"Miss, I brought you birds."

My students are really beginning to grow on me. It's been a steady climb, I feel, since my first day. I'm feeling like a better teacher with a little bit more knowledge in my head each day, and it's obvious that they are starting to feel more comfortable in my class as well. There was one slight downfall last week, we hit a brick wall if you will. Since then though, I do see an improvement. We've climbed over the wall and are now stronger because of the climb. It's amazing how things fluctuate between weeks and even days. A few times I have been on the verge of tears, wanting to just rush home and hide from my kids in my bed. But more often I find myself laughing, I notice more students just stopping in to say hi and share stories with me, or ask to come to my room during lunch. I even hear them say, "no keep reading!" when I tell them that's all we have time for.

My students aren't the only ones in the room who are learning. I've learned plenty from them as well. I have learned about the different "ends" of Hartford, and even what many different words and phrases actually mean. I have learned about new hip-hop musicians and rappers, and I have learned about inner city lingo, hairstyles, and lifestyles. They bring smiles to my face more and more.

Yesterday, during the middle of one of my classes, another student of mine strolled in the door and interrupted our class read-aloud. He simply said, "Miss, I brought you some birds," walked over to the bookshelf behind my desk, gently placed 3 brightly colored paper cranes on it, and walked out. It was easily the highlight of my day. For this student to want to come into my class to drop something off that he had made for me during art class that period warmed my heart. I see some rough and tough sides of these students, but now, they are showing me that they are human beings too; they are thoughtful and generous, and they seem to like their new English teacher.

I wanted to research the paper crane and it's meaning or purpose because although I know of the story of "Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes," I wanted to learn more. Young Sadako folded paper cranes while suffering from leukemia in Japan as an act for peace, understanding, and wishes. To this day, paper cranes are a big symbol in Japan and elsewhere around the world of peace, happiness, and good luck. I doubt my student had any of this in mind, but for me, the one who always looks deeper for a profound meaning, I was quite pleased to know he was bringing peace, happiness, and good luck into my classroom, not just for me, but for everyone who enters.