When They Leave Us

About five and a half years ago, I wrote a Tip of the Week titled “The Mary Poppins Principle.” It focused on how the element of fun can bring joy to our learning and was inspired by a single water aerobics coach.

I thought of that coach again recently when I was in a different pool being led by a young, slightly inexperienced instructor. She asked us to jog the length of the pool back and forth twice, and I could hear the voice of my former instructor reminding me to push and pull the water with my hands as my arms swung back and forth. This simple way to maximize the benefit of the activity is still ingrained in me all these years later.

Today is our last day of school, and though students are leaving for the summer, they aren’t really leaving us. They are taking part of us with them. Certain things they have internalized this year will shine on with automaticity as they move forward in school and in life.

In the fall, no matter what their classrooms are like, thousands of children will know when it’s time to read that they are going to stay in one place, read quietly, ignore distractions, and get lost in a good book that they selected themselves. They will do it because they internalized it when they were with you.

Years from now, you may bump into a former student, now taller than you, and they’ll say, “You were the first person who told me I was a writer.” Or “It was when I was with you that I learned that reading is fun, and I still read for fun almost every day.”

Dear teachers, you matter. What you do matters. Enjoy your much deserved break. And rest in the joyful knowledge that you’ve instilled things that will last lifetimes.

Did you know we are hosting our first ever, live online training with teachers from all over?!

We cannot wait to interact and learn together THIS Monday, June 26th from 8 a.m. PT to 2 p.m. PT.
In this one-day event you will get a step by step plan to build independent, self-regulated readers, get started conferring, and teach brief, effective lessons in your classroom. (And we will have fun together too!)
There is still time to join us. Learn more and register today.

Did you catch the webinar that Gail and Allison taught on the latest evolution of Daily 5 and CAFE? It shares how the evidence based practices found in Daily 5 and CAFE provide you a Prepared Classroom.
Watch it now.