Dropping
into a Kindergarten or Elementary school classroom can refresh and inspire
hearts and minds. Of course, the challenging day-to-day work of the teacher is
also rewarding, but it comes with mountains of responsibility, emails, phone
calls and so much of the logistics and administration which can diffuse the experience
of igniting minds and basking in that glow.
I tagged along with my mom at her "Reading Pals" classroom at
an elementary school in my hometown. My mom has sparked curiosity and spread
love to kids since 1963 when I became her first born. I know I am only one of
many, many kids whose lives she has enriched and minds she has expanded. With that in mind, my mom/first teacher and I arrived
at the sturdy, old brick school and entered on a cold Florida morning under an umbrella
of oaks and Spanish moss.
In the warm
classroom, I watched the kids smile and look on with anticipation for what “Miss
Delores” was going to say and what treat she may have for this week. The look on those faces when they saw her 22
colorful, “Great Smoky Mountains” pencils was priceless. It wasn’t the last time the word “priceless”
crossed my mind that morning.
I
wandered around, a little aimlessly, as the confident teacher and paraeducator
team launched the kids on their well-rehearsed transition to their learning stations.
My mom settled in with her Reading Pals kids and they were immediately reading
and learning right where they had probably left off a week ago. The teacher asked if I would like to read to a
couple of students and I was happy to have a task. Destiny quickly raised her hand when Ms. “T”
asked who would like to read with me. As
we went to our table that sheltered three tiny blue plastic chairs, Julio soon followed
and my reading pals were ready to roll.
I tried to quickly get started on the books they selected. I had them use
the time-tested “rock, paper, scissors” challenge to see whose book we would
read first. The wisdom of the Kinders
overruled my attempt to jump right into the reading. They wanted to tell me a
few things that were on their mind and ask a few questions first. As we moved into the books, their wide-eyed
enthusiasm and aura of innocence was nothing less than a hearty meal for the
soul.
Destiny and Julio were happy to
be read to, but just as happy to take a shot at reading or creating a story
from the words they knew and the pictures that they saw. Our first book was about baby farm animals
and their mothers. I asked them if they
knew who my mother was, since I was sure that they missed or forgotten the
earlier introductions of Miss Delores’ son visiting from California. I pointed
in the direction of “Miss Delores,” and told them she was my mother and again,
the wonderful, wide-eyed looks of surprise and happiness were there. Seeing little kids in those moments are as rejuvenating
as anything on this tiny, spinning blue marble we live on.
Since my Kindergarten days
I have been a member of the “School Should Not Be Boring” club, so I added a
couple games to our reading. I devised a
guessing game where Destiny and Julio would have to determine if I read a page
correctly or if I added a little trick to my reading of the words. Julio responded
well to the game, maybe a little too well, since his excitement led to some fidgeting
and he began to think of even more games to play on each page. Suddenly, just before my hour was up, Julio
said, “I don’t like to read.” He looked sincere and I was genuinely shocked and
said, “oh no, you are a great reader and reading is so much fun.” He gave a mischievous
smile and then dropped a killer line on me; “I didn’t like to read, but I do now.”
Julio’s little trick was a great treat for me, one that I don’t think I
will forget. The joy of learning that Julio and Destiny showed was contagious.
I know that I will be back in a Kindergarten classroom soon.
There
is a reason my mom is young at heart and as optimistic about life as those kids
are. Kindergarten restocks your hope cupboard when so many other things can
leave you empty. Those Reading Pals
volunteers have figured out a great trick.
By giving their time they are getting some of those priceless things back
that everyone needs more of: hope, joy and love. An occasional Kindergarten visit should be
mandatory for all of us. Those kids with
their pure hearts and great promise help us remember our basic goodness and need
for guidance. It reminds us that together
we are responsible for every child on this planet.
