We are currently experiencing snow in our forecast and it reminded me of a valuable lesson a third grader taught me several years ago.
The day had started out like any other school day and we were going about our morning literacy routine. Students were reading to themselves, reading with a partner, working on words, working on writing, or meeting in a small group or one-on-one conference with me. Lots of activity and focus with a room full of 8-9 year olds busy about the room.
I looked up at the end of conferring with a student and saw what I thought were a couple of snowflakes outside. I walked toward the window to get a closer look. The sky literally appeared to have opened up a giant cloud of snow right over our school. It was a giant surprise – nothing had been forecasted – and yet big, powdery drops were falling outside our classroom. Without even giving it a thought I said, “Grab your coats. We’re going outside!”
It took my students a moment to realize what was happening but when they did a screech came out of several mouths and jackets were adorned in record time.
We had a little plaza-type area outside of our room and that’s where we gathered – faces up towards the sky, waiting for snowflakes to dance on our tongues.
Ever on the watch for a great photo, I ran around snapping the pics above when I ran into one of my students with huge tears in her eyes. “There’s no crying during spontaneous snow breaks!” I loudly said to her while smiling and giving her a squeeze. “What’s going on?”
“Teacher, I’ve never seen snow before. It’s so beautiful.”
…and now her teacher was crying along with her. You see this student was new to our country having arrived just a few weeks prior from Chile. What an honor it was to watch her beautiful face tear up as she experienced snow for the first time.
She taught me something so valuable that day. Don’t let the moment pass. If I had been so caught up in making sure I stuck to my lesson plan, if I had not taken the time to glance outside, if I had not gone with what my heart led me to do, if I had not been afforded the freedom as a teacher to take these moments when we are given them – the moment would have been lost; both for me and for this precious girl.
Let’s remember to take them as they come. We may not get another chance.
Stay warm everyone and here’s to #Snowmageddon2019! Make sure to stop and catch a snowflake or two!!
So, I've been thinking... 