i have something to tell you.
or should i say…show you?
this is what the ball monitor wrote during writer’s workshop. the athletic boy who is very quiet. now i know something else about him. he is sensitive and wants to be a writer. of all the students in the class he is not who i expected to write something so beautiful.
he brought me his composition book shyly and held it out to me.
i read it.
2 big tears nearly rolled down my cheeks, but i forced them back inside.
i said,
this is so so good. my favorite writing of the day. do you know why?
no
because you made me FEEL something with your words.
i tapped my heart. right here.
i don’t have any photos to match my writing today, so here are some flowers from my walk on sunday.
little by little our classroom is looking better.
today i left more lights on when i read the witches. someone cried yesterday. i told her she could bring her stuffed animal with her to school and hold it when i read. no tears today.
a good writer can take things that aren’t real and make them seem real. i tell them. isn’t that cool?
yes yes yes!!! everyone agrees.
i brought my giant ebay map of the world to school and hung it up. made small tags out of index cards to show nepal, pakistan, vietnam, the phillipines, panama, china, mexico, and the setting of the witches.
i brought my norway blurb book.
i think we need a mini cruise ship so we can sail to all the cities mentioned in the story. while we drift from port to port we can write and read and draw and make sea voyage calculations, measure wind speed, figure out why things float in salty water, write our memoirs and stories. sing songs.
alan said,
it’s kinda strange having a funny teacher.
I love you so much, Mary Ann. Thank you for dedicating yourself to teaching. You are what the world needs.
Remind me why immigrants are such a terrible thing?
Heartbreaking, but such a sweet story.
So much heart break in words coming from such a small hand….I am touched and moved. I loved hearing about your response to his writing as well. These kinds of stories open my heart up big and wide in the knowledge that these are the wee ones who will be in charge one day. A child who already is using words to create understanding. That is a gift. Oh my goodness….Mary Ann. Bear hugs from across the miles.
Bit by bit, as I come to know your new class, a microcosm it would seem, I leave here restored to hope and trust for our futures in the hands of these children, especially under your guidance. How did we become so unclear about what really matters? xo
Your words, your students words, such a gift you gave us, thanks….xoxox
Your words, your students words… Such a gift for us all, thanks ms. moss.xoxox
Ms. Moss, you are such a gifted story teller. You got me choked up and made me laugh in such a short time! I love it here. 🙂
Lovely, touching post.
I’ve said it before and will continue to say that these kids are so fortunate to have you in their life!
I am very happy for Alan and his cohort. It’s the funny teachers that make you want to think. And explore. And celebrate when you find your way. Because funny people notice what’s happening.
Oh My ! The rewards of teaching and making a child feel safe enought to freely express himself! you were meant to be his teacher!!
Well, you made me cry today. Such a touching story by your young student. I love the sentence: “When I learned to write a sentence I fell in love with writing.” I hope this boy keeps that feeling with him for the rest of his life. And you will have a tremendous impact on this child. You were meant to teach that’s for sure. I hope you’ll keep us posted with the events in your classroom. Takes me back to the days when I was in school. It was my refuge from a very troubled home life. The place i felt safe.
Dear Dear Mary Ann,
It probably is strange for most of these children to have a “funny teacher” or even to have a descriptor for a teacher at all… One who is not afraid to let them know the human being underneath that person who teaches, who disciplines; for you not only perform those functions but you model, you lead. And how rare? I wonder often if you know how rare… And to have a teacher that sees past all of those descriptors that are told to you about each student; the one who is “athletic”, or “angry”, or “mean” or “not smart” and see that there is a little human there, each with little gems to offer the world. And you offer to them of yourself so that they can see how they can be the best of what they really are. How lucky are they? And you, How amazing! How unique! How YOU!!! I hope you will never stop teaching altogether, Mary Ann. The future needs more of you…
Susan
little humans with little gems.
i like that.
i like it a lot.
thank you and everyone else for leaving these little love notes. i’ve read every one and it’s a GOOD way to start my 48 hour vacation. xoxo
Mary Ann Moss, you touched a lot of hearts today. Angie raised her girls right with inquiring minds and wide-open hearts. Thanks for sharing the beauty you find and inspiring so many of us!
Dear Mary Ann, this post touched me. Right here (she said, tapping her heart). I am 56 years old and still remember and think often of my 5th grade teacher who impacted my life so greatly – imagine the mark you are making on these beautiful young minds. I don’t comment often, but look forward to your blog every day (and am bummed when there isn’t one!). For years I have followed your journeys and how beautifully you document them. Up until last November, I had my husband to travel with. Sadly and suddenly, he left this world and I find myself missing our adventures and journeying the world. Your blog gives me hope and courage that I can do this on my own and that many adventures are still to come. Thanks for sharing the world through your eyes and your art – I am heading now to book a trip. Just me. Just for me. And then I want to find a job where I can touch others – just like you do. You are my hero. xo Lorraine
oh lorraine so sorry about your husband. you must miss him so so so much. 🙁
listen…you CAN and you WILL learn to love traveling alone.
it will never be the same as traveling with your love, but it will be lovely and different.
and you will feel brave for doing it.
xo
Mary Ann, this was my favorite writing of the day. The kids in your class are so lucky to have you for their teacher! You have a beautiful heart to go along with your beautiful art.
