Pigeons, Teacher Help Forge Tight-Knit Class
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Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Editor's note: Last May 15, we spent a school day with 20 first-grade students at Cedar Lane Elementary School in Ashburn. Their teacher, Sue Ann Gleason, provided us with a tray of pens and pencils and some writing paper, and assigned us a desk in the middle of her 24-desk student section. Four were absent that day. What follows is our version of one day as a first-grader. Sue Ann Gleason is currently the Loudoun County Teacher of the Year and a recipient of the Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Award. She’s been nominated for the honor twice before. She has taught school for 28 years and is entering her seventh year at Cedar Lane.
It’s barely 7:30 a.m. and first-graders are beginning to trickle into Sue Ann Gleason’s Cedar Lane classroom. There are lots of “Good morning, Mrs. Gleasons,” as heavy-looking backpacks are plopped onto desktops. Most stop by to say “hello” to me, the stranger standing alone in the middle of the room holding a notebook and a camera.
For them, it’s just another day of soaking up large quantities of information while, at the same time, putting to use what they learned yesterday. For this visitor, it’ll be a day of trying to keep up with 20 youngsters who already have acquired skills that were unknown in his first-grade class in a tiny Kansas town that disappeared off most maps years ago.
As the room fills, first-grader Jill Adams leads me to a row of desks and points to my name, neatly lettered and attached to one of the desktops. Jill sits down beside me, avoiding my knees that won’t fit under my little table. I check out my new colored pencils and notebook.
“Bill, I know this is the first time you’ve been here so I wrote down some of the things about our class,” she said.
I’m already impressed.
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Watch videos about what each student in Mrs. Gleason's class wants to do when they grow up.
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- Audio: Listen to Bill Snead talk about his day in the first grade
- Poetry Anthology: Read a poem by Saralinda Contompasis
- Class Newspaper: Read a story about Snead's visit
- Video: See a short video shot by first-grader Ethan Smith
- Photos: See the photo gallery
- Virtual tour: Take a virtual tour of Cedar Lane
- Related story: School Officials Honor Award-Winning 1st-Grade Teacher
- Video set: All Cedar Lane videos
- All of Bill Snead's stories and multimedia »
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She hands me eight, neatly written pages on lined paper.
Yes, she’d written them all, saying, “I just love to write.” She’d finished them that morning.
Remember, we’re in the first grade here.
Jill’s notes to the rookie mentioned a tooth chart where students report missing teeth. This hit home more than she could know. She warned that interrupting another student or Mrs. Gleason while they are talking is not appreciated. If you commit that sin three times, it could result in getting your very own chair in your own little corner of the room.
“OK, first let’s get the food orders on their way to the office,” said Mrs. Gleason, 50. More than half pack their lunch, but for the others: cheese pizza, meatball sub or tuna salad. Most choose pizza. Jill leaves her desk and approaches Mrs. Gleason’s desk, telling her she’s read about a blue whale that is more than 100 feet long.
“Oh, my goodness,” she says, and asks Jill to count 100 of the foot-long tiles in the classroom so she can share her information during a “measuring” exercise later that day.
Jill is beaming as she heads for the tiles.
“Make sure you get your books out of your backpacks that you took home to read,” announces Mrs. Gleason. They’ll soon be picked up and returned to the school’s library.
Over a speaker, an announcement: “Exciting news, baby chicks are hatching in Mrs. Arthur’s third grade. Please sign up on a sheet outside her door if you’re interested in seeing the chicks today.”
Mrs. Gleason turns to her class, which is indeed excited.
“What time is lunch?” she asks.
Class: “11.”
“What time do we finish?” she asks.
Class: “11:30.”
“So when do we go see the chicks?” she asks.
“11:30,” they sing out.
The class made the decision. Skylar Stark, Will Brandt and Lindsey Breidenfeld are dispatched to Mrs. Arthur’s door, pencils in hand.
Our desks are pushed together in two rows of 12 facing one another, looking like one long table. Most desktops are covered with papers and books.
