Maybe you’ve read about my pal Dawn and some work she has been doing to share the joy of writing with a particular student at our school. You can read about that in her posts, Incentive Part 1 and Incentive Part 2. A quick recap: she noticed a few students looking at our calendar that serves as a sign-up for our staff writing challenge in the month of March. She invited the kids to be the first student writers on our blog…they wanted a sticker for their contribution. One of the students took the bate…I’m picking up where Dawn left off…
Today, I walked into Dawn and Ashley’s shared space to see Dawn sitting with H at her table. Their eyes focused on a shared piece between them, H’s piece. “It feels different when you read it out loud, doesn’t it?” Dawn coached as they worked to add, revise, and bring more clarity to H’s words. I watched, knowing I was witnessing magic.
H is a member of my family group. I wrote about him once this month too. The thing about Dawn is, that she doesn’t really know H as a student. So, when she enticed him with writing a piece for our staff writing challenge, she was just doing the good work she always does, responding to the kids in front of her…whether they’re her students or a student stopping to observe a giant calendar in the hallway.
Writing isn’t always something that H loves. He’s historically been a “just get it done” type of writer. But to see him sitting with Dawn, choosing writing, was beyond words for me. I have a feeling that this moment may be a pivotal one for H.
“Hey! That’s my writing partner,” I joked with H as he finished up with Dawn. “I’m just teasing, but she usually helps me with my writing just like she’s helping you.” H smiled back at me. I knew he felt the power of sitting at that table, talking writer to writer.
All kids, and grownups, deserve a Dawn in their life. Someone to help them see more in themselves than they may have seen on their own.
Where There Is Joy 
Oh Dawn… you got seen! Love that you focused on Dawn and her work here. Yes, it’s great for H, and it was fun to read his piece… but beautiful story about a teacher and the impact that she can make. Maybe we’ll read about H in another ten years when he’s reflecting on the moment.
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You and Dawn are amazing!
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These two lines are so powerful and describe Dawn to a “T”. (1). she was just doing the good work she always does, responding to the kids in front of her…and (2). All kids, and grownups, deserve a Dawn in their life. Someone to help them see more in themselves than they may have seen on their own.
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Well said. I love the lines Erika mentioned. I am lucky to have worked with Dawn my first years in Westport, and love that she is just down the hill!
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AH, Jess, this is beautiful. I read all of Dawn’s posts yesterday. It was lovely to read it from your perspective. That was a nice moment you described as H, Dawn and you had a writerly connection.
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