Tell Me the Story
We were standing with our arms around each other and smiling for the camera. Our Little Free Library had just been dedicated to our community. Church bells started to ring in the distance and one of the parents among the many asked us to stop and listen. She asked if we realized what song was playing as our picture was being taken. We all stopped to listen and several began humming “Tell me the story of Jesus, write on my heart every word. Tell me the story most precious, sweetest that ever was heard.” The old hymn seemed like it was being played just for us. Dedicating a box filled with books and stories while “Tell Me the Story” chimed around us was the perfect finale.
What a school year to remember. We began the year getting to know each other through bright computer screens and mute buttons. We flip flopped from virtual learning to hybrid learning and everything in between for months. When we were finally in person, we talked to each other through plastic screens on our desks and masks on our faces. Every teacher knows that each class and each year has something specific and memorable about them as a whole. This particular group of students was a stand-out for one main reason and that was because we went through quite a bit together.
A main focus for me that year was growing a love of reading for the kids. We’d spent so much time looking at screens that it was imperative for me to get their eyes on pages and pages of print. I brought in stacks of books from the public library, ordered new titles from Amazon, read aloud the newest award winners, centered our research around nonfiction top sellers, and did book talks of everything I could get my hands on. Room 213 caught a very contagious reading bug.
There’s a book by Laurie Halse Anderson called “Chains.” It’s an incredible historical fiction novel for young adults. There’s a line in that story that I fell in love with years ago. It says, “I wanted to pull down a book, open it proper, and gobble up page after page.” That’s what that year of reading felt like. We just couldn’t get enough.
The end of the school year brought a transition for me. I was leaving behind a school that I loved for a wonderful opportunity. I’d be moving to my own children’s school. Leaving behind a school is always bittersweet and this was no different. Because of the year we had spent together, I felt like it was necessary to do something really meaningful with this group. I started brainstorming by myself at first and then alongside my class. We decided that we wanted to do something that would make a mark on our community. We loved books and wanted others to feel the same. We determined that we would start our own Little Free Library.
I don’t teach that group of children anymore, and I don’t see them every day. I don’t get to talk about books with the group or recommend a new title to them. Even so, I know that every time they drive by or visit that small wooden box they know that they did something special. During a tough year, they were still able to shine a bright light and do something for others. Maybe one day they will take their own children to visit. They’ll find a box filled with stories. They’ll find their tiny handprint on the back. And maybe they’ll find a memory too.
I highly recommend doing a project like this with your students. I’ve linked the steps we took, my suggestions, and the resources we found most helpful. If you decide to start a Little Free Library with your class, I’d love to hear from you! Click the link below for more information.
