Lawsonland
I have a noisy class this year. Just a loud, wonderful, rambunctious pack of puppies.
For six weeks,
I have struggled to get them all to pay attention to the same thing at the same time.
Getting them really quiet and focused has been nearly impossible.
Until today. Until the magic.
Each fall we get caterpillars watch them go through metamorphosis.
The butterflies always come out over the weekend, in the quiet.
Not yesterday. Not quite.
Three had already emerged when, first thing in the morning, one child said, "Look! It's coming out!" The whole class gathered round. All silent. All in complete awe.
And we watched. And we watched. For twenty minutes.
In silence. We watched.
And we saw a miracle.
A beautiful butterfly. From a tiny, tissue thin chrysalis. Right there, in front of their eyes.
And I witnessed another miracle.
Nineteen pairs of eyes, fastened. Nineteen mouths, closed. Thirty eight hands, stilled.
Caught in the pure wonder of God's creation.
Maybe I just needed a little magic all along.
For six weeks,
I have struggled to get them all to pay attention to the same thing at the same time.
Getting them really quiet and focused has been nearly impossible.
Until today. Until the magic.
Each fall we get caterpillars watch them go through metamorphosis.
The butterflies always come out over the weekend, in the quiet.
Not yesterday. Not quite.
Three had already emerged when, first thing in the morning, one child said, "Look! It's coming out!" The whole class gathered round. All silent. All in complete awe.
And we watched. And we watched. For twenty minutes.
In silence. We watched.
And we saw a miracle.
A beautiful butterfly. From a tiny, tissue thin chrysalis. Right there, in front of their eyes.
And I witnessed another miracle.
Nineteen pairs of eyes, fastened. Nineteen mouths, closed. Thirty eight hands, stilled.
Caught in the pure wonder of God's creation.
Maybe I just needed a little magic all along.
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34 comments:
So happy you shared this wonder
and miracle for these children
you gave it to me too
many blessings on this classroom and for you
for the coming year of more wonder
I remember this same thing from childhood...thanks for taking me back
I so enjoyed reading your words this a.m. Reminds me of the wonder of birth. Your class learned something wonderful thru their silence; great lesson.
Thanks for sharing this! I know how challenging it is to work with such classes. You need constant stimulants to grab their attention.
And the lessons taught by nature: the best!
My grandson's pre-K class are waiting for a butterfly to emerge too...how wonderful for it to happen while everyone is there!
It is interesting how a class can have a personality as well as each person in the class...
this is my kind of magic !
oh how i loved watching my butterflies last year and how i wish i would have found some caterpillars this year.....
once again, how lucky are those kids to have you !
This made me misty. How lovely that they have a teacher who set her lesson plan aside, and made time for viewing this miracle. What a blessing, and thanks for sharing.
Ahhhh for those windows of learning. I need some hatching butterflies for my 50 before and after school kids,......they are noisey.
I'm sure there's a list of creatures that metamorphose that you could introduce to the classroom one by one, Relyn, to maintain the sense of mystery, wonder and silence!
Derrick,
We are currently hatching mealworms, too. They turn in to beetles and each pair of kids shares one. They are our class pets. No silence, though.
What the caterpillar calls the end of the world God calls a butterfly
Love and hugs
Teachers know how to make little ones COUNT
Keep up the great work
I just giggled and said awe! They were quieted because not only the minds witnessed such beauty but their souls identified and recognized it. The which gives the catepillar life is the same life within them. They can't help but to feel the beauty of life!
Beautiful!
Wish I'd been there - I've never seen a butterfly being 'born'.
Lovely scene you painted for us.
xx
I loved reading this. As a retired high school English teacher, I know exactly what you mean.
I enjoyed visiting and am now a follower.
Laura
White Spray Paint
Hope it's ok that I share this with my readers. Love this story!
I've always known that I couldn't be a teacher. I love kids, in small groups, in small doses and not all kids! I love the visual image that goes with this post...I would have loved all of the kids on that day!
a miracle, indeed ... on all fronts
so beautiful
What perfect magic! I wish I could have been there. How wonderful for these 19, plus teacher.
Happy School Year!
beautiful magic indeed - in pure awe of God's wonder.
Grinning along beside you:)
-Jennifer
My wife teaches part time at a Christian preschool. She tells me how the simplest little things will keep the attention of the children. And most of the time it's not toys.
Wow--do you think that would work with my wiggly, noisy, never still freshmen?
such a moment!!!it would have made an amazing youtube video :)
Relyn, seriously, this gave me chills. All up and down my legs! I love the way you write--I could see it all happening in my mind's eye. But oh how I wish I could have been there to witness that magic firsthand. What a lovely experience!
Now that's cool -- something I've never seen before, that's for sure! And definitely unphotographable!
I did this with my Reception class a few years ago and I know just what you mean-and I was right there with them in that sense of awe!
well... THAT was beautiful.
That is just wonderful!
I wish I could have morphed myself right into that classroom...it is something I have always wanted to see. I see lots of caterpillars, lots of butterflies...but where, oh where do they hide their little cocoons?
What a beautiful moment to have experienced.
That's IT! Maybe I need caterpillars...... struggling with that this year- Lucky you- having the magic you need!
That is beautiful! You brought tears to my eyes with this!
What a beautiful moment to witness! I can feel the magic through your post.
(Wishing you many more such miracles throughout the year.)
How wonderful! Hopefully, your ragtag rambunctious class will have its own metamorphisis this year.
Thanks for posting a link--because I did miss this the first time around. And what a pity if I had missed it all along! Love it . . .
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