listen + watch for the tears

one of my favorite things in life as a teacher is to read aloud to students.

in my 2nd grade classroom, i look forward to that sweet spot of time after lunch when my kids return + we sit gathered together listening to a few chapters of the novel we are reading.

sounds too good to be true, right? believe me, it is the best part of our day.

it’s part of our routine. part of the comfortable, contented, safe culture we have built as a class community. even if everything else goes off-schedule in our day, we make time for these treasured moments.

it’s like daily therapy.

after spring break we began reading charlotte’s web by e.b. white. you know the one: that classic tale of loyalty + friendship that spans through the life of a simple spider named charlotte + a barnyard pig named wilbur.

although published in 1952, it is timeless + interconnectedly woven into today’s life experiences.

charlotte + wilbur develop a beloved friendship as we study each of their character traits intently. my students look beyond the fantasy of these talking creatures to focus on the reality of their unpretentious + passionate determination.

i teach my young students how to fall in love with characters. how to empathize + put themselves in their shoes. how to look for the important lessons through the conversations + themes.

there were chapters that we found amusing, unpredictable, + silly.

there were chapters that we found confusing, troubling, + heartbreaking.

the main idea finds charlotte promising + persevering to save wilbur’s life as his fate is uncovered by an overheard human discussion. charlotte comes to his aid + crafts a brilliant plan to weave words into her web to praise wilbur’s special temperament.

wilbur feels he is undeserving of what Charlotte has done for him, further revealing the story’s moral that loyal friends will do anything for one another through faithful kindness + compassion.

this quote from the book is one that we specifically honed in on…

“why did you do all this for me?” he asked. “i don’t deserve it. i’ve never done anything for you.”

“you have been my friend,” replied charlotte. “that in itself is a tremendous thing.”

spoiler alert ahead.

wilbur ironically is unable to stop charlotte’s imminent death. but he promises to look after her children for the rest of his life.

the last chapter.

the last page.

the last paragraph led us to the end of our emotional journey with these human-like characters.

the narrator wraps it up with these words…

“wilbur never forgot charlotte…she was in a class by herself. it is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend + a good writer. charlotte was both.”

through the laughter + joy over the days of reading this aloud, there came times of sadness + tears. these students felt the sting of sorrow, even though there was a happy ending.

as i read that last line + closed the book with a sigh, i looked across the sea of teary eyes looking back at me.

my littles were crying. some were sobbing. the room fell silent + not one word was uttered for a few solemn moments.

i let the quiet stillness be.

i did not rush to make it all ok. i didn’t say, “oh come on, it’s just a story.”

i let them feel all the emotions.

this moment was teachable.

when the silence broke, we were able to share how we felt. one of my boys said, “i think my eyes are just sweating, and i don’t know why!”

i knew why. we talked about our feelings. about how valid it is to let ourselves outwardly express our joy + heartache. they go hand in hand.

they made me proud that day. and i told them so.

not one of them made fun of another. it was as if there was a mutual respect + admiration between each of them.

exactly what i had strived for all year.

y’all.

there are no words to describe the beautiful satisfaction that my heart will hold forever.

if i could pass along a few kind words to teachers + educators everywhere…

let them be. let them feel. let them know that they have permission to process whatever is inside of them.

create that environment that provides freedom to cheer loudly, to laugh + cry readily, to give generously, and to understand + respect differences gently.

talk them through it.

listen to them.

learn with them.

our kids are worth it.