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Moments Like This…

From a non-reader to a buddy reader

This morning I had one of those moments that make me so proud to be part of Kent School.  I have written about the passion and effort our staff put in to developing confidence and a love of reading in the past but the moment I experienced this morning sums this up perfectly.

Sarah (pseudonym) arrived at our school two years ago as a non-reader.  She lacked both the skills and interest (and support) in reading and was a very upset and emotional child at school.  This morning, I walked into our library during our “Early Morning Readers” time (community volunteers and intermediate buddy readers support children who want to come and read before school) and saw Sarah waiting at a table to read with a child.  Our teacher-librarian helped her to get set up and then it happened… she sat down with a primary child and began reading with him.  This moment is what it is all about – a minor moment overall but a huge moment for her.  Sarah had gone from a non-reader with no confidence or interest in reading to a point in which she was choosing to volunteer her time before school to help a younger child read.

This is what happens when staff and students work so hard to develop a Culture of Reading at a school… you get moments like these.  The irony is that she read with a boy that likely could read at her level or beyond but this did not matter.  Sarah had the skill, confidence, and love of reading to make the choice to be a leader in our school and share her joy of reading with a younger child.

Relationships. Sense of belonging. Confidence. Skill development. Leadership. Love of Reading.  Such an honour to experience and share moments like this…

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Chris Wejr

Proud father of twin girls and a son. Currently working as the Principal of Shortreed Elementary School (K-5) in Aldergove, BC, Canada. Passionate about instruction, strengths-based education and leadership, reconciliation, assessment, and human motivation.

9 Comments

  1. Thank you for sharing this wonderful success story and recognizing the importance of celebrating such moments. I am certain that your recognition of this success will have a lasting impact on Sarah’s confidence in herself as a student and learner. Well done, Chris!

    • Thanks Karen – hopefully this small story pays tribute to all the efforts that the community of Kent has done (and continues to do!)

  2. Hurray for Sarah! Hurray for all of the people who helped get Sarah to this point! Hurray for providing the opportunity for Sarah to make a difference! Hurray for being a leader who recognizes that the small moments really ARE the big ones! Hurray Kent School!

    • Thanks Roxanne – love these moments… and I think as I mature and grow, I seem to notice these “small” moments even more. 🙂

  3. Magical! Thank you for sharing this story. More stories of learning like this need to be shared! It is the people & relationships established in a school that make all moments like this big ones to everyone connected to Sarah. Way to go Sarah! Way to go Kent Elementary!

    • Well said, buddy – too often all the problems and negatives of “broken systems” are shared and moments like these are missed. Thanks for commenting and continuing to share the great moments in your class/school!

  4. A huge moment in time for all of you! That must have been a very proud moment for ‘Sarah’ and your staff… as well as you.

  5. Kent, what an incredible way to include your larger community and smaller community (intermediate buddy readers) into your school. Congrats Sarah, staff, and community – a remember to celebrate success!

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