Journal: December 1, 2005

Yesterday, two wonderful realizations came to me. I realized, first of all, that my 9th grade students can think and write extremely well. I discovered this (actually I’ve known it for months, so I guess I re-discovered it) because I had them write an in-class essay on a very difficult topic, and they did a marvelous job on it. They wrote busily and thoughtfully for 30 minutes, and, as I read their fluid, orderly essays later, I realized that these kids write way better than I could when I was their age – way better than most high school students I’ve ever heard of. I also realized (or re-realized) that a heavy rainstorm during a busy school day can be a soothing experience. For most of the day the rain drummed down on the grass and bushes outside my classroom, and it was a quiet music for my students and I to listen to. As we went through the paces of our English work, we were accompanied by the pleasant harmonies of the late-autumn storm outside.