Welcome, Gloria! Children loved her from Day One. After all these years, I often think about the wonder of her magic, connecting with children. They want to be her friend. They want to take care of her. Here she is on her first day:
She even got a ‘check-up’ in our dramatic play doctor’s office.
Children greeted Gloria.
Some children were not sure,
some embraced her,
some watched.
After school, I got this email from a family:
“Thank you!! Love the inclusion and acceptance lessons!
Charlie is already in love with Gloria and asking when she can sleep over at our house.
Today when we got in the car I asked if she saw Gloria today and she started crying to go back inside to introduce me to Gloria so we went back in. She instructed me to be very quiet because Gloria is shy. Then she wanted a picture with her to bring home to show daddy.”
This is the picture for daddy.
My Goodness!
Gloria is away at Cape Cod this weekend with Charlie. She has never had a weekend with a child on her very first week at school. This is big. I can’t wait to hear about her adventures.
Here is the email I sent to families, explaining and introducing Gloria:
Gloria was introduced to your children this week. She came to Morning Meeting, reluctantly, because she is very shy. After all, some people have called her a witch, so it is no wonder she needed coaxing to meet the Aqua Roomers. Gloria is old, has wrinkly skin and gray hair, and is very fond of black. Actually, black is her favorite color, along with a pointy hat and pointy shoes. Gloria is our classroom puppet, yet she is very real to all the children. She represents all the things that children feel. Because she is different, she helps children develop an understanding of others.
When she arrived, your children didn’t know what to think. No one said a word, and there were many wide eyes. When we talked about Gloria, children wondered if she was a witch. That was the perfect door to open! Gloria herself jumped in to talk (finally), and she told them how people had called her a witch. “Well, I’m not a witch. I just like black. It’s my favorite color. My skin is wrinkly, and my hair is gray and sticky-uppy-outy.” Then children started to look to Gloria directly, eye to eye, and Gloria responded in kind. One child rushed over to give Gloria a surprise hug. No words were needed. Then she introduced herself. Gloria wanted to learn the names of your children, and asked each child if she could shake their hand. Well, children stayed by her side after the handshake. Many surrounded the teacher chair, and the conversations kept going. There were spontaneous hugs and high-fives.
This was powerful. What transpired in our classroom in less than thirty minutes is what can sometimes take years for people to learn; caring and acceptance. Gloria is different, yet she has the same feelings that we all do. She is a good friend. Your children were able to look beyond her appearance and see her for what she truly is.
A child rushed over to hold her. A group gathered to play with her. They gave her a check-up in the doctor’s office. They were careful and gentle; it made teachers smile to stand back and watch. Children were helping Gloria. She is being looked after. She is a new friend. Today we took her to other classes to greet teachers she knows well, and see former Aqua Roomers. Everyone was very excited.
Gloria will quickly become a close member of the Aqua Room. She will be the one who understands, or perhaps the one who has problems. She will be fun, sometimes silly, and may look to your children for a hug. If you want to know more about Gloria, she has a journal with stories and photos of weekend visits with Aqua Roomers over many years. She has been everywhere! We hope she can visit your children. Please tell her hello when you’re in the classroom.
Jennie
A Teacher's Reflections 
you know I love this so much –
I do! ❤️
Ah Jennie! I wish the world grew up with a teacher like you. X
That is so nice, FR. Thank you! 😍
Perfection! Every school should have a Gloria. (And a Jennie of course.)
Best wishes, Pete.
Definitely a Gloria. I’m lucky to tag along with her. Thanks for your kind words, Pete. Best to you.
This is wonderful, Jennie. I consider myself extremely lucky in meeting Gloria and seeing her in your classroom.
Thank you, Dan. Your photo when you first met her is forever priceless, and my absolute favorite. ❤️
I hope the school is paying Gloria very well as she is worth her weight in gold! Well done Gloria and Jennie.
It’s the children who seem to pay Gloria, and it ‘just happens’ so beautifully. Many thanks, Darlene. 😍
I never cease to be amazed at the children and their parents reactions to Gloria. A great start to the year.
I am constantly amazed, too! Thank you, Robbie. It looks like a great start to the school year.
We ALL need a Gloria!
Yes, we do! 😀
You once had a wonderful idea, Jennie! It spread to a great educational task. Hopefully Gloria never retires, or you have to take her place. Lol Best wishes, Michael
That’s so nice, Michael. Thank you! I think Gloria will never retire!
Wonderful, Jennie. I think Gloria would have been welcomed at the Curbside Classroom for a visit, or two.
She most definitely would have been welcomed at the Curbside Classroom! Thank you, Steve.
What a wonderful idea.
Thank you.
That is just amazing. How you ever came up with Gloria…
Way back when, teachers were encouraged to bring diversity into the classroom. School offered Persona Dolls – Asian, Hispanic, etc. The problem I had was that children in our community had no clue or reference to people that were not white. Sad, and that has changed, but at the time I needed to figure out what people children would be afraid of, or find very different. Old people! That’s how Gloria became part of the classroom.
That’s a good story. I bet a lot of families are happy you did this.
They are, Jacqui. They make a point to tell me so, which is really wonderful. I’m glad you liked Gloria’s backstory. 🙂
Always so wonderful!
Thank you, Becky.
I love Gloria, and what a wonderful teaching tool she is.
I’m so glad, Anneli. She really is. Thank you!
Please give my best to Gloria!
I did. She smiled. 😀
Lovely! Thank you for letting me know…..
😍
She entered with a real Bang
Yes, she did!
A lovely memory of Gloria’s introduction to your class, Jennie.
Thank you, John.
You are welcome, Jennie
Isn’t it amazing how quickly children accept others? I’ve often said that adults could take a lesson from children about not being so judgmental.
Yes, it really is amazing. You are so right that adults should take lessons from children.
That’s so wonderful 🥰
Thank you.
Always welcome
I have always loved visiting with Gloria here, Jennie. She is certainly a special wonder to all who haved crossed paths with her.
That’s so nice, Bruce. Thank you! She really is a special wonder.
I love reading about how the children respond to Gloria. Such a wonderful lesson and fantastic friend to them all.
Thank you so much, Carla. She really is!
Thank you, Carla. She is the best!
Gloria is loved through the generations. 🧡
She really is, Debby. ❤️
xx
Jennie, Gloria is loved by everyone and she is really enjoying with all the cute children. Thanks for the lovely post.
She is, indeed! Thank you, Kamal.
Always welcome dear Jennie 🙏
Thank you, Kamal!
Always welcome Jennie 😊
Thank you, Kamal!