What I've Learned So Far Calendar
Project
by Sharon Sellens
Shelbe’s quote was written on
November 24, 2003, while I visited Tam
Agosti- Gisler’s School Business
Partnership Class. I was there to help
them design cards and posters for business
partners. What happened was
magic. One hour later, after I had copied
all twenty-one of their original quotes,
their poignant words and their humorous
wit oddly stunned me.
I had told them about the calendar
project and invited their ideas. That day
made me realize SBP’s really had a winning
idea – quote the words of our children
–
let them teach us!
Luther says, “The heart of the giver
makes the gift dear and precious.” So it
is with the words of our ASD youth you
will have the pleasure to read. You will
laugh out loud, you will snicker, and you
will be brought to tears, you will wonder,
“
How does one so young, think so
deeply?”
So where did SBP receive inspiration for the project?
It came from the author of more than 60 children’s
books - David
Harrison of Springfield, Missouri. In the early
1990’s I attended a national School Business
Partnership symposium and read about Springfield’s
Foundation What I’ve Learned So Far - book
project which included 1,100 original quotes from
the youth of the school district. |
In the fall of 2002, I was able to
get a
copy of the book, and our SBP Board
decided to do the project in a calendar
form. David graciously loaned us ideas
to implement and create our own What
I’ve Learned So Far project.
 David’s inspiration gave us the
groundwork for the project, and he says
this about writing: “Writing is a skill that
must be learned. The love of words and
writing must be inspired in each new
generation and, in the absence of that
love, the skill will never flourish. When
elementary students have fun writing, the
process becomes natural, ability
improves, and young people develop
one of the most vital tools we can give
them – the freedom and the power of
working with words.”
And what have I learned so far? I have
learned to believe even more in the
youth of our community – their example
and their words reflect what they have
learned from all of us. Hopefully, we continue
to create a caring, supportive community
so they can pursue their quest for
excellence in life – not only academically,
but in all areas of their lives.
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