Everybody is busy. Some are at their desks, some are handing in paperwork at the teacher’s desk, while others talk borderline-quiet in pairs. It’s not a quiet room, but not noisy. It just sounds busy.
Photo Gallery
Sue Ann Gleason's First-Grade Class
In May, Bill Snead spent a day with the first grade class of Sue Ann Gleason at Cedar Lane Elementary School in Ashburn. These are the photographs he took to illustrate the day of learning that began around 7:30 a.m. and ended around 3:30 p.m. Snead's desk, complete with decorated name plate and colored pens and pencils. (Bill Snead)
In May, Bill Snead spent a day with the first grade class of Sue Ann Gleason at Cedar Lane Elementary School in Ashburn. Mrs. Gleason answered questions before school began. (Bill Snead)
Alex Schwind looks surprised to see a stranger in his classroom as he arrives at 7:30 a.m. Jill Adams is in the center and Samatha Alto is at the right. (Bill Snead)
Jill Adams, left, looks over some of her writing before handing it in to her teacher. Saralinda Contompasis is at the right and Lindsey Breidenfeid is seated. (Bill Snead)
Skylar Stark, left, Alex Schwind and Laraib Zia recite the Pledge of Allegiance. (Bill Snead)
Mrs. Gleason's first graders have the option of being hugged by a fellow classmate as the class sits in a circle to begin its day. Zachary Peifley, center, opted for one. Jill Adams is at the left, Samantha Alto, right. (Bill Snead)
In May, Bill Snead spent a day with the first grade class of Sue Ann Gleason at Cedar Lane Elementary School in Ashburn. (Bill Snead)
Sue Ann Gleason discusses writing with her students for their books on the human body, their work in progress. (Bill Snead)
Sue Ann Gleason discusses writing with her students for their books on the human body, their work in progress. (Bill Snead)
Sue Ann Gleason discusses writing with her students for their books on the human body, their work in progress. Skylar Stark is at the right. (Bill Snead)
Mrs. Gleason asks a question of Laraib Zia in the writers workshop portion of class. (Bill Snead)
Ethan Smith sounds out some words while writing a paper with his teacher. (Bill Snead)
Ethan Smith sounds out some words while writing a paper with his teacher. (Bill Snead)
Mrs. Gleason shows her students some examples of poetry from a collection of their poems that she printed and assembled as books. (Bill Snead)
Uday Kalvakota listens as his teacher tells him to read his story aloud with slightly more authority in his voice. (Bill Snead)
Debbie Schwind helps her son Alex, left, and Ethan Smith with their reading during class. (Bill Snead)
Jill Adams at her desk in the first grade class of Sue Ann Gleason at Cedar Lane Elementary School in Ashburn. (Bill Snead)
Hallie Jager postpones picking up a load of colored tiles by asking her teacher a question. (Bill Snead)
It's time for lunch at Cedar Lane Elementary, and not a moment too soon. (Bill Snead)
The first grade class of Sue Ann Gleason at Cedar Lane Elementary School in Ashburn heads back to the classroom after a rousing game of tag during a midday P.E. class. (Bill Snead)
Cole Gordon and Saralinda Contompasis enjoy lunch together before heading back to Sue Ann Gleason's first grade class at Cedar Lane Elementary School in Ashburn. (Bill Snead)
Ethan Smith enjoys his lunch before heading back to the first grade class of Sue Ann Gleason at Cedar Lane Elementary School in Ashburn. (Bill Snead)
Mrs. Gleason in a friendly conversation with Liam Hundertmark during their trip down the hall to see baby chicks. (Bill Snead)
The class walks down the hallway, nearly single file, to see baby chicks. (Bill Snead)
In May, Bill Snead spent a day with the first grade class of Sue Ann Gleason at Cedar Lane Elementary School in Ashburn. (Bill Snead)
L-R: Marin Lowe, Lindsey Breidenfeld, Jill Adams and Zachary Peifley checking out the baby chicks. (Bill Snead)
Mrs. Arthur holds a bin of baby chicks for Mrs. Gleason's pupils to see. Liam Hundertmark, left and Alex Schwind are on the far side. (Bill Snead)
