I didn't understand but now I do

That is the greatest thing I can ever have a student say to me.

Today was my last day at one of the elementary schools I've been teaching at this summer. I finished with the intermediate school kids last week. Tomorrow marks the end of my summer teaching all together.

Despite the sadness of leaving these students, most of whom I'll probably not see again, it was a day of joy. When I walked into my first class they had already moved their desks and were sitting silently in a circle in the center of the room; this is how we start every class. They were excited to perform the story we'd been working on, with no direction from me, and eagerly showed their classroom teacher at the end of the period. Then they presented me with an envelope of letters they'd written.

Then they all hugged me. The first to hug me was one of the least focused boys in the class, who constantly needed to be reminded to pay attention and follow directions. I find that teaching theatre usually reaches these children the most. These are the kids diagnosed as ADD or ADHD or the ones that are "too wild" or "unfocused." This school was no exception. This boy told me that he was sad that he wouldn't see me next summer because he is moving to Virginia. *sigh* :)

Here is a sampling of my favorite comments from the letters (this is a 3rd grade class- I have not corrected any spelling or grammar, but I've translated in a couple of places):


"thank you ms Lani doeg drama weth us and pantomime and pasing aroad invesubl itums (passing around invisible items)"

"When we started drama I was so nervous. But when we were done I was't scared any more. When you said pantomime I didn't under stand but now I do."

"Dear Ms Lani, thank you for teaching us all about drama. It's really fun before I was nevous but now I's not because I got to know you. And now I'm having a lot of fun with you. I really like the pantomime, and acting out the book The circus ship (this was the story that we worked on throughout the summer). and every other fun games that we played. You'r the best drama teacher inthe world."

(in reference to acting out the animals in The Circus Ship) "my favorite animal is momkey I like how they swing to tree to tree"

I then went to my second class, 4th and 5th graders, but I was informed by two of the girls that I wasn't allowed inside the classroom yet. Since they have recess before me, that was fine, and I got in a couple of rounds of jump rope with the girls before class started. I think I'm too old for jumping rope. All the jump rope rhymes are unfamiliar, but they're all still about kissing and boyfriends (apparently I have three boyfriends--the girls told me my husband was going to be upset).

When the kids allowed me into the classroom they each presented me with a handmade card, and then we began class. I beat them at 4 rounds of Simon Says and we worked on the story this class was acting out: "Yuck" by Shel Silverstein. At the end of class there was some suspicious whispering as one girl ran from student to student...they had planned a group hug. One boy woulddn't let go and asked me to take him with me to my next school. They are so sweet at this age! Here is a sampling of the cards:

I love this because he was the least focused in class of all of the students and yet he learned listening and following directions.

I think the "mind" game was the "mime" game. I think.

During the last class we also played a game of invisible hot potato. I've never see a higher stakes game and they were working with an invisible ball. I was so proud. And we ended both classes today playing Freeze Dance wich of course turned into just a dance party at the end.

Have I mentioned that I love teaching? My heart is so full right now.