personal power

Today in our Community Building unit, we discussed personal power. We talked about how each of us has a "personal power package" made up of our skills & knowledge, social position, social skills, abilities, strengths, talents, rights & responsibilities, and self-knowledge. There are some elements of our personal power that we control, and some that we are simply born into. We are always making choices about how to use the power we have.

The next class after community building was Word Work. I asked the kids to go back through their writer's notebooks and thoroughly edit every entry they've written in there so far this year (roughly 20 pages). Some kids are natural spellers, and hardly had anything to correct. Right away those kids said, "We're done. What can we do?" Before I could answer, one girl suggested, "Why don't we see if anyone needs help?"

So 4 kids went to the cozy corner (an area of our classroom with a window seat and pillows) and announced, "If anyone needs help checking their spelling, come over to our tutoring center and we'll help you." I was afraid the other kids who needed help wouldn't admit it, but several of them looked relieved, and headed over right away. The "tutors" quickly sat down and got to work. They carefully scanned each page of their "client's" notebook, pointing at misspelled words and gently offering solutions. They were so empowered by their role as helper, and the students who received help were so grateful to not be struggling alone anymore. The best part: no pairs of students working together were "best friends." They all went outside their comfort zone a bit and were willing to work with someone who they might not normally hang out with. There were even (gasp) boys working with girls!

I was so touched by this completely independent act of kindness on the part of the tutors, and vulnerability on the part of the tutees, that I went next door to ask my co-teacher to come and see. We stood at the doorway of the classroom, unnoticed by any of the kids. We watched them leaning over notebooks, nodding encouragements, and giving genuine smiles. Our eyes welled up with tears.

What would the world be like if we reached out a hand like this more often? If we didn't look at other people's struggles as none of our business? If we weren't afraid to ask for help when we needed it? Why can't I be more like my 5th and 6th graders? I am humbled by their courage and inspired by their strength.