“Sy. Sy, I did it. I wrote the whole thing in like 10 minutes…

IwasabouttofallasleepwhenIhadanideaandIsatupinbedandtypeditoutonmyphone, and…

When Meg finally took a breath, and I was able to process the whirlwind that came from her mouth, I discerned that she had finally found her topic, that she had finally gotten her introduction done. Meg never gets things done early, and she rarely gets things done by my deadlines, but she always gets them done. And though I do know the value of meeting deadlines (and the arguments against giving kids too much leeway), I also know Meg. I have spent the last 155 days learning with her. And in that time of learning, I have learned Meg. Meg the student. Meg the person. This is what I know.

She will not be placed into a compartment.

She is a fierce competitor.

She has a heart as big as the moon.

She will not stand for injustice.

She is well-spoken, but never soft-spoken.

She is a mathematical whiz.

She is a brilliant writer.

She does not like school.

She is from a broken home, but she is not broken.

She can convince you of anything–or at least she tries.

And, she will give you 100% if you give her the freedom to do so.

 

The freedom to do so. That is what I have most learned about Meg. Try to rein her in, and she will flee. Try to restrict her to the beaten path, and she will tromp off into the woods. Meg has to be Meg. So, I have let Meg be Meg. I have given her the freedom and granted her the grace she needs.

No, she is not the model student. She talks too much. She “wastes” time in class. She shrugs off most practice. If one were to base my effectiveness as a classroom teacher by observing Meg, I would fail. But if my “failing,” allows kids like Meg to succeed, then I will fail again and again.

Learning is messy. Learning is complicated. Learners are complicated. They do not fit neatly into the compartments that we imagine, that we force. And so, it is I who have learned this year. If we are not learning as much as the kids from our 180-day experience, then we are missing out. But learning is not simply noting. Learning is acting, allowing, bending, understanding. Meg taught me that.

She stayed after yesterday to read her intro (more like essay–it was at least 300 words) from her phone. She was only going to read the first couple of lines to give me a taste, but she couldn’t stop, and I didn’t want her to. I was transfixed by her light, and I just let her go, let her glow. And she did. And, of course, as I would expect knowing Meg, her speech topic: Live Your Life. Yes, Meg. Live your life, kid. Live. Your. Life.

Today’s Trail

Along today’s trail we will…

…begin with Smiles and Frowns.

…practice presentation skills: eye contact.

…end with a Sappy Sy Rhyme.

Happy Wednesday, all.

Do. Reflect. Do Better.