Pigeons and Cats and Grade School – Oh My! - January 22, 2017
I knew what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wanted to be an English teacher. I loved high school English and got great grades. But when I went to university, my English mark dropped from 85 to 65, so I didn’t pursue it. It took me a number of “runs” to finally get a degree – I have a tendency to rush headlong into things and don’t know when to stop. And that’s a story in itself.
One thing I’m pretty good at is reading books to kids, and I have, for some time, wanted to get involved with reading alongside kids who have difficulty reading and who come from poor families. I was helping at Sunny Purple School (not the real name) at the Monday food pantry – another passion of mine is getting healthy food to hungry families – and asked if the school had a reading program.
I was told to email the principal. I did, and within seconds she had referred me to the Reading Seed Coach program at Literacy Connects. I simply loved the program because it’s simple – the volunteer simply helps the child get enjoyment from reading. Oh, and it’s where I first read “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus” – my new favourite book, about a character who has a tendency to rush headlong into things and doesn’t know when to stop … (Hmmm!)
This past week I had two sessions on Tuesday and two on Thursday and I loved every second of it. I had three little girls – one at a time – who I’ll call A, B, and C (not their real names of course) – all from Grade Two. They were absolutely delighted to tell me how they brushed their own hair, tied their own shoes, loved cats, liked to help others, enjoyed playing outside, liked the Dollar Store, went to Girl Scouts, and how pizza was their favourite food – this in just the three-minute walk from the classroom.
But I have learned in the course of three hours that is was likely best that I didn’t become a teacher. Here are some of the things “my” kids have taught me thus far.
1.I lack leadership skills.
I am directionally challenged and have problems with short-term memory – just like Dory in “Finding Nemo.” So, I actually had to have the kids lead me to the Reading Seeds classroom, and then back to the Grade 2 classroom. Said “C”, who couldn’t believe I could get lost so easily, “I know. Let’s play ‘follow the leader’ and I’ll be the leader.” Hey, she got us there!
2.My manners could use some improving.
When A and I were filling out a sheet called “All About Me Robot,” we came to the part about family and A indicated she had two sisters, three brothers, and a mother and a father. I said to her, “You are so lucky to have your Dad. Mine died.” She looked at me kindly and explained, “"A better way to put that is ... he passed away." (It was all I could do to suppress a giggle.)
3.I appear a bit sketchy.
When B and I were filling out “All About Me Robot,” at one point she looked at me suspiciously and said, "OK, what's really going on here?" I told her - "we are going to be having fun reading together" and we surely were. I wonder if she thought that no one could possibly have this much fun sketching a robot – not yet having seen my joy at reading the “Pigeon” book.
4.I cheat.
In this program, the student is allowed to pick from a selection of library books to read, and a selection of free books to take home. I confess, I stacked the deck. I made sure there was a “Pigeon” book at the front of the library stack, and cat books among the books for take home. I’m happy to say my students made “good choices.” J
5.I don’t get turn-taking.
I had asked B if – with this next book – she wanted me to read or if she wanted to read or did she want to take turns. She most emphatically said that SHE wanted to read. In one book, we hit a sentence that had two challenging words in a row. I helped her with the first, and went on to help her with the second and she sweetly asked me, "Now, whose turn did we say it is it to read?" Oops!
6.I’m not very astute.
We were talking about what was going on in the pictures and C said, "I have to pee." So, I asked her, "Oh so you think the ____ has to pee." She looked at me with a very serious face and said, "No, I REALLY have to pee." (I walked her to the girls’ room and waited outside for her, all the while stifling a laugh. OK, she walked me to the girls’ room… Gah! I get so confused.)
7.I’m not good at safety.
C. was a having a really difficult time staying in her seat – she was jumping around like popcorn. I told her it was time to shake her sillies out. I showed her how – you just wiggle your head, trunk, arms and legs for a few seconds. C. took to this like a duck to water and went on for more than a few seconds and ended by crash-landing on the floor. Oops!
8.I can’t afford it.
Reading Seed students get wee gifts throughout the program. On Thursday, they were to get a brightly coloured pencil. I couldn’t stand the idea that “my” kids were going to get a treat, and the other 18 children in the class weren’t. So, off to the .99cent store I went. I was able to get 20 pencils for $2.00 – not bad. And the next treat is an eraser; I can do 20 of those – no problem.
But there will also be a coupon for a personal pan pizza (worth $5) and for $5 off at a book store. Pass the calculator, but I think $5 + $5 X 20 = $200! I hope I can find a package of scented pizza stickers and that I can round up a stack of bargain bin books.
I’ve started collecting some second-hand books using a gift certificate Anna gave to her Dad and me, and using my American MasterCard. (Thank you Anna, thank you Laurence.) And they’ve started arriving.
