Coffee Makes It Better? #SOLC22

 

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Two Writing Teachers

Yesterday morning one of my quiet 8th graders, M,  spoke up.

"Ms. B cried in class yesterday.  There are students who just can't stop talking back to her."

We talked a bit about how it made M and Ms. B feel.  I shared that I felt bad for both Ms B. as well as the students who aren't causing trouble.

"Should we do a little something for Ms. B?"  I asked M.  "Can you quietly find out if she is Team Dunkin or Team Starbucks?"

M looked a little confused, but then her eyes lit up.  "I can do that!" she replied.

After discovering that Ms. B is Team Dunkin, I told M I would get Ms. B some Dunkin in the morning.  M worried that she didn't know what kind of coffee would be best.

"No worries," I replied.

Flashback to 2015.  I've gotten a job at an elementary school in a new district.  Each month, there are school-wide emails exclaiming, "Thanks Starbucks Fairy! I definitely needed the boost today!"

I wondered who this "fairy" was.  I wondered why people - seemingly random -- were getting Starbucks cards.  The excitement was palpable.  People didn't expect a card, but were super happy to have a $5 card in their mailbox on a random day.

This morning, I handed M a $5 Dunkin card and envelope.  With my pen paused, I asked her what we should write.

"Sign it from an anonymous student in period 8," stated M.  "Tell her we hope she smiles when she gets a coffee from us."

M then grabbed the pass to quickly and quietly place the card on Ms. B's desk next door (luckily she has a meeting during our class!).

We don't know if coffee makes a rough day better, but we hope Ms. B knows that her students care about her.

Spilled Coffee #SOLC19

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Two Writing Teachers

Yesterday afternoon, I helped a student by cleaning out her desk.  I wrote about it in this slice:  A Clean Desk.

This morning, the student came looking for me. 
"Thanks so much," she said as she gave me a big hug. 
"You are very welcome," I replied.  "I was happy to help."

About fifteen minutes later, I met the same student and her four classmates for reading intervention. 
I gave each student a book, and we started previewing vocabulary and activating their schema.  At this point, I knocked over my venti latte.

I was able to grab a roll of paper towels and contain the mess.  Luckily I did not end up with a lap full of coffee, and the student next to me only had a few drips on his book.

As this was all happening, my student with the freshly cleaned desk grabbed a wad of paper towels and jumped in to help. 
"Stop laughing and help us!" she chided her classmates.

The rest of the lesson was a wash, including one student's stinging remark, "I thought grownups were supposed to be responsible."

I sighed and responded, "Yes, but sometimes we are clumsy humans."

I'm grateful for the kindness showed to me by my student who I helped yesterday.
Yes, friends, spreading kindness is worth your time.