Unlike many others I get a re-do of the fourth grade every year. I love my job. Even on the bad days I love what I do. Each year my fourth graders teach me something. This years class is no exception. It is the fourth week of the fourth grade and I love them and their little personalities.
This week we were playing a game. It's called silent around the world and it is awesome. The students compete to get the question right first. The first one who wins moves on to the seat in front of them and so on and so on. So this little boy was up and he got the question right. In the very front row one of my little students let out a huge hooray and a fist pump. It was to cute for him to get in trouble. I asked him what was that about and he said, "Because my friend won." I told him that he was having to go against his friend next. His reply, "I don't care I am just so happy he won." It was one of those moments that I wanted to take him and just squeeze him and tell him how sweet that was. But of course that couldn't be done, due to A, we were playing a game, B) he would have been embarrassed and C( I am sure that would have been frowned upon.
I thought when was the last time I was truly excited about some one like that and their success. So much so that I didn't even care about what was going on with me and my life. That at that moment I was just elated in their success that I fist pumped in the air and let a huge scream for all to hear.
He has taught me how to be a better friend. For that I will always be grateful to my smallest fourth grader with the biggest heart.
