Parma Plan It: Invisible

Some weeks thinking of a topic for a blog can be difficult. Other weeks, so many things happen that it is hard to chose a single topic. Then there are weeks like this one where several things happen around the same topic that it seems obvious what I need to share. I was able to share the book, The Invisible Boy in the grades 3 - 5 assembly this week. The students were hooked from the first page with the words, "Can you see Brian, the invisible boy?" After reading the book with no interruptions in a silent gym with over 200 students, we had a great discussion about the message in the book. About how it feels to feel "invisible". Students shared that they had felt invisible or that they were aware of others who experienced the pain that Brian feels in the book. When we read the pages about recess and the lunchroom, and the fact that the "cool kids" or the "best players" always got picked first, I could tell this sounded familiar to our kids.

During the assembly, I shared with the students a news story I had read this week about a student in a school came up with the idea to have a "Buddy Bench" on the playground. You can read the article by clicking here. This is a bench where students could go and sit if they didn't have someone to play with and then the other students could invite them to play with them. Throughout the day, I heard ideas from our kids about having a "buddy bench." One student even suggested which bench it should be on our playground.

I then had the chance to read the same book to some of our kindergarteners and first graders. I wasn't sure how the discussion would go with our younger students. Oh my....what insight they have. There comments about Brian and his loneliness and what it means to feel invisible were incredible. The discussion tells me this is an experience far too many kids have. They were amazing at coming up with solutions and ways they could help if they see someone who may be feeling "invisible". They even brought up how the boys were synergizing at the end. : ) I was excited that they were able to have such a great conversation about this book, but I was aware that it was because they were familiar with the topic. They had either experienced it themselves or they had been aware of others feeling invisible. This made me sad.

Then, on Tuesday this week, I read a blog post title "The Forgotten Ones"(this is the first link below) about a middle school class given the challenge to write a speech about what they wanted their legacy to be. One student, a very quiet young girl, wanted her legacy to be that people would know her name. I read this, and my heart sank. How can we help this never be the case at our school?

I listened to a couple songs this week that had been shared with me by one of our teachers who said that these songs remind her of our kids. The videos for the songs are the last two videos below. The message seemed to be the same as it had been in each of these other experiences this week. A line in one of the songs is, "Every child has a dream to belong and be loved." I want our kids to know that they are Kings and Queens and that they are Gold and have such potential for Greatness!

Finally, "The Little Drummer Boy"....Amazing video below.....one of my favorite lines is after he says he has no gift to bring and then plays his drum, the song says, "Then He smiled at me...." Such sweet acknowledgement, so simple, a smile that made the drummer boy know he was not invisible and his drum had been heard.

My challenge to you as we enter our last week of school before break is to remember that not all of our students look forward to this time away from school. It is here that they feel the most safe and visible. Be aware of those students who may feel invisible at times. Together, we can make sure every child knows he/she is noticed, is heard, is cared about and is known by name!

Please take time to read the links below and watch the videos about this topic!

LINKS OR ARTICLES WORTH READING: - yes, there are only two.

The Forgotten Ones - +Josh Stumpenhorst @stumpteacher

Crazy Enough - +Brad Wilson @dreambition
- This is a great message.

VIDEOS WORTH WATCHING:

Pentatonix, The Little Drummer Boy - ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS! See the joy on their faces. So beautiful!