Zachary Peifley, left, and Alex Schwind shake and make up after a disagreement, much to Mrs. Gleason's delight. (Bill Snead)
Ethan Smith brings his father's digital camera and tripod to class often, acting as the "official photographer" for Mrs. Gleason's class. He shoots both stills and videos. (Bill Snead)
Ethan Smith brings his father's digital camera and tripod to class often, acting as the "official photographer" for Mrs. Gleason's class. He shoots both stills and videos. (Bill Snead)
Bill Snead spent a day in May with the first grade class of Sue Ann Gleason at Cedar Lane Elementary School in Ashburn. These are the photographs he took to illustrate the occasion that began around 7:30 a.m. and ended around 3:30 p.m. (Bill Snead)
Bill Snead spent a day in May with the first grade class of Sue Ann Gleason at Cedar Lane Elementary School in Ashburn. (Bill Snead)
In May, Bill Snead spent a day with the first grade class of Sue Ann Gleason at Cedar Lane Elementary School in Ashburn. (Bill Snead)
In May, Bill Snead, center, spent a day with the first grade class of Sue Ann Gleason at Cedar Lane Elementary School in Ashburn. (Sue Ann Gleason)
In May, Bill Snead, center, spent a day with the first grade class of Sue Ann Gleason at Cedar Lane Elementary School in Ashburn. These are the photographs he took to illustrate the occasion that began at about 7:30 a.m. and ended about 3:30 p.m. (Sue Ann Gleason)
It's been a long day and first graders Saralinda Contompasis and Liam Hundertmark are ready to board their bus for the trip home. (Bill Snead)
Shown here is yet another use for tennis balls as the chairs are stacked up and the children are ready to head home after a long day in Sue Ann Gleason's first grade class at Cedar Lane Elementary School in Ashburn. (Bill Snead)
It's the end of the school day and students head out the door of Sue Ann Gleason's first grade class. (Bill Snead)
Children head quickly for their busses and the ride home after a long day of school work in Sue Ann Gleason's first grade class at Cedar Lane Elementary School in Ashburn. (Bill Snead)
The front cover of the poetry anthology for Mrs. Gleason's first grade class from May 2007. Students contributed both poetry and artwork for the anthology, including the front cover, done by Ashton Tanner. (Bill Snead)
The public address system gets its second wind.
“It’s Tuesday, May 15, and the high today will be 37 degrees.” That’s followed by a couple of happy birthdays, important events on this day in history that include the first U.S. mail route between New York and Washington, D.C., and we’re told that scientist Madame Marie Curie was born on this date.
Today’s artist of the day is Olivia Newton John and we’re treated to a minute of “You’re the One That I Want,” from the movie “Grease.”
We all stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. Mrs. Gleason asks us to join her on the blue carpet. The blue carpet serves as a classroom within the classroom.
“Good morning, Cole,” she says. Cole says, “Good morning, Mrs. Gleason.” Cole turns to Marin Lowe and says “good morning.” Marin says “good morning,” and so the “good mornings” go around the circle of 21. Mrs. Gleason asks Liam if he could use a hug this morning. He’d like one, and hugs the student next to him, who hugs the person next to her. Thirteen exchange hugs.
“Saralinda and Ethan, how many pizzas did we order today?” our teacher asks.
“Five.
“Is that an odd or even number?”
“Odd.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s three plus two.”
“Fine.”
Sue Ann Gleason
In May, Bill Snead, center, spent a day with the first grade class of Sue Ann Gleason at Cedar Lane Elementary School in Ashburn.
Alex Schwind raises his hand.
“Last night I read a chapter of ‘Dick and Jane’ and I’m ready for the second chapter,” he says proudly.
“’Dick and Jane,’” Mrs. Gleason says with a sigh, “that’s how I learned to read.”
