She told me advice she got her first year of teaching. She said when things got tough to "pick one kid." Pick one kid to focus on to make a difference in one kids life. What could be more simple or powerful? In other professions you focus on one task at a time. In our profession we often have 500+ people to focus. So is one enough? Today it is.
I wanted to share with you one special kid that made my day. This little girl is in a large class but she shines. A little light that I want to keep shining bright! Usually I pick a difficult kid to be that one kid, but this year, she's my one kid.
Look what she made with our "magic seed" project. We read The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle. I gave them a tiny "magic" seed that could grow any type of plant they could dream of. We had motorcycle plants, pizza plants, kid plants, cupcake plants, butterfly plants, the list goes on! This is her giant art flower. She incorporated all the lines we've been learning about in art!
14 comments:
What a great story and picture! I love the idea about one kid. That is sort of what I try to remember on "those" days. I look for the one kid in my day that is positive and full of smiles. I may not have them in class that day but sometimes just passing in the hall helps. Just one smile.
I may have to borrow your Art idea too. Thanks for the inspiration!
Erica, this is so amazing! It can be easy to get caught up in the day-to-day of our jobs with 125 students coming in and out of our rooms (and the chaos that this sometimes means). But this philosophy is so right on...I think any teacher needs to make this their mantra. <3 Thank you for sharing! You are an awesome, inspiring teacher yourself!
Thanks! My cheeks are wet:) So nice of you guys to comment!
OH! That is so sweet! I like the idea of ONE KID. You are lucky to have great wisdom in your life. You are a great person to be able to love life (and kids) as much as I see you do through this blog. Thanks for sharing your story today!
awww. What a great flower! I love what she wrote!
I know she's only in First Grade pretty great sounding out and handwriting!
Just fabulous! I love the joy in the drawing. Sometimes, I think, our "one kid" picks us, rather than us doing the picking. Mine used to be the radiant little girl who gave me my morning hug, every morning, no matter what, right through 6th grade. I don't see her too often any more, but I think maybe I think SHE chose ME and it was special to both of us.
Amazing! Thanks for sharing!
You have some very lucky students! I think your "art diet" is fantastic :)
Ok, love the story about the "one kid" and don't mean to skip over that, because I have often had years where "one kid" was so inspiring, but I was wondering...is this a project where you motivated the kids and let them take off with their ideas, or did you have a demonstration and/or examples of your own to inspire them? Great idea!!
Phyl that is true the kid does pick you one picked me yesterday! So now I guess I have two!
Thanks Kristin.
Amy, we got the idea from the Tiny Seed book. In the end the Tiny Seed grows taller than a house! We brainstormed about things our magic seed could grow into. I started drawing a lot of their ideas on the whiteboard as we brainstormed. The leaves and flowers we brainstormed all different kinds of lines we learned and reviewed that vocabulary. I would like to plant tiny "mystery seeds" and see what they grow into as a follow up. Maybe one for each first grade? I just got a grow light donated wahoo.
First of all, CONGRATULATIONS on your soon-to-be member of your family:) Second, I love love love the magic seed lesson. It opens up a wonderful opportunity for your students' soul and dreams to come through. I'm definitely going to borrow this one!
Thanks Sora! I got the idea from another blogger (who I can't find now!) who read Jack and the Beanstalk and had the kids make their own plants. I really need to learn to use bookmarks better so I don't lose track of where these ideas come from! If it was your idea please remind me! I can blame it on pregnancy brain :)
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