We sat in the sparkly white hallway, our backs against the wall. Owen’s knees were propped up, a place to rest the book he was reading. “”Get the carrots,” said mom. I put s…”
His eyes looked to me then back to the book. I watched him do all the right things, all the strategies we had been practicing. He looked at the picture, then back to the words. He studied that word that caused him to lose his reading flow. I silently cheered him on, not wanting to interrupt his work.
Just as I considered telling him the word, he said, “I need to reread this page again,” already pointing and reading each word on the previous page. He knew he would find what he needed there.
“‘Get some carrots,’ said mom. I put SOME carrots in the cart.”
A smile crept onto Owen’s face before his eyes rose from the page and found mine. My smile matched his.
These smiles are why I teach. There is beauty in watching someone do something they couldn’t do before, in the realization that they can.
Where There's Joy 
I loved following this scene and the hope it embodies. So glad to have occasion to read more of your writing this month.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good for him! I love the way you capture the moment. It’s a perfect slice!
LikeLike
This is such good evidence for the “productive struggle.” It’s so good that in that moment Owen was able to struggle a bit, figure out what he needed to do, do it, and succeed. That’s such powerful learning. I can see his smile….and yours.
LikeLike
All the joy. All the work is in the space where we wait. Letting the readers sit in the struggle and learn that retrieval feel. That’s the joy of my day as well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
SOME can bring so much joy! Loved this! (And you gave me an idea for a future post!)
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a beautiful moment you captured here. And as you said, this is why we teach… watching someone do something they couldn’t do before. As a middle school teacher, this topic frustrates me at times, as I watch kids receive “assignments” that really only require them to do something they already know how to do (or don’t). What you’re describing is what real learning is all about. Love it!
LikeLike
THESE are the moments we live for as teachers! You captured it so beautifully. Thank you for sharing that tiny, yet momentous slice!
LikeLike
What a wonderfully captured moment! I love how important your patience, your quiet is in his learning. And you capture the moment – the wait, the joy – incredibly well.
You know, I have been toying with taking a course on teaching reading – an anomaly for a high school teacher, I know, but my students are really struggling – and this might just push me over the edge.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That would be amazing! I’m curious about literacy instruction in middle school and high school. I’d love to hear how it goes as you take this on!
LikeLike
I love how you took such a small moment in time and shared in detail what was happening. My favorite though is your ending. So true that “There is beauty in watching someone do something they couldn’t do before, in the realization that they can.”
LikeLike
YES! This is why we teach! And I always love the “light” that comes into their eyes at that moment. Happy Sunday!
LikeLike
Yes, this is absolutely why we teach! Kudos to your student, and kudos to you for giving him adequate wait time, affirming your belief in him.
LikeLike
This is it… this is why we choose to teach!
LikeLike
It is a pleasure to see the benefits of what we do. The excitement, the satisfaction, the “light bulb” moments erase all the negatives of our jobs!!
LikeLike
Patience is a virtue and exactly what needed to happen to show a little boy that he can be successful! What a beautiful image!
LikeLike
This moment, right here…this is why we teach. I saw a Peanuts cartoon somewhere recently. Charlie Brown says something like, “Shouldn’t we all live to make the world a better place?” and Linus replies, “Yes, but we can’t all be teachers.”
You are making the world a better place for this child.
LikeLike
Yes! That is teaching’s true reward-that spark of light in the eyes when you know what you have taught has “clicked” with the student! What a wonderful moment!
LikeLike
What a great capture! I love that you let us join you in this celebration of a reader who is making progress. I hope tackling some will give him confidence to read “some” more!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah Owen! I love hearing about his success! Lovely slice!
LikeLike