My grandson Leo is in first grade. Wait? What? Time flies, doesn’t it? He is a little sponge absorbing all of the learning. He doesn’t even realize how fast he is developing his verbal skills, but as a teacher and proud grandmother, I am keenly aware.
His mother has always been good about thank you notes. She’s passing that on to her children. He wrote me a thank you note for his Easter gift, but he wrote it on the envelope and put another envelope inside it for me to write back.
His misspelling of thank you to “think you” charmed my husband to say, “You should write him a think you note.”
Who knows if our correspondence will continue, but I wrote him a note about what I was thinking about. (I should have taken a photo.) And enclosed a self-addressed envelope.
I am writing poetry this month with Ethical ELA. Today’s prompt from Sharon Roy inspired us to write haiku about reading. I am reading Theo of Golden by Allen Levi. It’s my book companion when I can’t sleep, so I found this haiku.
Through my sleeplessness
gravity of rivers flow
hidden life below.
The Progressive Poem is with Irene Latham, originator of the idea, at Live Your Poem.
Reflections on the Teche 
Absolutely precious. What a special kid that you get to call yours. XO
Such a full slice of life. The “think you” note is one to save! Hope the correspondence continues.
I read your haiku on VerseLove. It is really touching.
Your husband is onto something! I am inspired to write some think you notes. And Leo is a phenomenal writer for first grade! (Professional opinion!)
Oh that “think you note” just warmed my heart! I hope the correspondence continues.
I bet you her really was THINKING of you even as he THANKED you for the gift! I taught beginning readers and writers for decades and it never gets old. During Covid, I had the gift of watching one of my learn to be a writer in kindergarten. Every day, I marveled at the miracle unfolding even as the world shuttered in fear of the future.
Margaret, I love that Theo is still coursing through your veins, this river whose call to answer keeps calling and calling. I’m enjoying seeing the progressive poem each day. I can’t wait to see where it goes.
Margaret, I love the way you connected sleeplessness in your haiku about Theo’s rivers. The think you letters is such a wonderful idea. I hope you and he will have lots of letter writing in the future.