“Hey! I have an idea for our tutoring time I’d really like to do today,” said my student as I sat down at her dining room table.
“Sure! What did you have in mind?” I said, waiting for a fun surprise.
“Next week is our last week together with the group and I wanted to write a poem for each of the girls who are graduating or leaving.”
“That sounds like a great idea,” I responded. “Let’s see how we want to go about doing that.”
So we sat at the table and gave her one example she could draw from if she chose. I showed her what I wrote for one of the graduating students to share in front of the other parents and students .
If I could give out an award for bravery, it would be all yours. You came into Maple Key last school year mere weeks after moving here to TN from your whole world in CA. As we listened to tales of your new life, your new house and new animals, it always made me wonder, “How is she handling all these new changes so well?” You came in each week willing to jump right in for gardening, watercolor, or a good laugh. If someone were looking in from the outside, they would have never known that you hadn’t lived here long or been a part of our group for years because you embraced your new life here. This year you rallied all the girls together not only to go to the middle school dance, but for you all to get ready together. The stories that came from that event – both anxious and hilarious – might not have happened if you hadn’t assured them that there would be something for everyone.
One of the things I admire about you is that you don’t let setbacks get in your way because you believe there is a great big world out there for you to delight in and discover. I have seen time and time again, if you don’t know how to do something you always find a way to learn and adapt. If something annoys you, you have the self awareness to acknowledge it but don’t hold a grudge against the situation. You have a true entrepreneurial spirit, a jack of all trades who will be in high demand for whatever she sets her sights on in the future. But most of all, you are the kind, gentle big sister we needed this year.
I told her that I would take these paragraphs and make it into a poem so she could see how I pulled out adjectives and ideas from what I wrote and included other things I knew about the student she was writing about.
A Long Journey
You did it:
– The plane rides that made you anxious
– Embracing a new set of friends
– Training new animals
– Becoming a DIYer
You are filled with:
– laughter
– leadership
– love
– delight
– dreams
– discovery
You share tales of your old life, as it tries to blend in with the new
– Gnarly
-Smoothies
-Sunshine
– Goats
– Horses
– Gardening
You always find a way to learn and adapt
You are the kind, gentle big sister we all needed this year
As I said, I just made that poem up on the spot, not trying to overthink any particular line. The point was not for my poem to shine, but for her to see a way forward as she visualized the person she was writing about and play around with form. Just that 5 minute little exercise gave her a boost to finish up her own inspired creative endeavor after I left.
When the time came, I was so anxious to hear what she had come up with! This 7th grader read her poems in front of the other students and parents with confidence. One of the students graduating was her older sister and when she shared the title “Trailblazer”, the waterworks were coming from many eyes in the room.
What a joy it is to be a part of that facilitation process where students’ ideas are incorporated and they can assess their own and others’ growth over time. Goodbyes are always hard at the end of the year, but seeing students leave with hearts and minds full and younger students ready for another year of inspiration in August certainly helps ease the transition of hugs and tears.
Maple Key Tutoring 