Where did all these books come from?

For the past few days, I have been busily packing up my classroom library and throwing away anything else.  I have also been sifting and giving away a lot of what I have accumulated over the last seven years of my school life.  I told a coworker today that I feel like I have taught 18 years!  I now have 3 full boxes and I am still contemplating going through them again.  As I was going through my books, I was looking at them and scratching my head..."I am so tired of seeing all these books".  Suddenly,I thought,  "Why don't you give some of these books to your students!".  I looked immediately to a little girl in my room whose smile has been bright all year.  She was recently exited as an ESL student and has told me repeatedly that her family could not afford to participate in certain activities because "my mom doesn't have any money".  Earlier this year, we did a writing assignment in which I asked the students what they would spend a newly acquired large amount of money.  The first thing that she wrote on her paper was, " I would give my mom rent and grocery money.  I would get some new clothes too for my family".  And through all of this...she still smiles and warms a room with her "Ms. Dula, you forgot to....."  And even at the time that she is telling me my missteps, I remember that she is only taking "care" of me because that is her nature.  What a beautiful lesson to learn from a child!  Soooo long story short, I started giving her books.  I didn't tell her why but I just told her she had to read them.  The student just took them and did what she was told.  My brain was telling me that what I was giving her was hand me downs but my heart was telling me that she will sit and read those books with herself and with her family....that not only she will enjoy them but they will be passed down to her siblings. Reading and books are so often taken advantaged of, but when we don't have the skills or the resources to read, they are sorely missed.  In short, I will take this experience with me as I watch my students in Abu Dhabi. 

Countdown to my last day at my school 8 days!