Thank You

Following up my last blog post, I want to share another story from my 3rd year of teaching in 6th grade learning support. This is a story about thankfulness. I had a student who was having a strong school year besides performing poorly on a test here and there. Knowing her background coming from the early childhood that she had, she was doing quite well. Her main area of need was in writing, and we were working through a letter writing unit. Most students addressed their letters to athletes, celebrities or their friends.

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The student who I was describing earlier shared her letter with me last, and didn't want to share with the class of 7 students. She told me that she would like a copy to actually bring home with her. Before I share with you what she wrote about, it is important to note that my wife and I are in the planning stages of beginning the adoption process and have dreams one day of bringing home a child who needs a home.

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Her letter was a thank you letter to her adoptive parents and it was a tear-jerker. She shared her history of foster homes filled with yearning and waiting for her forever home. When she was finally connected with her adoptive parents she was truly grateful (as all adopted children are) and didn't know how else to thank them. This was the first time she was expressing her gratitude for their love and bringing her home. Reading this letter cemented in me the decision to adopt, along with a host of other reasons. Writing gave her the confidence to express such an imperative sentiment to build that relationship with her parents. I couldn't think of a better way to share the power of writing and the need to ensure that all children receive the support and direction to be strong writers.