Its evolution over my lifetime has been inspiring. Writers such as Patricia Polacco, Tony Johnston, and Patricia McKissack have penned stirring accounts, some of them autobiographical, of remarkable journeys of the human spirit. I will use these stories to help my students discover where ideas come from.

Patricia Polacco recounts the personal journey through the darkness of her learning disability in “Thank You, Mr. Falker”. With the help of a beloved teacher Polacco uncovers the sweet taste of knowledge. Written in third person narrative, the author’s note lets readers know that this is, in fact, Polacco’s own story; “an odyssey of discovery and adventure.” Students will recognize Polacco’s feelings of loneliness and despair and will celebrate her triumph. Filled with voice and imagery (a future lesson in writing craft), her writing speaks to readers of all ages.

Once you’re aware of her learning disability, it isn’t surprising to observe Polacco’s remarkable ability to recall stories and events from her childhood in her additional works. Pink and Say is one such story. It is, without a doubt, the most powerful picture book I have read. The story of Pinkus Aylee (Pink) and Sheldon Russell Curtis (Say) was recounted to Polacco by her father, the great grandson of Curtis. The inspirational story of Pink and Say’s journey and friendship is timeless. Along with Polacco’s amazing voice and imagery, themes such as friendship, family, and man’s inhumanity to man make it a wonderful choice to use as a mentor text within the Writer’s Workshop.

Journeys and discoveries come in all shapes and sizes. Patricia Polacco’s stories, tried and true, will undoubtedly stand the test of time. I look forward to sharing her work with students and colleagues each school year. After reading “Thank You, Mr. Falker” to last year’s class I had my students write an essay on their expectations for the year; our journey through sixth grade. Martin, a struggling reader, said it best when he wrote “I hope the 180 days will be long.”

Let the journey begin!

A Top Pick this Summer

As summer comes to its all-too-familiar close and I head back to the classroom, I take with me a sense of delight. The gift of time afforded me the opportunity to become lost in literature; reading bleary-eyed well into the night on more than one occasion. I’ve had the pleasure to read wonderful new literature for children this summer. By my accounts I’ve read more than forty books, including several professional resources, since school was dismissed in June. Few left me wanting, and one in particular soared above the rest.

“The Year the Swallows Came Early” by Kathryn Fitzmaurice is a beautifully written story about families, friendship and forgiveness. Set in Southern California (a great connection for my students), it celebrates the resiliency of eleven year-old Eleanor “Groovy” Robinson, a budding chef with aspirations of attending culinary school. Just as her horoscope advises her to “expect the unexpected”, Groovy’s routine existence is shaken. Her father is sent off to jail at the request of her mother. Frankie, Groovy’s long time friend, experiences upheaval of his own when a long-absent mother suddenly returns. And the ever-reliable timepiece that is Mother Nature skips a beat as the annual migration of the swallows to Groovy’s town occurs earlier than it should.

The Southern California setting, Groovy’s honesty, and her family dynamic will connect my students with her story on a variety of levels. Fitzmaurice has created an indelible character in Groovy; through her voice, her compassion, and her resilience. Adults and children alike will be immediately drawn to her unshakable spirit.

Recently, I attended a one-day networking session with fellow teachers and I could not help but nestle my copy of “Swallows” into my book bag before leaving the house. As we collaborated and discussed best practice strategies I looked for an opportunity to introduce the novel, and went on to read the chapter entitled “Jasmine Tea with Limes”:

“He didn’t watch where he was going,” I said. Tears rolled down my cheeks. “He ruined it, Mama. He didn’t watch, and now it’s ruined.” And I started crying like there was no tomorrow. But it wasn’t the dandelion that made me so sad. It was how I was like the dandelion, minding my own business, waiting to grow and be something. And he hadn’t seen me waiting.”

If you’re a teacher (like me) funds are in short supply at the start of the school year. And if you’re like Desiderius Erasmus (and all too often me as well):

“When I get a little money, I buy books; and if any is left, I buy food and clothes.

Happy Reading!