March 2025 SOLC–Day 30
A huge thank you to Two Writing Teachers for all that they do to create an amazing community of writers and a safe, welcoming space to write, learn, share and grow.
http://www.twowritingteachers.org
The first drop, the one that started the whole thing, was a slice.
Earlier this month Mary Lee Hahn wrote about a book, The Little Hummingbird. Based on her recommendation, I ordered it for my classroom. When it arrived, I texted her and here’s what happened next (read left column and then right):
Then, late one afternoon, after conferring with the art teacher and gathering supplies, I settled down on the rug, book in hand, students gathered around me, and started reading. They were rapt.
After I closed the book, talk bubbled up.
“I liked that,” one kid volunteered.
“It’s kinda like a cliffhanger,” J said, a bit disgruntled by the ending. “I kinda want to write the author and ask him to write another one.” She frowned.
“It’s not gonna work,” said V., referring to the hummingbird’s actions.
“Well, maybe if the other animals see the hummingbird getting water, they will, too, and then it will make a difference,” H. volunteered.
“Maybe the author can write a series,” J. persisted. “I don’t like cliffhangers.”
M. added her two cents, “I think it’s saying that you should just always do what you can do.”
“Well, there was a lot of emotion,” another student said, “and that made me interested in it.”
After our conversation died off, I explained that, inspired by the book, Mary Lee had made some prints and she had sent some to us so that we could paint them. The kids cheered. I showed them the prints and pointed out the small words under the design, “Every drop counts.”
They were practically delirious with excitement.
“What!? We get to paint!”
Soon enough painting was underway, and the room was a hum of happy voices and activity. It reminded me, painfully, how rarely I incorporate art or any type of extension activity into the classroom. I get so caught up in the demands of the curriculum, that there’s no bandwidth left to plan and organize these type of enriching activities. This one only happened because Mary Lee dropped it neatly into my lap. I was simultaneously delighted by the interactions and activity around me, and slightly depressed.
The principal happened to be in my room later that afternoon, and saw all the prints drying. He asked about it and I gave him the Cliff Notes version. “These are great!” he said. I agreed and said something about how I wish we could do more things like this.
The next day he stopped back to touch base about a student before heading into a meeting. He gestured to the prints. “There isn’t time to talk about it now, but I want to circle back to what you said about not having time to do these kinds of things,” he said. “They really are important in elementary education, and I’d like to talk about what’s getting in the way. Let’s have a conversation about this later.”
We’ll see what happens, but I love that it all started with a slice.
Thanks again, Mary Lee, for so generously sharing your recommendation and your creativity.
Every drop counts.
Nix the comfort zone 
Wow! Such gorgeous prints and beautiful watercolors. And I’m SO glad your principal wants to circle back about making the time for more extension activities like this!!
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I’m looking forward to the conversation!
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I love everything about this! How Mary Lee’s creative endeavors met with your frustration over the lack of art in the classroom equals not only a great learning activity with kids, but also a principal who is willing to open up the conversation. I was just thinking about how I haven’t done much art this year. What is getting in the way?
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For me, I know it’s too much to do in too little time. I literally time things to the minute to try to get it all done, and I’ve come to realize that I’m not terribly efficient, and I don’t really want to be. A conundrum!
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My heart is so happy!
We rarely know the difference our “drops” make in the world, but this proves that no matter how small, each one, indeed, counts.
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It was such a gift to all of us! Thank you so much!
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This is so beautiful! So generous of your friend and such a great way to spend time with your students! I’m excited about the follow up 🙂
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We have such a beautiful “campus” and I’d love to incorporate more learning/exploring time outside, too.
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How cool is that! The prints are so colourful and fun. I’m glad you may get to do more similar stuff. As you said, how cool that it started from a slice about a book.
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I love how it all unfolded!
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This is powerfully heartwarming! The stuff of a writing community that matters – – it translates out into the hearts of children as little planted seeds and takes root. Who knows where this will go? The illustrator of the National Poetry Month poster this year is from where I live. She became an artist because her PE teacher encouraged her to enter an Olympics 1996 Atlanta contest and she won it. Then in high school, her art teacher encouraged her to consider a career in art. Christy Mandin writes children’s books and illustrates them. Because of experiences like this one that you shared today. Those tiny seeds of encouragement grow into lives, forever embedded and rooted in the teachers who inspire them. I’m feeling the tears so I’ll stop now, but what a powerful thing!
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Thanks so much for sharing Christy Mandin’s background. So cool!
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Loved this, congrats
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This is what slicing is all about! The hummingbirds are beautiful! I have gotten so many good ideas, books, and encouragement from you and all the slicers. This is such an important space! Glad we all could write and share this month.
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It is an important space! I, too, have gained so much from participating!
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Oh, this is so, so wonderful! I second Amy. One thing I really admire about our school is its commitment to protecting such experiences for children throughout elementary. I hope something does come out of it for your school!
This line made me smile, big connection there!
“Maybe the author can write a series,” J. persisted. “I don’t like cliffhangers.”
Me neither, J 😉
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I loved the ending of this book, but can see why J. was unhappy with it, especially as a 7 year old.
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What a beautiful testimony of this community and the ways people interact and impact each other. I love everything in this, and I hope that the one little drop turns into a cascade through a future conversation with the principal.
The bird theme continues to be a FORCE this month! I forgot about the hummingbird!!!
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It all started with Mary Lee’s generosity and creativity. I’m looking forward to that conversation with my principal as well.
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This is such a wonderful slice. Mary Lee gave words in her slice and then supplies. You gave your students art enrichment. Your principal gave you hope. And now your slice has given me a chance to tell you I love this and agree students need more art, and has a high school teacher of 38 years, I want you to know how much art matters in high school, too. Art helped my speech students develop their public speaking skills, and I have tons of stories about how I used art in high school classes. I’ve presented at NCTE w/ Carol Jago at least six or seven times, and she always brings an art component into our session.
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Thanks, Glenda! The experience has me determined to create more similar opportunities in my classroom, one way or another.
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I’ve added this book to my need to buy list–it seems like a perfect story for earth month. My students did directed drawings of hummingbirds with the garden teacher a few weeks ago…now to consider what kind of art I might do connected to this book. I hope you find more ways to integrate art into your teaching–I know it makes a huge positive difference in my classroom!
Kim
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I always get ideas from your posts, and so admire how you incorporate art and photography into the classroom. I’m already thinking about what you did with odd numbers and wondering if I can do something similar next fall. Thanks for the constant inspiration!
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😍
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Oh, wow! Starting with a slice and recommendation from Mary Lee to this great activity and the conversation with your principal about oh so important ideas is just all kinds of marvelous!
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It was such a lovely additional bonus to this month’s challenge.
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Yes! Yes! There DOES need to be more time to do these kinds of things! That’s a good principal you have. I so love that this all started with a slice, too.
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I’ve been lucky enough to work under the same principal for 17 years. I think it helps to have a steady hand on the helm. I also love that this all started with a slice.
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Please update all your Slice fans about the conversation about bringing more art into the classroom. They are kids. They need such creative outlets. I once was supervising a student teacher in southern Maine. She told me there was no time to write poetry or have poetry in the classroom. That was done in fourth grade! How the curriculum gets in the way of creative, spontaneous, GOOD teachers!
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