Warner Update
Making a difference, one person at a time
What We Do Matters (Nov. 16 - 23)
This week I share a story that was published in Reader's Digest.
A Reason To Be Thankful
When Mrs. Klein told her first graders to draw a picture of something for which they were thankful, she thought how little these children, who lived in a deteriorating neighborhood, actually had to be thankful for.
She knew that most of the class would draw pictures of turkeys or of bountifully laden Thanksgiving tables. That was what they believed was expected of them.
What took Mrs. Klein aback was Douglas’s picture. Douglas was so forlorn and likely to be found close in her shadow as they went outside for recess. Douglas’s drawing was simply this:
A hand, obviously, but whose hand?
The class was captivated by his image. “I think it must be the hand of God that brings us food,” said one student.
“A farmer,” said another, “because they grow the turkeys.”
“It looks more like a policeman, and they protect us.” “I think,” said Lavinia, who was always so serious, “that it is supposed to be all the hands that help us, but Douglas could only draw one of them.”
Mrs. Klein had almost forgotten Douglas in her pleasure at finding the class so responsive. When she had the others at work on another project, she bent over his desk and asked whose hand it was.
Douglas mumbled, “It’s yours, Teacher.”
Then Mrs. Klein recalled that she had taken Douglas by the hand from time to time; she often did that with the children. But that it meant so much to Douglas …
Perhaps, she reflected, this was her Thanksgiving, and everybody’s Thanksgiving—not the material things given unto us, but the small ways that we give something to others.
As educators these are the moments that melt us and remind us why we love what we do. This week I encourage you to connect with a student that you don't always seem to connect with.
Be thankful for the moments we have.
Next Week At A Glance:
Wednesday, November 20th: STEM, Music PLC at Admin
Wednesday, November 20th: Grades 3-5 assembly 8:45am
Wednesday, November 20th: PLC collaboration
- Discuss Formative Assessments for Essential Standards
- Plan intentional questions that assist with formative assessments (based on the video from the staff meeting)
- Plan WIN time groups for students that are not understanding essential standards
- Plan WIN time groups for students that are ready to keep moving forward
Thursday, November 21st: TEAM Meeting 9am
Friday, November 22nd: Staff Challenge...
- High Five Friday: write five positive notes to people before the weekend
* Observation season is upon us. Feel free to send me an invite, otherwise you can expect a drop in sometime soon.
* Canned Good Challenge begins this week (starts Monday and ends Tuesday, Nov. 26th)
- As a school if we bring in 1200 or more canned goods one representative from each class gets to silly string Mr. Gilpin.