Today at school, Gloria’s journal was returned after her weekend with Claire. Yes, she went Trick-or-Treating in a full pink bunny costume. She also helped the family make soup, and went to church with them. The photo and journal entry were heartfelt and very genuine. Actually, all of Gloria’s journal entries are just like that.
As I read the journal entry to the class, it struck me that I have spent so much time telling the world the whole evolution of Gloria and all she has done; I have not told the children. The children and Gloria are all that matters. That’s what it’s all about. Thank goodness her journal came back to school today.
Families and teachers need to know about how Gloria became all that she is. The children simply need to know Gloria. Reading her journal is how we did that today.
After we read about Trick-or-Treating with Claire, we went back to the beginning of her journal. Every page was a story and a photo, and each one was heart-stopping or funny. We read the whole thing! From years of Halloween costumes, to playing in the snow, to snuggling in bed, to climbing a tree… these are the children’s weekend memories.
Do you know what it’s like to have fifteen children crowding around you, pushing to get a view, interrupting to say something, and desperately wanting more? I do. So does Gloria. She joined us when we read her entire journal, and she was smiling.
Jennie
I bet Gloria loved the trip down memory lane as well!
The magazines Gloria and Marie-Claire are not exactly magazines we would consider to be read in a lower school by the kids. For junior and high-school it would be all right, but because you are speaking about school and looking at the quilts designs I got the impression it are small kids you are teaching. Perhaps I may be wrong or you and I have two different magazines before our eyes. 😉
Hi Marcus. Gloria is my preschool classroom puppet (not a magazine), a very real member of the class. She represents diversity, and is often the instigator of insights and understanding among the children. Yes, she we was the catalyst to designing quilts. Imagine that; preschool children and their beloved classroom ‘friend’ design quilts that hang in national museums. Big wow! If my post confused Gloria with magazines, my apologies. If you have young children, you will probably understand what she does and what I say. Let me know if I can help in any other way. Happy reading!