Monday, January 27, 2020

Notes from public school - day 98

The Rodriguez family walks down the hall and turns the corner to my classroom.
"Buenos Dias, Mrs. Rodriguez. Buenos Dias, niños! ¿Como esta ustedes? Welcome to my classroom," I greet them.

We sit down in a circle of chairs and smile at each other.

The Parent Involvement Coordinator sits with us to be our translator.

I’m learning Spanish and Mrs. Rodriguez is learning English but we need help expressing the deeper parts of each language, especially when we’re talking about education and life.

In the beginning, I do most of the talking. 

I describe her child's progress in math and ask, "Do you have any questions or comments?" She looks at me with a silent, shy smile. 

I move on to reading and writing, asking again for questions and receiving the same smile.

At the end, she does most of the talking. 

"Our life is hard. My husband works out of town, wherever he can find work,” she said. “I clean houses. I work many hours. Our house is small and we are many. I want my children to learn so they can have a better life. Please tell me how to help my children learn."

We sit down with each other. 

We talk with each other.

We listen to each other.

The sitting, talking and listening are the sunlight, water and soil that help our hearts grow.


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