第11部分(第2/6 頁)

　writer’s　workshop　in　which　students　volunteer　to　share　what　they　have　written。　We　had　a　new　student　to　the　school；　Al。　Al　was　small　and；　with　his　dimpled　cheeks　and　baby　face；　he　looked　younger　than　his　classmates。

In　fact；　when　Al　was　first　introduced　to　the　class　two　weeks　earlier；　one　student　said；　“You’re　not　in　the　seventh　grade。　You’re　a　baby。　”

To　that；　Al　quickly　responded；　“I’m　Al　Billslington；　and　I　am　in　the　seventh　grade。　”

Despite　his　obvious　courage；　Al　had　been　with　us　for　only　a　short　while　and　was　still　trying　to　fit　in。　So　I　was　a　little　surprised　when　he　volunteered　to　read　during　author’s　chair。　I　had　one　of　those　teacher　moments；　when　I　smiled　and　nodded　for　him　to　read； while　inside　I　said　a　silent　prayer　that　the　other　students　would　not　tease4　the　new　kid　after　he　read。　The　room　fell　silent；　and　Al　began　to　read。

“If　I　had　one　wish；　it　would　be　to　meet　my　dad。。。　”　He　started　out　loud　and　clear　and　held　the　attention　of　my　usually　restless　seventh　graders　as　he　read　on　for　what　seemed　like　fifteen　minutes。　He　told　of　how　he　had　never　known　his　father；　who　had　left　the　family　when　Al　was　a　baby。　He　shared　the　intimate　details　of　his　struggles　to　be　the　only　man　in　the　house　at　such　a　young　age；　of　having　to　mow　the　lawn　and　fix　broken　pipes。　He　revealed　to　us　the　thoughts　that　raced　through　his　mind　constantly　about　where　his　father　might　be　and　why　he　might　have　left。txt電子書分享平臺

我之所以教書（3）

My　eyes　scanned5　the　room　for　snickering　faces　of　seventh…grade　kids　who　I　knew　were　prone　to　jump　at　a　weakness　and　try　to　crack　a　joke；　but　there　were　no　snickers。　There　were　no　rolling　eyes　or　gestures　insinuating　boredom　or　pending　attacks。　All　of　my　seventh…grade　students　were　listening；　really　listening。　Their　eyes