One thing you might notice is that all of them are “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!” Yes, like the pigeon, I don’t know when to stop.
One thing I’m pretty good at is reading books to kids, and I have, for some time, wanted to get involved with reading alongside kids who have difficulty reading and who come from poor families. I was helping at Sunny Purple School (not the real name) at the Monday food pantry – another passion of mine is getting healthy food to hungry families – and asked if the school had a reading program.
I was told to email the principal. I did, and within seconds she had referred me to the Reading Seed Coach program at Literacy Connects. I simply loved the program because it’s simple – the volunteer simply helps the child get enjoyment from reading. Oh, and it’s where I first read “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus” – my new favourite book, about a character who has a tendency to rush headlong into things and doesn’t know when to stop … (Hmmm!)
This past week I had two sessions on Tuesday and two on Thursday and I loved every second of it. I had three little girls – one at a time – who I’ll call A, B, and C (not their real names of course) – all from Grade Two. They were absolutely delighted to tell me how they brushed their own hair, tied their own shoes, loved cats, liked to help others, enjoyed playing outside, liked the Dollar Store, went to Girl Scouts, and how pizza was their favourite food – this in just the three-minute walk from the classroom.
But I have learned in the course of three hours that is was likely best that I didn’t become a teacher. Here are some of the things “my” kids have taught me thus far.
1.I lack leadership skills.
I am directionally challenged and have problems with short-term memory – just like Dory in “Finding Nemo.” So, I actually had to have the kids lead me to the Reading Seeds classroom, and then back to the Grade 2 classroom. Said “C”, who couldn’t believe I could get lost so easily, “I know. Let’s play ‘follow the leader’ and I’ll be the leader.” Hey, she got us there!
2.My manners could use some improving.
When A and I were filling out a sheet called “All About Me Robot,” we came to the part about family and A indicated she had two sisters, three brothers, and a mother and a father. I said to her, “You are so lucky to have your Dad. Mine died.” She looked at me kindly and explained, “"A better way to put that is ... he passed away." (It was all I could do to suppress a giggle.)
3.I appear a bit sketchy.
When B and I were filling out “All About Me Robot,” at one point she looked at me suspiciously and said, "OK, what's really going on here?" I told her - "we are going to be having fun reading together" and we surely were. I wonder if she thought that no one could possibly have this much fun sketching a robot – not yet having seen my joy at reading the “Pigeon” book.
4.I cheat.
In this program, the student is allowed to pick from a selection of library books to read, and a selection of free books to take home. I confess, I stacked the deck. I made sure there was a “Pigeon” book at the front of the library stack, and cat books among the books for take home. I’m happy to say my students made “good choices.” J
5.I don’t get turn-taking.
I had asked B if – with this next book – she wanted me to read or if she wanted to read or did she want to take turns. She most emphatically said that SHE wanted to read. In one book, we hit a sentence that had two challenging words in a row. I helped her with the first, and went on to help her with the second and she sweetly asked me, "Now, whose turn did we say it is it to read?" Oops!
6.I’m not very astute.
We were talking about what was going on in the pictures and C said, "I have to pee." So, I asked her, "Oh so you think the ____ has to pee." She looked at me with a very serious face and said, "No, I REALLY have to pee." (I walked her to the girls’ room and waited outside for her, all the while stifling a laugh. OK, she walked me to the girls’ room… Gah! I get so confused.)
7.I’m not good at safety.
C. was a having a really difficult time staying in her seat – she was jumping around like popcorn. I told her it was time to shake her sillies out. I showed her how – you just wiggle your head, trunk, arms and legs for a few seconds. C. took to this like a duck to water and went on for more than a few seconds and ended by crash-landing on the floor. Oops!
8.I can’t afford it.
Reading Seed students get wee gifts throughout the program. On Thursday, they were to get a brightly coloured pencil. I couldn’t stand the idea that “my” kids were going to get a treat, and the other 18 children in the class weren’t. So, off to the .99cent store I went. I was able to get 20 pencils for $2.00 – not bad. And the next treat is an eraser; I can do 20 of those – no problem.
But there will also be a coupon for a personal pan pizza (worth $5) and for $5 off at a book store. Pass the calculator, but I think $5 + $5 X 20 = $200! I hope I can find a package of scented pizza stickers and that I can round up a stack of bargain bin books.
I’ve started collecting some second-hand books using a gift certificate Anna gave to her Dad and me, and using my American MasterCard. (Thank you Anna, thank you Laurence.) And they’ve started arriving.
One thing you might notice is that all of them are “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!” Yes, like the pigeon, I don’t know when to stop.