Third Grade Teacher Delights Students
Published: July 28, 2024
By: Sarah Kensington (Something Wonderful)
Location: Oxford, England
Pathway: Arts, Culture & Creative Expression
Story Overview
Sara Shabir, a third-grade teacher at Tyndale Community School, surprised her students and lightened hearts by creating a miniature crochet doll replica of each of the 30 students. Over a dedicated span starting in May, she poured roughly 240 hours into the project — about 8 hours per doll.
What Makes It Special
Deep care & attention: Each doll uniquely reflects the student’s hair, clothes, and skin tone — she even kept a spreadsheet to track each design.
Joyful classroom moment: Kids guessed which doll they were before receiving them, resulting in delight, brushing doll hair, and heartfelt laughs.
Celebration of individuality: The creatures captured each child’s uniqueness — and the love their teacher felt for them.
Broader Significance
This act isn’t just adorable — it’s a model of connection and belonging. In an age of increasing classroom detachment, Ms. Shabir rebuilt trust and identity, one handcrafted doll at a time. Plus, the story reminds us that simple, thoughtful actions can profoundly impact civic culture, community respect, and human dignity.Civic Angle
Pathway: Arts, Culture & Creative Expression
Depth Level: Find Your People (Level 2) — this story invites readers to show up in community, celebrate individuality, and invest emotionally.
How She Showed Up: Connector — she used her craft to strengthen relationships and transform a routine school ritual into a memorable civic moment.
