Friday, October 25, 2013

Albert and Olive and Friendships That I Miss

Beads For Sale

I miss some of  my old students.

One of the most magical thing about my personal teaching journey, has been teaching the same students for 2, sometimes 3 years. You can probably imagine the amount of growth we've experienced together, on both sides, as they develop their learning craft and I develop my teaching craft.

I miss Albert, but more particularly, his best friendship of many years with Olive, a very gifted girl in my class whom I have taught all 3 years of my teaching career. Albert was also a stellar student of great intellectual curiosity with a thirst to be the best. They were wonderful friends, innocent playmates on the playground who could share in elaborate pretend. They would brandish stick wands and travel across continents in the time it takes to cross to the other side of the play-structure. The classroom, in their minds, was a race to the top. "It's lonely at the top" might be a common saying, but not for these two. They were in good company up there, and always pushing each other to the next great height.

It makes me think more than ever than I HAVE to do my next DRC* on Olive. She is the only student for whom I have a real burning question: How can I take up Albert's mantle and push her big brain to the limits? Once upon a time she was a 2nd grader among 3rd graders. Now she is a 4th grader among 2nd graders. She's finally at the top of the chain, but I'm not sure she feels that way. For once in her entire school life, she has no Albert by her side to help navigate the path to 4th grade glory. She inspires me and she breaks my heart. How do I give her that torch to light the way so she can navigate her own path to excellence?

Loel and Meraud Guinness  (LOC)
 

*DRC= Descriptive Review of a Child

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