Guest Speakers can be awesome. Last month, Harry Baker made a virtual visit to IICS as part of our Mother Tongue Week events. As he was reciting one of his poems, the theme of communication was pervasive throughout with a focus on a SMILE.
The power of making a connection everyday as students dismount buses, stroll into class, climb and descend stairs or rapidly heading to the salad bar at lunch are opportunities that cannot be missed. The smile, the wave, the head nod, the sharing of bad, but polite jokes makes connections.
I am loving my time at IICS working with grades 7 and 8. I had not been in the classroom with grade 7 and 8 for 16 years now. These students bring energy, curiosity and joy into the school on a daily basis. They are still of the age when they figure something out, it translate into a physical expression of happiness with a fist pump or "yes" mumbled under the mask.
As part of the workshop with Harry Baker, we had time to wrote a poem. Happy to share some alliteration below with you.
Smile
wrinkle of the dimple
crinkle of the edging eye
the upturned corners of the effervescent smile
makes a soul feel wanted, acknowledged, accepted - alive