Lindsey: “After school, I went shopping with Danny and his mother and had Mighty Moo Ice Cream and then we had pizza.”
Mrs. Gleason: “My, Lindsey, that’s exciting ... all of that excitement must have kept Danny out of school this morning.”
Jake Daniel: “I’ve got some liquid in my ear and I think it’s from this stuffy nose,” sounding congested.
Mrs. Gleason: “Are you feeling better today, Jake? ... That’s good.”
Marin: “When I went to the bus stop today I saw two rabbits.”
Uday Kalvakota: “Last Friday, my sister told me we could have a party in the middle of the night ... she woke me up and we started a party.”
Mrs. Gleason: “What did you do?”
Uday: “We played with our toys.”
Our teacher asks Uday and Marin if they could write a story about the rabbits and the “party” for our Pigeon Place Post.
Earlier in the year, Mrs. Gleason read a book to her students called "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus," by Mo Willems. She hit a receptive nerve and they developed an instant fondness for the bird. They started a slick publication called the Pigeon Place Post, and now fill it with bylined stories.
Bill Snead
Ethan Smith sounds out some words while writing a paper with his teacher.
In their writing workshop so far this year, the students have written 119 little books about pigeons.
“This class is crazy about pigeons,” Uday said. “Some of us were getting sick of pigeons so we decided to write a book to kill it off ... The pigeon died and went to heaven.”
Jake jumped in, “But then we started writing about pigeon ghosts.”
Saralinda raises her hand. “My mom is still a pigeon fan and I’m going to write two more pigeon stories.”
Some eyes roll. Saralinda’s unfazed.
We’re asked if we’re ready for the morning song.
We do the bird song and it includes hand gestures. I move my lips, clap to the beat and hope no one is watching.
By her design, there’s a lot of reading and writing in Mrs. Gleason’s class.
“I can absolutely tell which children are or have been read to at home on a regular basis or practice reading/writing at home,” she said. “Children who are being exposed to quality literature get excited when I pick up a book they’ve had read to them elsewhere.”
She said there is a difference between quality literature and books that are being sold simply because there is a good marketing scheme behind them.
Bill Snead
Mrs. Gleason in a friendly conversation with Liam Hundertmark during their trip down the hall to see baby chicks.
“During a layover in a Chicago airport I spent time in a book shop moving Caldecott winners in front of the ‘Barbie’ and ‘Pretty Pony’ books,” she confessed.
She thinks “screens” have a negative effect on a child’s creativity.
“I can see it in their writing ... The children who are outside playing or exploring the creek behind their house have much richer stories to tell than those who want to write stories about characters in their video games,” she said.
She says parents can give their children an edge.
“All they have to do is read to them every single day, good books, and I believe that with all my heart and soul ... I can hear the difference in their vocabulary.”
I follow Mrs. Gleason and a small group headed for “writer’s workshop,” while others return to their desks.
We’re reminded that one difference between non-fiction and fiction is the use of labels, cutaways and charts, like those that show comparisons. Mrs. Gleason holds a small stack of “body books” that her students are working on.
“When we studied the body, do you know this one, Hallie? What is the same size as the brain? ... a grapefruit, good job, Hallie.”
She shows us some examples of lead sentences. “Jill I loved your lead, ‘Do you know how amazing your body is?”
Saralinda’s: “Did you know what’s inside your body, I will show you ...”
Uday: “Oh what a body, everybody has a body, come, I will show you.”
Mrs. Gleason said it sounded like Uday was talking directly to the people.
Jake says he saw a TV show once that showed a real heart. “A little gross?” asks Mrs. Gleason.
“It was most extreme,” says Jake, making a face.
Uday labeled some of his drawings as “fun facts.” By his drawing of the heart, he wrote: “If your heart stops beating, you will die.”
It’s time for lunch.
Some of the second-graders smiled and waved to Mrs. Gleason as she delivered her class to the lunch room.
Teachers aren’t required to eat with their students.
The lunch room is noisy.
I’m invited to sit with my first-grade desk mates.
