I’m not going to romanticize teaching
Because
Today, like every day there was someone picking their nose
Yesterday someone sneezed after the last bell, and as it ran down their face, they tried to use their fingers to wipe it away
It’s not just the snot
It’s not
Today I had to remind them
again that
when I talk it means I have something I want them to, you know, hear,
that I don’t want them to just
look
like they are listening,
I want them to listen
So the long and short of it is I am not here to
tell you it’s all
roses
It’s not
But —
We talked about my laugh lines today,
if you’ve ever written personal essays with 7 year olds, and used your own self portrait as an example, you will probably understand.
“How do we get laugh lines?” they asked me.
“How long does it take?”
An anxious boy asked me what he could do to get laugh lines like mine and I said
Smile as much as you can
So he smiled
Yesterday I asked what a big prize could be and someone said
Another year of second grade
Today after my big talk
where I explicitly taught how to listen
and ask clarifying questions,
they listened
and you should have heard those clarifying questions!
Later at recess, I put on my too big, too long, very warm winter coat.
A student walked over to me and said “Ms. Gabriel? Why do you look like a fluffy marshmallow?“
I laughed,
since I am collecting laugh lines
On a Thought 
Dear Fellow Late-Night Slicer,
I love this post :o)
First and foremost, because after teaching elementary, middle, high school and adults, I’m tickled to see you write about the students from my favorite grade – 2nd! They are so uniquely special to me!
I love the intellectual aspects of critical thinking and analysis that you are bringing to those tiny minds and big dreams. I’m convinced it’s because (unlike so many others), you recognize that they can handle it!
You are right – it’s not all roses. Oh, but the rewards are so satisfying! Cheers to you for celebrating the moments that matter most. Little people and literacy for me? Absolutely priceless.
May each day be richer than the day before.
~Dr. Carla Michelle
What joy you collected and shared with us, in spite of the fact that it’s not all roses! I enjoyed listening in on my 2nd grade grandson’s remote learning yesterday as they discussed main ideas and details.
Love that someone thinks a big prize would be another year of 2nd grade! Keep collecting those laugh lines.