Patrick Update
I wish you could have seen Patrick’s face yesterday. He was overwhelmed and could barely speak. It was really something as I watched him carefully read every comment. From time to time, he would look up and tell me something that was said. It took a while. Patrick is a slow, careful, methodical learner. He has to have time to process and I could feel his total amazement that this many people had cared. He had 12 responses to his “Fifth Grade” post. All of the responses were absolutely wonderful I’ve posted about this before here and here.
Now Patrick is on a mission - he is working on a draft to respond to each and every person who wrote to him. Of course this is going to take some time and both his teacher and the ITS at the school will help there by giving him the time he needs to do this. Think about what he’s learning. He has to read and reread. He selected something from each comment to post about and to think about how that affected him and put it into words. He is hard at work on his writing skills so he can communicate what he wants, proof his work, and many other things that only Patrick could share with us.
Now this is something that most elementary students would cave under as it’s quite a comprehensive writing project to undertake. Yet, Patrick wants to do this and will indeed go that extra mile. Wow! I’ll keep you posted!
Yesterday was one of those days that you know why you teach! And yes indeed, I know why I blog with students!! Those great moments in the classroom are just magnified in such incredible ways!
March 4th, 2005 at 3:06 pm
Wow! I have to admit I was very moved by this most recent update about Patrick. It’s strange, but in a way, I feel as though he’s one of my students too. His struggles and efforts to overcome them echo some of my experiences with my own students and my children. I wish I had been there to see his face. He’s lucky to have you Anne. Please continue to keep us posted about him.
Wishing you, and especially Patrick, nothing but the best!
Darren