All week my students practiced a book of their choice to take and read at the center. Reading is something that is a struggle for these students. Giving them the opportunity and responsibility of reading outside of a school setting is something they can take pride in. At first, they struggled through their books. But by the end of the week, they could read swiftly with ease and confidence.
The day before our field trip, students decorated Valentines Day cards to give to the people at the center. I watch as students paste pink and purple hearts, spread glue widely, and cover their cards (and the room) in glitter.
With books and Valentines in hand we head over to the center. Upon walking in the door, you are struck with the magnitude of loneliness. These people have been forgotten. They are longing for a hand to hold or even a face to gaze at. The students can recognize this too. I watch as they find someone and begin reading. Some engage in conversation with the students and even read their books back to the them, others sit quietly and listen, some just sit and gaze (seeming to be trapped in their own minds).
What's happening here is an act of love. A group of 11 year olds changing the world by reading to a stranger. Stepping back, I am truly amazed by these students and their ability to connect with these people. Our trip reminded me of the following quote by Howard Zinn:
"And if we do act, in however small a way, we don’t have to wait for some grand utopian future. The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory. Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world.”
Another gem Anna!
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