What follows is the letter I composed to my third grade students, to be sent to them on our last day of school. Dear Third Graders, It has been an unforgettable year. Many years from now, you will look back on 2020 and your third grade year and realize you lived through a very historic time. I know I will never forget this school year or any of you. Just like I hope I might live in a corner of your memory (and maybe your heart), students leave their marks on teachers, too. I will remember the fun we had while learning together in room 215 and the ways we came together and continued learning through our screens. It hasn’t been easy. When we left our classroom on March 13th, I never imagined we would never be back there together as a class. Learning (and teaching!) from home has been full of challenges. Together, we realized that we needed flexibility to try different platforms and programs. We needed persistence to keep going and try a new way when the way we thought it would work...didn’t. We needed resilience to pick ourselves up and try again. We needed empathy to understand that all of us were doing the best we could in very complicated times. Being flexible, persistent, resilient and empathetic are skills that you will use time and again in life. They are lessons you will keep learning over and over again, but they are worth knowing. This year was a crash course in all those skills! I know we are stronger for the lessons we learned. An important realization I’ve made is that learning happens all the time and everywhere- beyond our classroom walls and even when buildings close. Relationships and caring about each other also continues even when we are not in person together. Whether we were together in our classroom or learning virtually in Google Classroom, I hope you’ve always felt my love for you and my belief in you. I hope you know that I care about each of you deeply and know that you have untold potential. I hope you know that I care about you, your families, your lives. I always will. There have been many lessons I’ve been asked to teach you this year. My scope and sequence has required me to teach you estimation, multiplication, division, and fractions. I’ve been required to teach you about geography, some history, about government and culture. I’ve taught you how to read the blurb of a book and how to think about the most important thing in a chapter. While not directly on my scope and sequence, I hope I’ve taught you that being a reader can change your life- can teach you, expand your mind, and help inspire new ideas. I hope I’ve taught you that being a writer can change you too and those around you- when you use your words to share your story, show appreciation, question unfairness and advocate for change. This year, we’ve read countless books on our own and together. We’ve read many picture books and I read aloud 5 chapter books to you. I want to pause and think about the chapter books we read aloud together as a community. Each one has lessons I would like you to remember. How you treat others matters. Consideration of others wants, needs, and feelings is important. Your voice matters. Be strong and confident that what you have to say is important. Don’t allow other people to make you feel less worthy. It’s never too late to make a new start for yourself. Allow others to help you when you need it. Stories are light in a world that feels dark. Be the light. Understand that all of us have both light and dark inside but do your best to lean towards kindness. “Once you learn how to do this, you will be forever free.” The answer to that riddle was “READ.” Reading will open countless door for you. The library is a powerful and important resource in your life that allows you access to so many books and new knowledge.
My hope for you is this: That you keep learning. Keep growing. Keep reading. Keep writing. Be kind. Be brave. Be flexible, persistent and empathetic. Our world needs you- your ideas, your perspective, your energy. I know you will do great things. I am counting on you to make our world a better place. I believe in you. Love always, Mrs. Sokolowski
6 Comments
sally
6/9/2020 03:53:56 am
Your letter is so lovely, You inspired me years ago to also write letters at the end of my school year. I love how you spotlight the books read together. I think I'll go back and reread those letters today. Thanks you for the reminder. I ending this 6th grade year making a video of photos from the year. I wanted the kids to see their classroom and school again since they haven't stepped into it since March 13th. What a year.
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Beautiful letter, Kathleen.
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Erika Victor
6/9/2020 06:09:24 am
I LOVE you letter and know those kids were lucky to have you as their teacher this year. The first two books you show there we also read! I love the lessons you took away from them all. It was weird reading aloud to a screen after March 13, but we kept up our #classroombookaday and read another 2 1/2 chapter books that way. I hope your end is not too sad and that you have lots more reading time this summer!
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6/9/2020 09:54:29 am
The kids are going to cry when they read this letter, and so will their parents. I know because I got a little weepy myself. Your words are so honest and true. I've been thinking about the power of writing these past few months and hope teachers emphasized that during this difficult, historic moment. I can't help but think about some things you wrote about life and career a few months ago at a time none of us knew what lay ahead. I can't help but think about how blessed your students are to have had you in their lives, and I hope you see yourself as being right where you needed to be this past school year, both for the students and yourself. Much love.
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6/9/2020 06:34:33 pm
Such moving words. Yes there will be tears for sure but I think they will all appreciate the love and care you placed in writing these heart felt words.
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