I love that the focus of Rick's project was himself, that he was able to distinguish himself from the chaos in which he was living. Despite the heartbreak (and often anger) I experience when I read things like this from my students, it is very humbling to me that they feel they can express their feelings to me. I do believe that a student's trust is one of the greatest compliments we can receive as educators.

Oh, my...I just read about Rick today...while on a day-date with my husband (while he was looking at some "manly" things, I read a while!). When I finished, I wrote a student's name down at the end of that chapter...wishing I had touched him more, for when I look back, I now wonder how bad his home-life might have been...or is. This student and I got off to a very rocky start after he used the f-word in my class towards me...we actually worked through this..have to admit that I watched and wanted him to mess up, for his actions greatly irritated me! But he didn't, and our relationship improved immensely (thankfully...and with work on both our parts.) Even though we wrote in journals in my class, the focus was not the sort that Mrs. Penny uses...nor did I read them as I should have. I always waited until the end of the nine-week. Going to think through this more...maybe will find some answers as I get caught up on my reading also!

It can be really hard when kids come in with a "chip on their shoulder" to try to imagine they might be going through something. Kids lash out and resist and we take it personally. It's hard not to. I think the day I stop taking it personally will actually be a sad day because it will mean I don't care. What an opportunity we have as teachers of writing to really get to know our students. It is so hard to root for them when they hurt us.