I grew up by the seaside, in 2 beautiful cities on the West Coast of India.
I am telling you this because I think this spatial-geographical context is important to our conversation today. I am always soothed by the sound of waves, and I like to pick up shells and pebbles.
Although these days one can buy anything with the click of a button, the pebbles I have carried with me from place to place are my constant companions.
I take care of the pebbles. The pebbles take care of me.
I sometimes gift a pebble to a friend or colleague so you may already know this story.
Being Seen and Remembered
At one of the schools I am partnered with, I was outside at recess, and some students came up to me. One of them said “I know you from somewhere a long time ago.” I smiled inwardly as educators tend to do while listening intently: a 12-year-old perhaps does have a long-ago sense of life. I welcomed that sentiment.
Then he asked me, “Did you used to carry pebbles in your pocket?” His friends shifted uncomfortably, some chuckled at the question as it seemed odd to them perhaps.
“Yes, I did.” I said, “I still do.”
And I held out my hand in which were pebbles, some glass ones – bought, and some collected.
“I knew it was you!” the student said, though he didn’t remember my name. I am okay with that.
I remembered then, that when I was at another school supporting Kindergarten to Grade 4, students had heard of the pebbles and when we would be outside at recess, some would come by to explore the contents of my pockets.
The Pebbles Have a Job
I carry the pebbles for two reasons.
- When I am in busy spaces such as grocery stores or in a bustling hallway, I reach into my pocket and the smooth, cold, pebbles ground me.
- When I am with students in unstructured times, on a field trip or at recess supervision, the pebbles are a great conversation starter when accompanied with “look what I found the other day,” even if that other day was decades away.
Benefits of Pebbles in My Pocket
- Students connect with these little pieces of nature’s wonder or coloured glass (which I keep in my hand the whole time –so there is no mouthing of unsafe items).
- Literacy connections with pebbles are many: the describing words flow – smooth, bumpy, big, small, cold etc.
- Some students are adventurous and have more words in their vocabulary – I have been informed that one rock “has capillaries and looks like a kidney shaped eyeball”.
- It is lovely that they wait for my reaction at such times. Imagination is wonderful especially when the adult isn’t squeamish!
Self-Regulation, Co-Regulation and Troublemakers
I delight in reading the work of others who share their thoughts in this space. My ardent wish is that someday we can meet in person. Until then, I would like to share the writing of colleagues in this space whose thoughts enter this conversation.
Brenda MacNaughton’s writing in 2025, invites the reader to think about the circumstances in which our students’ and families’ lives unfold everyday and calls us to consider what you and I need to consciously do when we engage with people in front of us.
This got me thinking: How might I demonstrate and open up space for students when they are in my sphere of influence so that their burdens become lighter for some time? What do I need to do to reach out to social and community based support provided by the school district for the family to receive support while they deal with the ups and downs?
Preeti Deokharan recently wrote and this is exciting because this book is also referenced in the ETFO resource Special Education Needs In The Regular Classroom: Supporting Students with Behaviour Needs. Here, the writer highlights the importance of making small shifts in our approach that will make a difference.
The Pebbles Aren’t Just Pebbles.
- They are a reminder of my humanity and what makes me who I am.
- They are also reminders that I can take care of myself in times when I feel wobbly.
- Above all, they are a time to pause and be grateful for the tiny gifts of our workday. I continue to feel grateful for the wonder that children give me daily. This ability to see life as I did when I was a child is returned to me daily by the young people who use their imagination in miraculous ways to make sense of the world around them.
- This realization gives me hope that the work you and I do is much more than pouring water on sand, especially on days when it feels like just that.
With You, In Solidarity,
Rashmee Karnad-Jani
