Morning, all. So pleased and proud to announce yesterday’s success with our “Table Talks.” The kids, as always, rose to the occasion, and for ten rounds of tough topics, they talked with each other. It was fascinating to watch and gratifying to feel. And today, I will get to witness the five final rounds of this engaging experience. And though we did not get to the formal reflection yet, the kids gave lots of positive feedback. One of my “tougher customers” (love him and his challenging ways) remarked,

“This is the most epic thing we’ve done all year in here. I love talking with people.”

With people. Yes, he loves to talk. I’ve come to believe he has to, and though he often “has to” at times when I don’t want him to, we have learned our dance, and we step on each other’s toes less often.

Yesterday’s comment made me consider even more deeply the power of letting kids talk with each other, something that we too often stifle in our classroom settings, making me wonder about the implications this may have on a society that struggles to talk with each other. Maybe our suppressing their voices now suppresses their voices later. Maybe our silencing them now silences them later. Maybe our talking at them now makes them talk at others later. I don’t know.

But I do know this. There’s something inside–each. Some cannot contain it. Some have yet to find it. Some can keep it in. And some don’t even believe they have it. But it’s there. And though we seem to place more value on those who contain it–they are our well-managed ones–there is value–greater than we may imagine–in those who cannot keep it in.

I am learning this more as I go. For far too long, I perceived and placed greater value on my “containers” than on my “releasers.” It was a mark of my good management. I could keep my “releasers” in check. But at what cost? In contrast to past practice, I’ve now come to believe it is a necessary release. They have to do it. They have to talk, even at some of the more inopportune times. So, I have learned to let them–to a degree. I am not suggesting we don’t provide some checks along the way, but I am suggesting we learn to dance with them. I have become a better partner over the years, and though I still stumble awkwardly around the floor at times, I am learning to let my kids lead more as a way of showing me the meaning in their moves. This particular partner has been showing me all year long. He has to talk. Has to. So, I let him.

Today’s Trail

Along today’s trail we will experience…

…connecting through Smiles and Frowns.

…cultivating community with Connection Cards.

…talking with each other.

…hearing a Sappy Sy Rhyme.

Happy Wednesday, all.

Do. Reflect. Do Better.