Monday, August 3, 2015

Storytime—Grab a Tissue

It was the first week of school during my very first teaching assignment.  I was assigned to a beautiful 5th grade classroom on the third story of a building that was built in the early 1900's in Des Moines, Iowa.  The room even had wooden floors, which are my absolute favorite.  I had only been with the children for four days, but I already loved them.

My first school picture as a teacher.  So young.  So thin.
Thursday morning had finally rolled around, and I had been anticipating it all week.  I was going to read aloud to my class.  A scene I had envisioned many times before, I had the perfect book for the occasion:  Thank You, Mr. Falker, by Patricia Polacco.  (Spoiler Alert) The author writes and illustrates her children's books, and this one is autobiographical.  The story tells of a little girl in elementary school that struggles with dyslexia, and the teacher that went the extra mile to help her.  You do not find out that the book is about Mrs. Polacco until the last page, when she is done telling her tale.

I sat reading the book in a rocking chair, with my students huddled around me on the carpet area.  I could tell they were completely taken by the story by the looks on their faces.  "Yes," I thought to myself, "I have arrived."  I turned the page for the exciting reveal, the part where I would read that the whole story was about Patricia Polacco herself!

As I got ready to share the part about her running into Mr. Falker and thanking him thirty years later, I looked into the audience of students who were now mine.  A small lump began forming at the back of my throat.  "Hold it together," I said in my mind.  I continued, "thank you, Mr. Fal..."  and then I lost it.  Not a "single tear down my cheek," kind of lost it.  But rather a, "heavy sobbing where your whole body weeps," sort while I finished what she said to him.  If there was ever an awkward classroom moment, this was it.  Complete silence.  I didn't know what to do!  No amount of training or education had prepared me for this.  In fact, we were often encouraged not to display such emotion in front of our pupils, especially during the first week of school!

Zach, who sat right in front of me at my feet with his head down, stifled a nasal laugh.  And then it happened.  I don't know who started it, but I heard a single hand clap at the back of the classroom.  And then another.  And another.  Before you knew it, the whole class had exploded into thunderclaps!  It was as if I had just won the Academy Award for reading aloud.  One of the children handed me a tissue, and we went on with our day.

Of course, it became the running joke the rest of the school year whenever we went to the carpet area for story time.  "Grab the tissue box," someone would say, "she might cry."

McKinley Elementary in Des Moines, Iowa, the first school I had the privilege of working at.
Pictures are in black and white because they are from the school's yearbook.  I didn't teach that long ago. ;)



10 comments:

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  2. Wait a minute! Now I'm experiencing laughter turbulence with exasperated sobbing or smiling as I go! That was so good. It reminded ME of the time I cried at the end of reading an essay: a personal narrative about Tio Meme to 11th graders! Wow! Your writing is so wonderful. Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Glad I'm not alone in the crying, Ilsa! And thanks for reading and enjoying. :D

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  3. Beautiful! What a great memory and heartwarming story. Yes, nothing prepares you for that first year as a teacher. But that moment, I assure you Giana will never be forgotten by your students. I'm glad you cried. It was authentic, appropriate and without meaning to, you created an unforgettable teaching moment for those 5th grade students!

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    1. I agree, Sonya! Thank you so much. One of the best jobs in the world. :)

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  4. I love this story, your story! Ever since you told my class about it, I've read it to all my students who come through. Then I think of you, and try not to cry!

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    1. I'm so happy to hear this, friend! It really is a great book. :) And it's difficult to not cry- just let it flow! ;)

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  5. What a fabulous way to show your students you are human too. Plus give them something to look forward to for the next read aloud. :)

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    1. Ha, ha! Thanks, Michelle. That was actually my plan the whole time... ;)

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