In grade 9, we’ve moved from our first unit – Stories of Us – into our second – Stories of Others. We’ve written Where I’m From using not only George Ella Lyon’s wonderful poem but also interpretations by Melanie Poonai, a young writer from England, and Danika Smith, an Indigenous author from British Columbia, as models. We’ve worked as a class and in small groups to create Where We’re From poems that help us understand our class as a whole. Students turned these into posters or short videos – and the school board’s print shop has delivered gorgeous prints that now decorate our room. We’ve written our own 100-word memoirs, too. Now, it’s time to look outside our classroom walls.
It’s also March, which means that I am in the middle of writing and publishing stories every day. I tell the students about this, and they are interested, impressed, curious, bored, and not listening. Some of them want to know where I get the stories from. I laugh and say, “from you.”
For a few days, we listen to StoryCorps interviews and look at Instagram posts from Humans of New York. We practice active listening and asking follow-up questions. Then, I put this quote up in the right-hand corner of the blackboard as one of our daily quotes:
The truth about stories is that that’s all we are.
-Thomas King
After reading time, I draw their attention to King’s words. I ask what they think he means. It takes a minute, but when they arrive at an understanding, a few of them marvel. “It’s really true, isn’t it? Our stories are really important,” says one. “It’s like what we think about what happens is as important as what happens,” says another. I just nod.
I think about the quote all the time. I think about how I am made of the stories I’ve heard, the stories I tell myself. I think of how the way I tell the story affects who I am and how the stories themselves change over time. I think about the value of regularly capturing tiny moments, recognizing the story I’m telling myself as I live it. These stories are everything. As Jess writes, “There is gold in every piece of your story.”
Now, the students are out in the world (mostly in the hallways, to be honest), interviewing other people: family or friends, students or staff. They have to choose a tiny powerful moment from their interview – a story – and pair it with a photo. I post these on our Instagram account, and we marvel at the moments that shape our community. The students must think about what part of their interviewee’s story they chose to tell and what parts they left out. How will that change people’s perceptions? What story are they telling? These students learn to lean in to other people’s stories and consider them deeply.
This year, this part of the unit is closing as March comes to an end. Today marks the end of seven years of this challenge for me. I know that, tired as I am, I will miss this – the writing, the reading, the commenting – tomorrow and in the days to come. And I know it’s because of the stories people share, and the stories I choose to share, too. What a privilege it is to be part of so many stories! What a boon to be allowed so many views of the world!
If Thomas King is right, and I think he is, then I am so much better, so much more because of the stories others have shared this month and in all the months and years past. I am better, too, because of the time you’ve taken to read my stories. Thank you.
Persistence and Pedagogy 
I always leave this month wishing I’d had more time to read more stories and to comment on them. Every time I read one of yours, I come away impressed and inspired by your writing craft and by your passion, drive and determination. Your students are in no way the only ones learning from you. Thank you so much for honestly sharing your stories.
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I agree! I always feel proud as well as a little sad as this month comes to a close. I too am a better writing and a more reflective reader thanks to all the stories I have read this month! I have been forced to be home and less physically active this month after surgeries and I have read and commented more than ever before. I am enriched by these (your) stories,
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My story. Your story. Our story. Their story. We are made of stories. We can choose the stories we tell and how we tell them. And we can show kindness and care in listening to other people’s stories. Our lives become richer. – You said much more and in more beautiful literary craft. Thank you!
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Amanda,
I love everything about this post. Not gonna lie, it brought some tears to my eyes. You are an incredible teacher, and you are giving your students the gift of story—theirs and the stories of others. I love the poster. I hope the students all have one to take home. Love that you’re modeling how to use social media in a positive way via IG. I can see possibilities for analyzing other accounts. Have you read Tom Newkirk’s “Minds Made for Stories”? It’s fabulous. You’d love it. Also, I can see this as a session at the NCTE Annual Convention. I know you’ve talked about going. If I don’t remind you next fall, it’s your assignment to remind me to push you to write a proposal for 2025.
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Let’s all go together! I love this post too. I also got teary. I hope your students look back in their time in high school and realize what a gem they have in you. I love the quote. I think I need a new sign. The truth about stories is that that’s all we are.
-Thomas King
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I’ve so enjoyed reading your posts this month. Even though I don’t always comment, I know I’ve found something – beautiful or inspiring or funny or empowering – in each piece. I especially appreciated today’s words. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts. Maybe I’ll even join you next year!
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“What a privilege it is to be part of so many stories! What a boon to be allowed so many views of the world!”
I am so glad I found your blog this challenge! Your comments lifted me up and your posts made me laugh and cry. Thank you for sharing your stories with us! How amazing that you are helping your students to share their own and others’ stories as well.
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Holy bananas, Amanda! Yes, yes and more yes to all of this! I sat in a tipi on Wednesday and talked/listened with/to post-secondary educators and an Anishinaabe knowledge keepers and a young Métis faculty member talking about how we weave story in all of it complexity into our teaching and learning spaces.
We are story. This was also the theme of Drew Hayden Taylor’s convocation address to Trent B.Ed grads last June.
I am in awe of the space you make for your students to share their stories – who they are. The printing of the I am From poems – how beautiful. I used to have my Grade 7’s build Sway presentations, with illustrations (photos of their own, or drawings, or whatever) to go with each line, and then we QR coded them for parent night. If they felt like it, they could record themselves reading it as well.
I feel so very fortunate that I sometimes get to hear you tell the stories behind these stories on Tuesday night. Thank you for that gift.
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I have taught this poem so many times…thank you for the additional resources of the other versions. I appreciate it!
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I love reading your stories. Every now and then I get into story-telling or story-listening mode with someone I have known for a long time and I’m reminded that we are definitely made up of stories. I’ve been away from blogging more often than not in the last year and this March has reminded me how much I like it here.
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Oh, Amanda! You are one of the best things that came out of this challenge for me. Your stories, your voice, and your generosity with your comments are truly a gift. I was looking forward to your last slice because I knew it would bring all the feels, and now I want to go back and read more from you. I wish I could be a student in your class!
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Getting to this late, but glad that I did. Our school play is finally over, and I have a “normal” Sunday. This post and the King quote certainly resonate with me after this rollercoaster month. It was the stories that brought tears to my eyes and put a smile on my face, the stories in people’s. slices, and the stories in my mom’s files and photos and furniture. I am sad that one live story source has dried up, but happy that she left a lot of material behind. I’m grateful for your comments and for the opportunity to get to be in your classroom vicariously. I would have loved a class like yours when I was in 9th grade. I might have been a less jaded teen. See you on Tuesdays…if I can get myself into a routine.
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