I often think about stories from the perspective of a reading teacher. That's a really great way to get to think about stories. I can think about Patricia Polacco and Kevin Henkes and the stories of Jacqueline Woodson and Peter Reynolds. I use stories every day to teach skills and help connect us in our classroom community but more recently I have been thinking about my own story. I still don't know that I could tell my own story.
This summer I have decided to really begin the work of figuring out my story because I truly love knowing others' stories.
On Saturday morning, I was at Kate's soccer game in Sauk Prairie. The facility was beautiful. The weather was beautiful. At halftime Roger and I walked back to the car so I could get something to drink. We were walking back into the stadium when a gentleman who had been standing at the fence turned.
"Who do your girls play in the postseason?' he asked.
We began a conversation simply about the soccer season and playoffs but it quickly turned to more.
"Who are you watching?" I asked him.
"My granddaughter is number 22. She's a freshman."
Somehow the story continued and I learned his name and that he had once been the principal and superintendent in Sauk Prairie. What was even more interesting to me was that he had filled in as superintendent at Benton Schools (which is super close to the Illinois border and coops with some sports with Scales Mound). He talked about his sons and their families. He talked about how his daughter in law had played soccer at UW-Madison. As we continued to listen to Mr. Tom Andres talk, it was evident that he was someone important. He was wearing his floppy hat, red t-shirt, and khaki shorts but there was just something about listening to him talk about his family and their amazing work that made me want to know more about him. Sure enough when I googled him I found this: https://www.swnews4u.com/local/southwest/andres-brings-plethora-of-experience-to-benton-schools/
I truly believe that stories have power. I try to teach my 5th graders how to write their own stories for that reason -- their stories have power. As a lover of all things magic, I believe that magic is in the stories, too. There was definitely something magical about our conversation with Tom Andres on Saturday. I want to work on knowing my own story. This is my first step.
I was listening to a TED talk by Susan Conley and she talked about encouraging students to write with their heart. I think that is what makes writing and sharing my own story so hard. It means I have to trust that whoever I share it with or whoever reads it will not stomp all over it. TRUST. That is the hard part. I know I want to dig in to my story but first I want to deal with the part about trust.
Today I want to share with you a little bit about why I don't trust. That's where I think my work on my own story needs to begin.
During the summer of 2014, I decided to switch schools and districts. I left what was comfortable and familiar where I had 16 years of experience to risk starting over with something unknown. That in itself was enough of a challenge but what made things even tougher was when I walked into the teacher's lounge early in the year to hear, "Nobody at her old school liked her. I can't believe ...." The conversation was about me and I heard every word that was said. This often replays in my mind. I think about how I can unhear the conversation that I heard. It's impossible for that to happen. I've been asked to work with the person who was saying things about me that day in a few different ways. I have worked hard to hold my head up each time. I'm sure we all have stories like this but I am going to work through mine. My story of not being enough to others and feeling invisible is not a story that's just mine but I'm ready to start telling all the parts of my story.
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