Oh my melted heart …
So beautiful, Mary Ann … all of it … the awesome boy … his heartfelt story … the lovely flowers … and you, our marvelous and amazing Ms. Moss … kind talented caring creative and funny teacher and friend 🙂
Deat Mary Ann,
How wonderful to have a teacher like you. The impact that you have on their (and so many other lives) is immeasurable. You have such a kind heart, adventurous spirit and creative soul. The words you said to that young man about making you feel something are inspirational to me, too.
Thanks for being you.
Sheryl
and now you paid it forward and made me cry with your words. You Moss girls are something else.
You remind me of my 5th grade teacher, Mrs. White. She made geography fun because she shared her travel experiences with us. She went to Spain and Portugal and brought in lace and other items from the region to show us. I can’t believe I still remember her! I guess she made a great impression on me. You are making a great impression on your kids. How lucky they are. I would love to be in your class!
Wow. I started crying before you said you said you fought your own tears back. I grew up in just north of San Francisco, my Mom was a teachers aide in our elementary school. In the seventies we had Vietnamese Boat People immigrate (escape) to our town. My mom had the chance (pleasure) to see these children, with no knowledge of English evolve into Americans. One special boy become a personal project for her to turn into a “warm soul”. The harder she tried, the harder he resisted. By the end of the school year, he had emerged as a smart, sensitive, thoughtful boy 5th grader. She stayed in touch with that boy for many years. I can’t imagine the horror most of these immigrants (well, my relatives too, generations back) went through to get here. We, the ones that have been here thanks the ones that braved the events to get here. Mary Ann, thank you for sharing these tales with us. Beth Allen
If I were in 4th grade i would want you to be my teacher!
you got the best compliment a teacher can wish for: both in words and feelings shared.
I agree with all of comments times 10! The photos are magnificent, did you use your phone camera?
Dear Mary Ann, i don’t have the words to express in english what i want to say. You are a life-changer to your students and the lucky people that know you, even when they know you only from the world-wide-web.
Lucky, lucky kids. Think your year will be memorable as well.
It’s none of my business but do you know where your student lived in Nepal?
Beautiful, crushingly beautiful, story of the boy missing his grandfather. What depths you find in your students.
You are the best, Ms. Moss. And you are funny!
XO
So wonderful, thank you.
I’ve just returned from seeing the 25th anniversary showing of Miss Saigon (in Fathom Events). I’d only known a bit about the musical. How timely to read this boy’s writing immediately after a powerful experience of moments from Vietnam War and aftermath.
We’ve all immigrated at one time.
Beautiful… and my tears won’t go back in!!!
All Wonderful, for you and your students? Warms my heart to hear about these things, but to experience them in person is such an amazing gift for you. You are a life changer.
What a precious soul that little fellow has. I have no doubt whatsoever,that he will indeed be a writer. “When I wrote a sentence, I fell in love with writing”. He is smitten with it already. So touching! As for you, Ms Moss, I think you are quite the writer yourself, and I would preorder any book you decided to write. I hope you will one day. You definitely know how to turn a phrase, and insert emotion AND humor. The best part is that you could illustrate it too. So, don’t get a big head or anything, but you are kinda my heroine:). Those kids will always remember you…because as almost every one of them said, “you are KIND”. And you are fascinating too, and they see that. When my son was having trouble in school (pretty much the entire time) I told him, “Jordan, you need to learn to LOVE to learn”. A good teacher makes that easier, don’t they?
Oh my Gosh! I love your students.
And you, Ms Moss, are a great writer as well…you made me feel something too.
Such a lovely post! Your kids are very lucky to have you as their teacher…and you are very lucky to have such a wondeful group of students!
I wish all children the world over, could have you for their teacher. Thank you.
Thank you for sharing another of your students with us. Such a wonderfully sensitive and gifted child. I’m sure that someday he will write books that will have all of “fell something with his words.” How lucky he is to have such a nurturing teacher as you.
Once again, another group of young students who are so fortunate to have crossed paths with a teacher they will remember always. Of this I am certain.
Next year Alan will say “it’s kinda boring having a ‘normal’ teacher.” !!!
And I love the mini cruise ship idea. Great way to teach so many subjects while widening their worlds.
(And 17 hours to “lift-off” and widening my world – thank you for the encouragement!)
I was so moved by your post today. That young fella has a future and is lucky to have you as a teacher.
He is very advanced for his age to be able to put those thoughts of a loved one in words.
As adults we struggle with this. Thank you so much for sharing your students with us!
Okay. His words and your words drew the tears close and softened the day a little. Because you made me feel something with your words.
Beautiful, sensitive, heartfelt writing. He feels safe enough to express his deepest thoughts to you. Lucky students!
What a soul! I’m really glad he’s got a perceptive teacher who will encourage him, so very important at a young age. So very important at any age really.
A couple tears rolling here, too.
– Tina
That is so sweet!!! I wish you were my grandkids teacher!! What a beautiful spirit you have!! And are FUN!!! Thank you for your posts!! I love them!! ❤️
Thank you for this post. the words written by the young man are so touching and real. One sentence you wrote touched me deeply. “You made me feel something with your words.” Someday I will tell you why these words mean so much. Congratulation to your young student and to you for being such a wonderful teacher. You are the best.