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| Flickr Creative Commons Photo by Paul Horner |
one dandelion
endless expanse of green lawn
unique is lonely
©Mary Lee Hahn, 2019
My One Little Word for the next two weeks in UNIQUE. (Yesterday I wrote about why my OLW only lasts two weeks.)
What an empowering class environment you are offering your students! I wouldn't mind time traveling and being that "unique" dandelion for a week, thanks Mary Lee!
ReplyDeleteUnique evolved from an innovative approach to the one word concept. You and your students should be congratulated for their creativity. Your haiku says so much in such a few words.
ReplyDeleteI went back to read your other post, Mary Lee. It's wonderful to see how much your students are in charge of, and if only others could see that they can be. They are so capable. Love the poem. That final line has many layers, great for a lively discussion! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteMay unique things find and celebrate other unique things!
ReplyDelete<3
ReplyDeleteUnique is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteHmmm. I really want to be unique. I don't mind being alone. Not sure I want to be lonely.
ReplyDeleteYour 2-week word is lovely. :) I DO think unique is often lonely... the different one, the "other"... many of us experience this, or witness those who do. Thank you for your honesty in this world where we grownups like to tell children how great it is to be unique (and it is, it is!) but leaving out this important part of it. I'd like to tell every child that all those things that make them feel different, other, lonely are the very things that will eventually carry them. It's hard sometimes to have a superpower. xo
ReplyDeleteUnique can be lonely (I'm with you--I would have chosen weird. Your students are more mature than moi!)
ReplyDeleteMuch insight with "unique is lonely."
ReplyDeleteLoved your post about how you and your students have adapted the one little word idea. It's such a treat to see inside your classroom.
ReplyDeleteUnique is so often seen as a positive (and it is), but I love this haiku for the way it acknowledges that unique has some scary parts, too. Otherwise, everyone would be a-ok with being unique; no one would have to encourage themselves and others to be unique.
Finally, I love that other message in this poem: hope. Because, if there's anything that a dandelion in a yard WON'T be for long it's alone. Maybe in our small, unique ways we can be the agents of change, too?
The loneliness of unique....so true. No sad, though. Simply part of Unique's journey. All the better to employ powers of observation with, my friend.
ReplyDelete(When I try to click to your other link, my computer spews a scary message about maliciousness.. ?!) You are a UNIQUELY thoughtful voice in the world, for young & "old" listeners alike.
ReplyDeleteIf the OLW for the 2 weeks is aspirational, you don't have much to do, ML. You're already beautifully uni*ue, I'd say--but perhaps you're cataloguing your uni*ueness during this period instead. I liked your 2011/2018 aging photos, and your haiku is lovely and makes lonely sound restful. And--surely it's not the first time I've said so--I'd like to be 5th grader in your class.
ReplyDeleteAs I said in my comment on your previous post, Mary Lee - your posts remind me about how much I miss life in room 202, where uniqueness was encouraged, as well.
ReplyDeleteUnique can indeed be lonely, but that gorgeous pop of color, that buttery, yellow dandelion makes me think standing alone is worth it. :)
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