1. Like most of students that are in Reading class, one girl adamantly "hates reading." She never wanted to check out a personal reading book, rolled her eyes when I suggested a book, and spent a lot of time fake reading. This girl is half Lakota and often wears Lakota jewelry and is obviously very proud of her heritage. One day in the library, I said, "You know there are books here about Native American tribes." This time, I didn't get a snooty look, sigh, or roll of eyes. Instead, just one word: Where? She has been reading these nonfiction books for 2-3 weeks now and doesn't want to stop at the end of reading time.
2. Something I have found really amazing in my time teaching is the gap of knowledge so many of my students have about high school and college. So many of them have families that didn't go to college. Many more have parents that didn't even attend high school in the United States. Nothing captures their attention more than starting something off, "In high school, you will..." Whenever I mention college, I get bombarded with questions. What are credits? How many classes do you take? What kind of papers do you write? Where do you live in college? How many students are in a class? And although I sometimes move off subject for these conversations, they are some of my most memorable teaching moments, when my students look beyond the chapter they have to read today and wonder and make goals for themselves. I really think these kids need more of this in their lives.
3. I have one student who is a collector of words. She was born in a refugee camp in southeast Asia and moved her only a few years ago. She learns very fast and is always listening attentively to everything around her. Her favorite thing is new English words. She carries a journal around and when she hears me say something unknown or reads a new word in a book, her face lights up and her hand raises quickly. I come over and give a definition and an example. She writes it down and for the next few minutes, I can always see her lips moving, as if testing it in her mouth over and over. It makes my day.
4. I called a student's mother recently to ask for the student to stay after school in order to catch up and get some extra help on an assignment. She gladly agreed and we worked for an hour. Then I sat with the student in the parking lot until his mom could make it to pick him up. She showed up in a cleaning van, wearing a white uniform with a young child sitting next to her, screaming. She leaned out the window and apologized for making me wait and thanked me for helping her son. I shook my head and said, "No, thank you for changing up your schedule. Thank you for helping him." She didn't respond, but I think about that smile she gave me all the time.
5. The Latino Club at my school sells Mexican candy as a fundraiser every month or so. I found that I am a big fan of Bubu Lubu, a chocolate candy with marshmallow and jelly stuff in it. I have one student that is working very hard to get all As this year and comes in after school to get help with not only my class, but his English class too. Each time I help him after school, he gives me a Bubu Lubu. I told him this isn't necessary. My job is to help him. He said, "Nah, I want to. Cause you helped me be good." I asked why that was. "Last year, you told me you knew what it was like to be the oldest kid and want to be a good example for my little brothers. You said if I worked hard, my mom and little brothers would be proud. And now they get to watch me get honors." If I'm completely honest, I don't remember this conversation he mentioned at all, but evidently he did. I enjoyed that candy he brought, but there has been nothing more satisfying than his words all year long.
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