Unspoken Language

There is nothing more scary than walking into a new school, new classroom and having to rely on the kindness of strangers. Unless you are a kinder who does not speak English...

A new student arrived in our classroom about a week ago. This little kinderboy was walked down to our classroom by the secretary to meet me...his new teacher. His mommy had all the signs of a loving mother. Kinderboy seemed very nervous and unsure. In their native language, mommy was trying to comfort him and tell him everything would be okay.

Kinderboy just looked from his mother's eyes to mine. I made sure I had a very welcoming smile in my eyes. He was afraid.

Mommy walked him into the classroom and sat him at a table. She turned to me and shook my hand and said, "I'm sorry." There was nothing to be sorry for. I realized the secretary was speaking to her. Mommy was apologizing because she couldn't understand or respond to what was being said. I just shook mommy's hand warmly and smiled. Then, she walked out of the room.

My little kinderboy was just sitting at his seat, looking around the room. I walk over to him and gesture for him to stand up and he did. I usher him out of the classroom, because I had some copies to make.

Normally, students would sit outside the classroom door and silently read a book. This little kinder needed more than sitting silently while other children filed in around him. He didn't know anyone...

He looked up at me and waited.

My right hand dropped to my side, I turned it up facing kinderboy and he slipped his hand into mine.

Together we walked down the hall towards the workroom. He gave me a little smile and I noticed a gentle sway in our joined hands.

It's always hard being the new kinder, but in that moment, I felt like holding hands helped kinderboy understand he would be okay in our classroom, even if he was new to our country and customs.

You don't always need to speak the same language to communicate with someone. Not when you have a universal language that involves a hand and a smile...