I really like a lot of my students this year, and so it's hard to pick a favorite. Part of it is not wanting to single out a favorite. Is it the girl who can hardly sit through her Do Now because she's so anxious to show me the latest simile she's found in her book? Or the boy who always says with a smile, "Good afternoon, Mrs. Gray" every afternoon when he leaves my room? Or the pudgy, elfish blonde boy the girls call "Lil' D" and who told me, "I really like this tutoring stuff, Mrs. Gray"? There are some great kids in the sixth grade.
I had to go with a gut feeling, though. And there's no doubt there. When I see her in the hallway, I can't help but smile. When Mr. Gioia and I talk about her, I adopt a gentle tone. Marie. Cue John Lennon's "Beautiful Boy" but sing "Beautiful Marie." Marie's a SPED student who really haunted me at the beginning of the year. She shuffled done the hallway and would come in with her head down, eyes on the floor, and she would barely make eye contact with anyone. Forget about getting a peep from her. I described her as having the look of a wounded animal. When you asked her a question, she would just look up at you with a sideways glance and then avert her eyes back at her page.
I remember the first day she raised her hand to answer a question in class; I delightedly called on her. I was worried that she would get the answer wrong and then would never raise her hand again, but she got it right! Then she kept on raising her hand throughout class. When the buses left, I told Mr. Gioia about Marie's triumphant debut in class, and he said the same thing had happened in his class! "Wow, Marie had a great day!" we exclaimed. Marie kept on having great days, and now every day is a great day for Marie. She gives a shy smile whenever I greet her at the door, and the wounded look in her eyes has become a sparkle of wonder. I love giving her praise because for Marie it seems that her lightbulb moment comes the instant you tell her she has gotten the question right, that she has done an excellent job, that she understands. She tells you the answer timidly but steadily, and I am so proud of her progress. She does as well as most of the regular ed students and better than many.
I know all this sounds really cheesy, but this girl fills me with genuine joy. Sweet Marie.
