When my grandfather became ill, I returned to Mississippi until he passed away. Every evening, I read stories to him. Every evening. Often, I wondered if he heard me, but I read to him anyway as I had done as a child. Loudly. Bible passages, novels, news stories, even some of my favorite childhood books were read to him until he took his last breath.
My love of reading to my grandfather has transitioned to reading to school-age children in area schools. I realized that my interactions with the many children I see during the holidays as Ms. Santa must go beyond giving them toys with a temporary shelf life. Catherine Ramsey, a lifelong educator and fellow book club member, taught me by her actions at Christmas. As a gift to her, she only wanted book club members to give books to young girls. She wanted to plant seeds of loving to read while they were young. Catherine Ramsey has never met my family but their philosophies about life and education are exactly the same.
Private, public, charter schools, and daycares have all called me to visit their children to read. I have donned my famous Ms. Santa suit for the Girl Scouts. I have been the Queen of Hearts for Valentines Day and I have dressed as a leprechaun to cheer on test scores in March for Buena Vista Enhanced Option School. I have been Spiderwoman at Grace Eaton and a Reading Princess at Hull-Jackson Montessori. Name a holiday or occasion and I have a costume to help incorporate into a story. My visits may seem outlandish to the casual observer but many educators encourage me to come often. My visits also bring community into the classroom and introduce children to professionals who not only work but serve. I have managed to recruit other entrepreneurs to join me. Why should I have all the fun?
Article comments
1 - Deb Peterson
Genma, I was so happy to find your blog in my Google Alerts this morning. You are an inspiration. I blogged about you at About Continuing Education.
Thanks for making me smile.
Deb
Deb Peterson
Guide to Continuing Education
About.com, part of The New York Times Company
2 - Igor
Children have a natural propensity to read and experiment. One writer talks about the scientist in the cradle. Children WANT to learn, but we (parents and schools) do many things to discourage them, such as stifle them, or to harness their eagerness to some extraneous goal of OURS.
3 - Arch Conservative
"but we do many things to discourage them, such as stifle them, or to harness their eagerness to some extraneous goal of OURS."
You forgot kill them in the womb!
4 - Igor
Next time you watch a documentary on PBS about any society, instead of watching the adults watch the children. See what they do and how assiduously they pursue their own education.
Neal DeGrasse Tyson points out that the one year old sitting in his chair and tipping over his porridge so it drips across the tray and dribbles on the floor is conducting a valid gravity experiment and shouldn't be scolded. But we do it, and once again stifle learning. All we can teach him with a scolding is fear of power, and thence the lust for power.
5 - Nicole Patrick-Shaw
I love to watch the face of my son, when it lights up after he learns something new. Children are so eager to learn it is frightening. There is a relentless drive to understand the world (smells, sounds, textures, words, interactions etc.) in which they live. Provide them with the tools and they will excel.