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George started to get up. He walked over to my rocking chair and, with a wide smile, said to me, “Mrs. Biffle, you have a beautiful smile, and it makes me happy to see you smiling.” That’s where the story really begins. Throughout the remainder of the day, I kept smiling and engaging with my learners, as if the morning meeting hadn’t disrupted my thought process. From that day forward, my learner’s favorite question to me was, “Mrs. Biffle, why do you smile so much?” I asked the learners why they believed I smiled so much. Some responded with, “because you just like smiling” or “because you are a happy person.” I told them the real reason was that I wanted to make others happy by smiling, and I was always happy to see my students’ sweet little faces.
I challenged my students to walk around the school and smile at others, including their classmates. They were to do this for one week, beginning on Monday and reporting on Friday. Our class results included 100% participation from the students and the individuals whom they smiled at. Some students reported that they tried smiling more at home, and when they went out to dinner with their family or friends, and when they went grocery shopping. Our class created a class “contract,” and coming in at #1 was, “Bring your smile to school every day.” Before we left the classroom each day, we would affirm our contract by saying each one out loud. When we quoted #1, we said it with a “smile.”
Smiling is very contagious. As the year progressed, I noticed that students I had never had in class were hollering across the school yard, “Good morning/afternoon, Mrs. Biffle. Some of these learners never smiled, and now they were smiling and happy when they came to school. They would have the biggest smiles on their faces when they were talking to me.
At March’s parent-teacher conference, several parents told me they had noticed a change in their child’s interactions with their siblings and family members. The parents stated that their child(ren) were smiling more and begged them to come to school, sometimes even when they were sick. With a smile a mile long, of course, I thanked the parents for not sending their learner to school sick. When I asked the parents why they thought their child was changing, they replied, “Because you have shown them grace and a genuine kindness that they haven’t seen before.” My reply was, “I appreciate those kind words, and my goal in life is to treat others with kindness, no matter what their circumstances might be or who they are.”
At the beginning of the school year, I told my students that we would be writing a class book. When it came time to choose the title, they settled on “All About My Teacher.” I held a Gala for them at the end of the year to celebrate their accomplishments in becoming published authors and illustrators. Each student read their part of the book to their family and friends. Every student included this statement in their portion of writing: “Mrs. Biffle has the best smile, and she loves smiling.” This was a very surreal moment for me, because I could see how I had helped them become better individuals, and they, too, loved smiling. Don’t forget to take your smile with you wherever you go.
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“At times, I had to remind myself to keep smiling” is such a real line that many in this profession can relate to. I love that you started with the George piece– I might suggest that maybe you could bring it back to him? or maybe his specific PT conference, and he could act as your example for change in students!
Maddie,
Thank you for responding to my post. I, too, like the idea of bringing it back to George. I will work on this change. 🙂
This piece is such an encouragement for me. I have times when smiling isn’t what I want to express. I agree with Maddie concerning George.
Thank you for responding to my post. Unfortunately, this year was that year for me. I believe I cried more than I laughed or smiled on many occasions. 🙂
Misty! This is such a sweet piece. I love that you love to smile, I do too. Some times my face hurts at the end of the day! I would love your piece to start with a more intense hook; could be rhetorical or a funny statistic about smiling, a surprising line or the moment George speaks? What an encouraging project to initiate, may I steal?????
Thank you for responding to my post. Smiling is the best! I agree, sometimes my face hurts too. I love that you, too, love to smile. I will work on editing. Thank you for the fresh ideas. Yes, of course you can steal it. 🙂
Misty, I loved this piece. It never ceases to amaze me how something as simple as one kind gesture can impact others the way it does and your smile does just that! On an occasional very bad day, there are times that I just had to fake it until I could make it, but once a smile is returned, mine turns into the real deal. After reading your story I can tell that you are someone that will be a student’s person, just like the teacher was for you, in the other story you shared in group. I would also love a quick return to George to see if he is continuing passing on your smile. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for responding to my post. I love how your smile becomes the real deal. I have updated my story; hopefully, you’ll see George’s progress too. 🙂
This is such a warm and inspiring story! It’s easy to see how the boys’ smile and kind words could have been misinterpreted at first, especially since it’s natural to assume someone is looking at you negatively when they’re staring. Your decision to keep smiling and remain positive truly made a difference, not only in your day but in your students’ lives and their interactions with others. Your approach shows how small acts of kindness and a genuine smile can create a ripple effect of happiness and connection.
Thank you for responding to my post. Kindness and a smile are so easy to spread, and they can be done simultaneously. During my “smiling” challenge, I noticed that some of the staff began smiling too.
I love your smile, too! Thank you for using your writing to share joy. 🙂
Jill, thank you so much for responding to my post! Thank you for encouraging me to share. 🙂
“This was a very surreal moment for me, because I could see how I had helped them become better individuals, and they, too, loved smiling. Don’t forget to take your smile with you wherever you go.” This is such a powerful conclusion. Thank you for reminding us that our students (and colleagues) notice even those small things. And hopefully they remember something wonderful about us that they want to adopt (Like smiling).
Sterba, thank you for responding to my post! I agree, sometimes we think no one is watching; however, someone is always watching, so why not make it something worth sharing, like a smile?
I smiled the entire time I read this! Those kiddos know you love them and that you’re genuinely happy to see them each day. I’m sure for some of them, you’re the only adult in their lives who consistently smiles at them. You’re making a huge impact!
Abby, thank you for responding to my post! I agree, oftentimes we are the only positive person in some of our learners’ lives. I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “How do you want to be remembered?” I feel I would have to answer saying, “Everyone deserves someone willing to smile at them, and to make them feel seen!”
Misty, wonderful to read this piece after hearing it through your author’s chair. Brought smiles to our faces; brough a smile to my face here. Methinks this is a story that could be turned into a great children’s book. Think about it!