Quietly, I snuck into the classroom. The roomful of fifth graders sat attentively at their desks, listening to their teacher. Holding the book in my hands, I surveyed the room. Where was he?
Then I spotted him. Blue shirt. Close cropped hair. Yep, that’s him. He had just left my classroom, and now here he sat for the final period of the school day. At least he’s toward the back, I thought to myself. Working my hardest to emulate the silence of a bat, I swooped toward the boy. Kneeling down, I laid the book on his desk. He looked at me. I looked at him. He looked at the book.
“You forgot this,” I whispered. He had just finished the first beautiful book, The War That Saved My life, and I had made sure I had the sequel waiting for him, The War I Finally Won. But in his haste to be on time to his last class, he’d left it on my table.
“Thank you,” he whispered back. A small smile may have formed on this face.
“I wanted you to have it,” I said. Those words could not have felt more true, as we all would head home from school, uncertain when we would be able to return. Closed indefinitely. Coronavirus now firmly in control.
Silently, I exited the room, thinking about the title of the book I just handed my student. As we all do what we can to combat the spread of this virus, I look forward to the day we can feel that title resonate.
LANNY BALL, Literacy Specialist 
A true teacher moment in such hard times. Closed indefinitely? It is so crazy how schools are responding differently. New York City public schools are open, which I cannot fathom. My friends who teach there are beside themselves. My school is only closed Monday and Tuesday (for now) and my children are closed through Friday. I am worried about the virus and I am hearing there are no tests so I fear there are way more cases than we know.
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A number of states, including my home state of Oregon, are closing all schools down. I just heard yesterday Washington will close for 6 weeks. Like you, I can’t fathom why NYC would keep schools open. I have friends who have taken their kids and left the city because they don’t want their kids in school right now. My own kids are canceled for at least two weeks. I agree with you, it’s crazy how districts are responding so differently.
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This slice gave me goosebumps. Just a delight to see that look on a child’s face about a book.
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This pretty much sums up how many of us feel this weekend as we send students home – for who knows how long – hoping the seeds of learning and reading are able to grow at home.
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Isn’t that such a good feeling, to personally return an item to a child, before it becomes a “lost” item? Especially here, when you know it is a book he is dying to read, and a comfort during uncertain times. I have read both those books and they will help your student through all this 🙂
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This slice is so simple but so beautifully done- the emotion on both sides comes through. Thanks for sharing a good moment in this uncertain time. Our family will be discovering new worlds through lots of reading in the next weeks!
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I have, on occasion, had the experience of finding a student to get a book into their hands (although I am less silent bat and much more rampaging rhino!), but witnessing your exchange made me so sad. I was out of our building on Thursday, we had a PD day Friday and it is unclear whether we will see our students Monday…I am aching for a few moments to reassure my students and make sure they have that “just right” book to take with them.
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The connection to the title gave me goosebumps. Getting books into kids hands… good work.
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I saw the moment. You stretched out the exchange. I say your hand on the book on his desk. I saw him look up. Certainty in our relationships, in the work that we do, that will sustain us.
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So powerful. Your opening lines pulled me right in and your closing lines made me do some of my own thinking. Thanks for sharing.
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Yeah, this is poignant in these times, and you nailed it by getting the book to him just under the wire. Hope it sustains him while he’s at home! 😉
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You paint the scene so well with your words- a true to life book whisperer. Such a clever way to wrap up the slice with a nod to the book title. Just brilliant.
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I love the craft moves in this part: Working my hardest to emulate the silence of a bat, I swooped toward the boy. Kneeling down, I laid the book on his desk. He looked at me. I looked at him. He looked at the book.
I clearly picture you stealthily moving toward him, squatting down and the exchange of looks. Thanks for sharing.
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Felt like I was right there observing (almost intruding on) this private moment and so glad I could witness that genuine act of caring and connection that so many amazing teachers offer to their students each day. It is tiny interactions like this that can make a tremendous difference in the lives of our students, and like you mentioned, you never know just how impactful or if it might be the last chance for a long time. LOVED this!
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Haunting and hopeful layers in this slice. There’s small winning to be had in continuing to write, read, and share. whether to start making sense of new situations we’ve never experienced before or to pause meaningfully over the familiar act of a teacher sharing a book with a student.
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Hi Lanny,
This is beautiful and so touching. I love the way you found significance in this moment.
Hereś to The War I Finally Won!
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Your slice is what teaching is all about. I could just picture you “swooping” in and the boy’s face. He may have been making a small smile, probably was, but inside that smile will grow and grow. And one day he will tell this story, the story of a teacher who made a difference.
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