In Which I Learn a Lesson from a Small "Alien"

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One of my summer school classes (Fun with Computers) is made up of 1st-3rd graders. This is a new experience for me, as I teach middle school and am certified to teach 6th-12th grade. It's been really fun, as these little ones are pretty stinkin' cute.

"Teacher! Teacher! Come and read my story!!!"

Cutie-Pie, a little first-grade sweetheart, is late every day (walking from her previous class) and is still learning how to log into the computer after eight days of class. Seemingly on another planet, CP is often lost in her own little world and doesn't seem bothered by that at all. When she is "with" us, she is almost-always talking and almost-always asking what to do two minutes after I give instructions.  I wasn't expecting a lot from her writing (truthfully), and my judgment was confirmed when I glanced at her computer screen, on which a goofy looking pirate was prancing next to this:

wunsaptontimitwasarnedaandtatsitewaskoldtapritland

Feigning admiration, I chirped, "What a great story! Wow!"

CP chirped, "I bet the boys are really going to like this story!"  

I had no clue what she was talking about and had 29 other stories to read, so I said, "Uh-huh," and turned to the next student, but she pulled me back. 

"I want you to read my story!"  

Read it? Okaaaay...I decided I had to play along.

wunsaptontimitwasarnedaandtatsitewaskoldtapritland

I had no idea what to say. 

"Why don't you read the story to me!"  I suggested, and she read aloud, confidently,

"Once upon a time it was a rainy day and the city was called Pirate Land!"

She grinned at me expectantly, eyes wide open, as if to ask, "Isn't that incredible?!"  Clearly, we weren't writing the same language, but she was positively beaming with pride. It wasn't like her to be so engaged, and I couldn't ignore that. This time, I took a real look at her writing, and it finally clicked for me.  Holy cow! This little munchkin had worked her tail off on that "sentence" and had five more like it!  I was blown away! She's six, for crying out loud! 

Get it?

wunsaptontimitwasarnedaandtatsitewaskoldtapritland

wuns apton tim it was a rne da and tat site was kold ta prit land

Once upon a time it was a rainy day and the city was called Pirateland!

It seems this teacher has a lot to learn! 

Impressed (and now thrilled) to finally "get" what she had shared with me, I asked CP if I could copy a couple of her pages, and I quickly emailed it to myself via her computer...

See if you can figure this one out (page 2)

andtaenaksduiisaasilegionabot

(And the next day, I saw a silly guy on a boat.)

Sadly, minutes later, she accidentally deleted her story in the impulsive click of a button, just before the students were going to share their stories. 

"Oh, no!!" I cried. Her wide eyes read mine for leadership in how to respond to the calamity. I acted quickly,

"I wanted everyone to read your awesome story!! Now I feel special that I got to read it before it disappeared. I'm so glad! Thank you! I can't wait to read your next story."

And she smiled her cute, little, girl-from-another-planet (possibly called Laid-Back Land) smile.

***

Today, I was reminded that being witness to the budding of literacy skills is a truly a gift; one that is to be treasured, especially when it comes from another "planet." 

The U.S. may have dismantled its space program, but I'm keeping my space suit; I just remembered I'm probably going to need it for years to come.