Snowflakes
Posted: Feb 17, 2020
At this moment, I am looking out my window watching the magic of those softly falling bits that sustain life. Individually, I know each is beautiful, unique, Not-Another-One-Like-It
Anywhere.
Ever.
We catch them, on coat sleeves, on lawns, in reservoirs, in mighty rivers.
Every single one is needed in this collective effort for life-giving water.
Those snowflakes become…
the base groundwater of greening Spring,
the lakes and streams of growing Summer,
the sustaining waters of glowing Fall.
The cycle continues
We NEED snowflakes.
Yet people roll their eyes and call my students “Snowflakes.”
As a teacher, I remind myself what I know about snowflakes.
As a teacher, you know that “Kids these days . . .” are amazing.
Take a moment to look at the lives in your classroom; watch the magic of those softly growing moments. Individually, each student is beautiful, unique, Not-Another-One-Like-It
Anywhere.
Ever.
We catch them.
Each one, just like the piling of those snowflakes can become…
The base for each day,
The streams of inspiration,
The sustaining hope on the hard days.
The cycle continues
The challenge as a teacher is to keep in mind the collective and cycling needs of the class
and the individual needs of each student.
It is why I LOVE teaching.
#LoveTeaching Week invites reflection beyond my classroom.
Imagining the magic moments in millions of classrooms,
I am inspired by the collective work we all do.
Knowing the collective power of water to carve canyons,
Students also have power to carve canyons into our souls.
Even after those students rush on,
We feel their echoes from our canyon walls.
So focus on the individual magic of snowflakes.
Let’s catch them. Give them a place to gather.
Each one, like the piling of those snowflakes, can become…
The base for each day,
The streams of inspiration,
The sustaining hope on the hard days
Because our love of teaching continues.
Aaryn Snow Birchell teaches sophomore English and AP at her alma mater in Vernal, Utah. As 2018 Utah Teacher of the Year, she advocates for work/life balance for sustainable teaching, but fully admits that her current attempts at “balance” feel more like a teeter-totter. Her four kids and husband Garn would agree, but enjoy the ride anyway.