Rava’ and Me: An elementary student and her teacher change each other’s lives
April 24, 2025
April 24, 2025
By Annwyn Long
I’ll never forget the moment I first met Rava. I was in the cafeteria of the Title One school where I taught, and she was lying on the floor, kicking and screaming because she hadn’t gotten the food she wanted. She was a kindergartener; I was teaching first grade. I remember watching her and thinking, I hope she grows out of these tantrums before she gets to my class.
A year later I received my roster and, sure enough, it included a feisty little girl named Rava (all names have been changed). She was a dark-haired, brown-eyed waif of a girl, but had a will of iron. I knew from the moment she walked through my door that she was going to challenge me, but what I didn’t know was that both of our lives would be changed forever.
The first week was incredibly challenging. Rava sat under her table, refusing to sit in her chair, and everything felt like a battle. She couldn’t hold a pencil properly, she couldn’t write her name, and she had no number sense. Most of all, she was determined that she didn’t want to learn. I found myself wondering, Where do I even start with her?
I’ve always believed that every child deserves a chance to succeed, and I spend countless hours figuring out how to reach each one, whether they are excelling or struggling. With Rava, I knew it had to start with building trust and showing her love and attention. No matter how small, I praised everything she did, hoping that, somehow, it would start to make a difference. I’ve learned that when children feel a genuine connection with you, the magic begins.
By the second week, Rava had begun inching closer to me on the carpet. The third week was a breakthrough—she sat in front of me, clinging to my leg. It was a simple gesture, but it meant the world to me. After a month of working with her, I knew it was time to understand what was happening at home.
A conversation with her caregiver revealed that Rava’s story was even more heartbreaking than I’d imagined. She was born to a drug-addicted mother, who died during childbirth, and had to be weaned off drugs as a baby. Her father, who has a disability, sent her to live with his sister in Virginia. All the pieces started to fall into place, and I realized that Rava’s classroom struggles were part of a much bigger, much harder picture. My heart ached for her, and I was more determined than ever to help her succeed.
The real turning point came when her caregivers, who were struggling with their own challenges, realized giving Rava the support she needed meant finding her a more stable home situation. That’s when they found Dr. V, a wonderful, retired educator, who welcomed Rava into her care. From there, everything started to fall into place. I can’t stress enough how vital the home-school connection is, and having open communication with Rava’s caregivers made such a difference.
Dr. V and I worked closely, and I tailored my teaching to meet Rava’s needs, ensuring that she was in my small reading group, where I could provide targeted support. Knowing she was a visual and kinesthetic learner, I filled the classroom with directed learning games and songs she adored. I also created hands-on math centers to strengthen her number sense and included her in all small-group interventions for both math and literacy. Our classroom was supercharged for learning, and I saw firsthand how these strategies fostered a growth mindset for success.
Slowly but surely, Rava began to change. She learned to hold a pencil properly, mastered her letters and sounds, and even started blending words and reading. It was incredible to see her confidence grow and to see her begin believing in herself, which showed how she answered questions in class.
I gave Rava responsibilities that made her proud of her progress. She loved earning rewards, especially little trinkets from the treasure box, and those small victories kept her pushing forward. Watching her shine, and seeing the joy on her face when she realized she was achieving something, gave me moments I’ll never forget.
Looking back on that year, I still can’t believe how much Rava grew. A particular moment stands out in my mind. One evening, I went to my child’s basketball game and, to my surprise, saw Rava with Dr. V, who was playing. The three of us—Rava, my child, and I—cheered loudly, jumping up when Dr. V scored. It was a small but powerful moment, deeply personal. That night was another turning point, as Rava began to understand love was unconditional.
By year’s end, she had transformed. She eagerly took books home and soon was reading non-stop. As the year ended, she scored above grade level on her state language assessments and the county math assessment.
All Rava needed was one person to believe in her, someone to cheer her on. Once that happened, everything fell into place.
The little girl who had begun the year avoiding participation and resisting every effort to learn had become a confident, successful student. I watched her grow into someone not only academically strong, but also full of kindness and joy. She had become someone ready to change the world.
As a teacher, we always strive to make a difference, but with Rava, I felt that difference in my own heart. She gave me love and trust, and I poured everything I could into helping her succeed. We both grew so much that year. I had to find new ways to connect with her and that challenge made me better at my job. It also gave me a deeper understanding of how important it is to see the potential in every child. Every student deserves to succeed.
A classroom is like a bank vault filled with boxes, each holding incredible potential waiting to be discovered. As a teacher, I see myself as the key holder, responsible for unlocking each student’s unique abilities. Some students respond easily, like boxes with well-oiled keys that fit perfectly, while others need extra patience, care, and attention to open. I’ve learned that with the right “key” to learning, every student can succeed, and it’s my passion to find that key for each of them.
Annwyn Long is a VEA member teaching in a central Virginia elementary school.
According to the Economic Policy Institute, teachers in Virginia earn 67 cents on the dollar compared to other (non-teacher) college-educated workers. Virginia’s teacher wage penalty is the worst in the nation.
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