It's the little things...

It's the little things that matter.

The unsolicited hug from a student...

The student who watches me intently,
trying to read my mind or having already read it,
in order to decide how she can revise
and adjust her group's presentation for the next day.

The very simple question, "What was hard about this activity?"
And, the very profound and honest responses
that lead to revisions and improvements in learning.

The collegial conversations, formal and informal,
about assessment, attitudes, unit planning,
and all the other issues that occupy teachers' work space.

The student that I still can't figure out,
though I've tried,
who suddenly talks about liking to read.
He writes about the first time he understood
what it's like to be disappointed
when the book you really want has been checked out from the library.

The birthday gift from the student who others have mostly given up on.
Despite many setbacks, he is still eager to learn.

The laughs, inevitable and so important in middle school,
that say,
"Everything's going to be all right."

At the end of the day,
I sigh and feel good about what I have accomplished,
and think ahead to the next day's learning,
and all the little things waiting to happen.
None of this can be measured but all of it is valuable.

It's the little things that matter.

Cross posted to Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life Tuesday

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