Today I tried out something that is a bit new for me. While discussing the book Because of Winn Dixie, our class discussed in detail how important symbolism is within literature. There is whimsy in discovering the hidden keys to a deeper door that lies underneath the words of every great work. This is one of the aspects of teaching I enjoy the most. 

We decided to re-read a snippet of one of my favorite turning points within the novel. This particular turning point involves a story about the Civil War told by Miss Frannie Block who is the librarian within the story. She tells of a young boy who went off to war and essentially lost his whole family, his house and his friends. When he comes back, he has nothing and so he creates this candy. When the characters in the book try this candy from Miss Frannie Block's desk, the author slowly reveals the sorrows and joys and worries of every character. The candy is described as tasting both joyful but also melancholy at the same time. 

I asked my students to come up with a color that represented this chapter and explain why as well as a symbol and an image. One of my students shared out something so profound and so whimsical, that I knew I would have to write about it later. He said: "I chose the symbol of a whirpool. I feel like in this story and in life there are some moments where people are lost inside their feelings and they feel like they cannot get out. They are whirling around and around until something comes along and stops them from their sadness and their confused feelings."

How profound that a nine year old could articulate this mixture of feelings in a way that remained tangible and easily understood when explained to the entire class. When we are stuck in a whirlpool of emotion, let us think about how we can stop ourselves from spinning around and around. Let us take hold of our emotions and let our discoveries guide us towards a place of whimsy. A place near the stars.