IPS/Butler University Laboratory School

Maggie and I have been reading Charlotte’s Web together for a while now. Through conversations about friendship and loneliness that we have shared together, Maggie had a great idea. She thought that it would be a good idea to have a joke box at school so that children that feel lonely or sad could visit it and get a laugh.

So, Maggie has been working on building this joke box for a couple of weeks. She helped nail the nails in, she painted it black, and then it was time to research jokes. Maggie brought in a joke book from home, and then I brought in some jokes too. She and I pointed out our favorites, and then she put the jokes on fancy paper.

We thought that the friends would really appreciate the jokes, but we also thought that maybe those friends who feel lonely could write to her and then she could write back to them making them feel like they have a friend to talk to.

Maggie prepared a video to explain the joke box and journal so that she could share this with the other classes, and so they knew that they could come to her joke box.

Today, we went around to all but one classroom and shared the video with the other friends and talked about this idea. The friends seemed to really appreciate it! It was amazing to see how the friends in the other classes were so attentive and interested in this joke box, and it was even more beautiful to see Maggie so proud of her work.

What made this day even more special for Maggie was that as we were working during Story Workshop, I heard some friends chatting out in the hallway. I walked out there and I saw two friends so engaged writing in the journal to Maggie. I went inside and told Maggie that they were writing to her, and she quietly and quickly peeked out the door and just beamed with pride. It was a moment that I will not forget.

This is another moment that I will not forget from today. I had Shaniyia last year and I am proud to have her in my class this year. I have seen her progress so much since she has been with me. Today, while she was reading and making connections during Reader’s Workshop, I could not help but well up with tears because I am just so proud of her. She asked why I had tears in my eyes, and I just said, “Because I am so proud of you.” She just smiled and went back reading.

And then I thought deeper about that statement I gave Shaniyia, and I thought I am so proud of each of the students in this class. They have already grown so much as people and learners, and I am truly honored to be with them everyday. They make me smile, they care about me as much as I care about them, and they are so eager to learn and dive into whatever it is that we are doing.

I am sorry for the sappiness of this blog entry, but I just wanted to share what my heart felt tonight. It is swelling with pride-for each and every child that is in this amazing class.

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