Good Night Gorilla

Last week we read many stories about Wild Animals- some that live in the jungle, some that live in the zoo.  This book was by far the favorite of the group, and I love it too!  

With 6 days left of school, it is final assessment time.  I was all set up to go, and then an idea happened.  I simply could not let it go unnurtured.  It was an easy decision in the moment.  

"Let's build a zoo, like in the book".  I suggested that we re-tell the story and they got right to work.  At this point in the year I serve as moderator really.  We have taught them the skills they need to share a workspace, the language to navigate tight quarters and share toys.  I'm there to help when emotion is stronger than what we know is best and to sort out the inevitable dispute over whether or not a giant fly had any business in this retelling.  (We agreed to disagree)

The children quickly gathered the characters they needed to tell the story and began to construct homes for each one. Note: some poetic license was used in our hyena, aardvark and mouse characters. 

As I played with the children and spent quality time with the group I felt a few things, first joy at doing what I love.  Then a little fret settled in.  When am I ever going to get the assessments done??  I was just starting to focus on that when "I" grabbed the gorilla and said, "Look, this is the main character".  My worry quickly gave way to confidence.  

When I left teaching elementary school the biggest relief I felt was being able to do what I think is right my students.  There the focus had become more on "assessment" and quantifying progress rather than actually looking at what a child could do.  So in this moment I was reassured.  I watched "L" write the word ZOO and attach it to the sign.  I heard the children using the words character, setting, beginning and end.  I saw them attend to the details.  I did not need that Book and Print checklist to know that they understand books and how they work.  

I watched them line the animals up in order of their appearance in the story.  I SAW story comprehension with my eyes.  

Now, I still have a "report card" to fill out and I still have to do the assessments, but I just have more information, important information to pass along to the next teacher.  I am glad I did what felt right and am grateful for these last few moments with these amazing kids.