I mention the noise level to Lindsey.
“Oh, that’s usually the second- and fifth-graders,” she says with a straight face.
Heard at the lunch table:
“My brother is 17 and still watches cartoons.”
“My sister will say she’s never talking to me anymore and a minute later she talks.”
“My sister does that too and she’s coo-coo about soccer.” I stay out of a debate about no-fat cheese.
Lunch ends at about 2 p.m. The newly hatched chicks receive our quiet attention and we were anointed “good guests.”
Back in the classroom, it turns out all of us weren’t good guests.
Bill Snead
It's been a long day and first graders Saralinda Contompasis and Liam Hundertmark are ready to board their bus for the trip home.
A boy quietly tells Mrs. Gleason he was pushed out of the way and couldn’t get close enough to see the chicks.
“Class,” she says, “we’re practicing to be in the real world and pushing one another is not the way we do things.”
The boy who was pushed is instructed to write a note to Mrs. Arthur asking for another look at the chicks. The pusher confesses and emits a soft “I’m sorry,” and repeats it louder to the boy he pushed.
Recess, or P.E., as it’s called, got us outside for a very complicated game of tag. An over-enthusiastic tag and hurt feelings called for a meeting when we returned to the classroom.
A five-minute discussion resolved the problem. The tagger and the tagged shook hands to the cheers and applause of the class and their teacher. Mrs. Gleason reminds us, “Taking care of each other is our most important thing.”
Around 1:30 or 2 p.m., yawns were breaking out in the classroom. Reading and even talking to our classmates had become difficult. These 7-year-olds and one older person have been going non-stop for nearly seven hours.
There had been no breaks for cheesesticks or Frito’s, or for those suspicious trips down the hall to the restroom. An efficient architect dictated that our restroom and sink be in the classroom.
The small seat on my small chair had become cement.
Shortly before the 2:40 p.m. buzzer we put away our papers and refill our backpacks. Most will get on busses, with only two staying for after-school daycare. I’m asked by several students if I’ll be back tomorrow. I tell them I had a great time and that they’re way smarter then me.
Soon the room is quiet and empty except for me and my teacher.
“You don’t get into teaching for monetary rewards,” she answered, “you’re in it because you love it and feel you’re doing some good.”
We ask her about being Loudoun’s Teacher of the Year.
“I was thrilled to be nominated once again and actually receive the award this time ... not so much a validation as an assurance that, yes, I’m still doing the very best job I can possibly do to educate my little charges even after 28 years.”
Bill Snead
Cole Gordon and Saralinda Contompasis enjoy lunch together before heading back to Sue Ann Gleason's first grade class at Cedar Lane Elementary School in Ashburn.
She said she’d made a commitment early on that she would retire the minute she started to feel “burn out,” saying, “I’m pretty driven.” Her school day begins at 5 a.m. That’s when she makes her “juice.”
The ingredients for her quart of “teacher’s tonic” created daily in her juicer: eight or nine organic kale leaves, one bunch of celery, one cucumber, one lemon, one apple, one stick of rhubarb (in season) and one chunk of ginger.
Not exactly Fruit Loops.
She arrives at Cedar Lane at 6:30 a.m. Class is from 7:50 a.m. to 2:40 p.m. She leaves around 5 or 6 p.m. One night a week she stays until 8 or 9 p.m. “Preparation stuff,” she says.
“Believe me, I’m not alone in the building. There’s a regular ‘after-hours’ club right alongside me.”
Earlier in the day I had asked Lindsey Breidenfeld what it was like being a first-grader. Before I left my home for a day I shared it with her teacher.
“Well,” Lindsey said, “I love my teacher and it’s good to learn how to read.”
Bill Snead can be reached at sneadb@washpost.com.
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Mrs. Gleason's teaching methods are contagious. I think I'm a better parent and am more involved in my child's education because of her. I don't think I would've got that kind of value from anybody else even if I'd paid for it.
Posted by spam4mee (anonymous) on September 12, 2007 at 3:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
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