Teachers often wonder about their true impact on students. We have work samples, observations and assessments that help us gauge a student’s progress. But these can’t really let us know the degree of influence we’ve had on a student. And in many cases we may never know. We’re like mother turtles burying our eggs in the sand, only to swim away and hope for the best.
But then there are moments when the stars align and magic happens. This morning I was working with a 5th grade student whom I’ve worked with to varying degrees since first grade. He’s quiet and shy, but very sweet. He’d rather play soccer than anything else, especially read. He read the first few lines in The Amazing Amazon, by David Meissner, (Reading A-Z) then stopped. Looking up at me, he said, “It’s like a poem.”
I. was. speechless. Recovering quickly, I said, “I agree.” I asked why he thought so. Again, his response blew me away.
“Well, it rhymes and it’s describing. It’s like I can see it.”
As I said, magic. Here is the poem E found.
“There Is a Place”
There is a place where monkeys swing and howl.
There is a place where jaguars leap from tree to tree.
Bananas and pineapples grow for free.
Tiny frogs live in flowers.
Pink-colored dolphins swim in the river.
Storms come often,
and the air is sweet.
Sweet indeed.
Please be sure to visit Tara Smith at A Teaching Life for the Poetry Friday Roundup.
Reading to the Core 
Isn’t the best when a child reveals what they know and make a connection such as this.
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Hooray for E and for the impact of your work on the way he reads the world!
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I completely agree. How poetic that is! What a special moment you have to cherish now, Catherine.
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Beautiful, the story about you and E, and the poem, Catherine. What joy can be found in working with children!
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Such a joy-filled post! We are the lucky ones, aren’t we?
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What an amazing moment! I’m so happy that you got to be with E on that particular day of his learning journey. What a special, special time. I agree with Margaret. WE are the lucky ones in the sweet air. Thank you for sharing this.
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Be sure to congratulate E on a poem well-done, and let him know there are those of us who play soccer AND read – and write poetry! Coincidentally, I’m also sharing a South American jungle poem today, and will have a soccer-related poem in Amy LV’s new book that comes out this fall…so please let E know I’m very proud of his efforts, and we soccer-playing poets need to stick together!
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What a wonderful story… what a wonderful feeling… what a wonderful teacher! Happy Mother’s Day, Mama Turtle. Keep up the great work! 🙂
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An aha moment, those are so very special and full of wonder, thanks for sharing this with us and the poem!
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These are the moments, aren’t they? How wonderful that you were an important part of this young boy seeing the world with the eyes of a poet! Well done to both of you!
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