School Snippet

Sigh.
We finished our read-aloud book today, The Watsons Go To Birmingham, 1963. This is my favorite juvenile fiction book ever, and I read it aloud every other year. Every other year I cry like a baby in the end, too--and I'm truly not prone to crying. I read it because it's the best I know of with regard to character development, and the themes are moving and relevant to all of us still. The characters live and breathe and laugh so hard their eyes cross and the slob falls out of their mouths--and the reader's, too! The entire book, except for the last 2 chapters, just develops the everyday stories of the Watson's lives. And then, in the last 2 chapters, the unthinkable happens and the reader understands that nothing will ever be the same again...

This morning I was reading and trying to swallow the lump in my throat. I tried to be inconspicuous with the tears running down my cheeks, but my voice kept cracking. The kids knew, and it was totally silent in the room, as they listened with bated breath. We passed the Kleenex (most of my 7 were silently weeping by this point) just as the FIRE ALARM WENT OFF! Out we marched in single file, trying not to make a peep as is fire alarm protocol, and absolutely doubled over with stifled cries and laughter! As soon as we hit the back doors, my entire group erupted into laughing fits, dripping and snotting and snorting and tripping over each other until they managed to line up long enough to await the "all clear" to reenter the building. We were quite the sight, standing in our semi-straight line and quivering all over with unexpressed emotion--which was totally appropriate for the emotionally wrenching morning we were having!

And then I remembered: I love what I do. I forget so often lately. But this morning I loved it again, and I loved them again, and my goodness, that feels amazing. When we tumbled back into the classroom, they laughed and cried like little maniacs for a good 15 minutes, and then got to work writing the best reflective essays I've ever seen. My sides still hurt from our shared laugh, and I can't wait to comment on their hard work with silly little anecdotes I hope they always remember. What a fun day we had.