I walk into a Yr 10 English class as a CRT (Substitute teacher).

All the students head to the desks at the back of the classroom, getting out their books and laptops to begin what they already seemed to know for this class.

All except one female student who sat at the very front desk.

Her energy felt dark, heavy and sad.

In walking past her, I said:

“I noticed the books for this class are not opened yet”.

Her response:

“No Miss, I will not be opening them”.

I walked to my basket, picked up the “Bear Cards” (52 feelings cards – no words – just pictures of bears), sat them on her desk inviting her to pick out the ones she was feeling in the now.

Upon returning after a stroll around the room past all students, I noticed 2 cards had been pulled out of the pack.

I spoke:

“I noticed 2 cards have been pulled out. May I sit here (pointing to the spare seat beside her).”

With a “yes” response, I sat down.

“What does this card mean to you?” I asked.

She picked up the first card, sharing her favourite uncle died last night.

“OH …”

I asked if anyone in this class knew what she was going through today.

“No”.

I asked if anyone at this school knew.

“No one”.

The second card represented her feelings around her parents insisting she go to school today.

Using this young woman’s language, like “I miss him”, we dove into what she would miss.

We explored what she loved and appreciated about him.

I invited her to write a tribute to him during this English class.

I noticed her commitment and focus on this “letter” for the remainder of class – the last one for this day.

 

Standing at the door as the class walked out, she smiled.

I smile.

She may not have done the set task that day (according to the pre-planned curriculum), yet in the most profound way, she completed the set task of that PRESENT moment.

CONNECTING TO THE ROOTS … far beyond the surface view of what we “think” we are seeing … grows a connection of LOVE.