Spring Might Really Be Here!

Dear Reader: I had an interesting experience today in one of my classes. It was very rewarding.

I was working hard to explain a tough proof in Geometry. I had the Smartboard a-goin'. I was using many colored markers. I was fueled on two cups of coffee and a Twix bar. The sun was shining, the kids' heads were nodding up and down, and it was one of those moments in teaching where a teacher thinks, "YES!" I was psyched. Truly.

Then, the room got quiet and a lone hand went up in the back of the room. A soft voice from a typically quiet student said, "Mrs. Fitz, could you also have done it this way?" He went on to explain an elegant approach that I have never, ever considered before [ and I have looked at this particular Geometry proof from many different angles ;-) ]

Honestly, I became speechless -- and that's rare for me! I continued to listen, really listen, and his train of thought wowed me. The classroom became serenly quiet for a minute. Then, I tried as best as I could to say to the student how deeply proud I was of him. I wanted him to know that his thought process showed a maturity, growth. Yes, his mind has indeed expanded this year from straight, direct, substitution-type logic, to something much more complex. His logic was so strong and so correct. It had an almost-law-school quality to it.

Well, that cinched it for me -- spring is really here, I thought, both in terms of weather and in learning in my classroom! These freshman are a-bloomin'!

Finally. At last. And I am so happy for them.