I think sometimes the thoughts we dwell upon the most are probably most telling of who we are as people. I can tell a lot from listening on the carpet to students who choose to share or not share specific stories from their weekend. I can tell a lot from the students who ask me questions throughout the day or who whisper questions in my ear. I can even tell a lot when I ask a student who appears to be daydreaming what they are thinking about. And chances are, you will find that what they are thinking about is deeper than what it is you were saying in that very moment. Because the day-dreamers are also the world-changers. I think that is always something so important to remember. The free-est thinkers are generally the free-est doers and so I hesitate to say that daydreaming is a bad thing. It takes gumption to dream in the day. 

One of my students came up to me during a brief pause in instruction and a transition to the next subject. She beckoned for me to listen carefully and so I put my ear out expecting to hear something about the topic we would be learning next. Instead this student whispered, "If I have time today, I think I'm going to craft a paper airplane made out of plain white paper. I'm going to write "I love you" and then fly it to my mom so that when she opens it...she'll see the message." What a brilliant idea I thought to myself. So moved by the whimsy in such a simple creation and yet a deep response from one of the most whimsical and day-dreamy minds in the classroom. 

And just when some days you think to yourself..goodness gracious...how will I get my words to fly across the classroom and land softly inside those little minds, you realize a little mind has already figured it out. Spread your love and let the paper airplane go for a ride of course. Why didn't I think of that?

See. Those who daydream. Well-they teach us to fly.