A Tale of Two..Dogs?

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..."

Well, today we read THE chapter in Where the Red Fern Grows, a classic novel by Wilson Rawls. You know the chapter. The one where even the strongest and toughest readers crumble...and today was no exception in my classroom.

(If you haven't read the book, be warned, there may be a spoiler in this post!)

I have been worrying about this chapter coming up for awhile. With all of our snow days, reading the book has been really choppy and hasn't been flowing as nicely as I would have liked. Would the students relate to Billy? Would they feel the pain he feels? Have they gotten to the point where they loved Old Dan and Little Ann as much as possible? The answers? YES.

I remember the day that I read THE chapter in 5th grade...it was difficult, to say the least. I remember looking over at the boy I had a crush on throughout elementary school and was surprised to see him crying. He had his arm on his desk, his face in his arm, his book in his lap, and he was crying. It is a moment that I will never forget.

I wanted my students to experience that, too. I wanted them to remember where they were when they read THE chapter. I wanted them to see that it was okay to cry.

I think they did. In fact, I know they did.

My first class today probably had the best experience with THE chapter. I decided this morning, that rather than puttering around my desk, grading papers, or planning for my next week of classes, I would sit there in my chair up front, and follow along with them as we listened to it.

Bad idea. Because I made that decision, I was deeply engrossed in THE chapter with my own emotions...yes, I cried. I, just like my students, tried to hide it. I looked down at my book mostly, not daring to look up and glance around to see how many others were tearful. You may be able to hide tears, but you can't hide the sniffling! Sigh, so alas, I was made. I looked up, looked around, and had several students looking back at me with tears in their own eyes - with looks that were almost grateful that they weren't alone in their sadness.

The rest of my classes were the same. I didn't cry as much in the others, but I still got red-eyed and sniffle-y. The girls were usually a little more open with their tears, but not always. The boys, just like my 5th grade crush, mostly hid their tears in their arms as they laid their heads on their desks...however, the sniffles were undeniable. There were a couple of boys in each class, however, that were unashamed with their tears, and sat up straight in their seats with tears rolling down their faces.

I think I fell in love my job even more after today. I know I love my kiddos even more. There is just something special about being the teacher in a room full of students that are experiencing everything you want them to! Sigh, priceless! It almost makes me tear up again thinking about how blessed I am to have the opportunities I have, and to work with the students I see daily.

This is what I love about reading. A good book moves you. A good book takes you places. A good book is unforgettable.

Ever since 5th grade I have wanted to read this book with my own class and allow students to experience what I experienced back then. Today was the day.

I am not Cinderella, Ariel, Sleeping Beauty, or Snow White...I am a teacher. But today, my wish came true.

"It is a far, far better thing that I do, then I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known."