Of These My Children: Seniors Need a Laugh Now and Then

Posted by Hildra Tague Apr 20, 2009

As my nose twitches with the pollen call I feel the same pull the students feel as we try to finish the school year gracefully. However, even though my sniffly nose can't quite breathe in the spring air, my heart is infused with pleasant memories of kids yearning to learn, each in their own way.

My days start early, tutoring to prepare teens for tests and other hazards of school. One girl, after a particularly gruelling study session, lamented, "I wish I had a photogenic memory!" Don't we all.

At 8:00 school was starting and a child rushes in to say he tried real hard to dissolve the answer to the math problem, but just couldn't. An older boy tries to be comforting by saying, "It's OK, she'll help you. I never was too good at decibels either."

Since Math is our first subject we sometimes bring to class the memory of home. The other day a gal piped up and said, "I have a clock at home with those Spanish numerals on it." (I tell myself maybe we should review Roman Numerals one more time.)

Reading demands a lot of vocabulary from children. The other day a student assured me he knew what a comedian was: a lizard that changes colors depending on where he is. Maybe chameleons aren't the only ones who do that – don't politicians specialize in it?

We read about the Middle Ages and I stressed it was a long time ago. One child responded, "Yeah, I know, like when you were little?" I knew I was ancient, but really! One boy who loved books told me his grandpa got him a portrait and biology of Sam Houston. (Back in the Middle Ages we called it a biography.)

Parties provide joy and amusement to teachers and families who take the time to tune in. Valentine's Day brought me more than candy kisses as one child wrote a Valentine card to me in his best writing, "Please be my sweatheart." Spelling is such a sweet and sweaty challenge.

The students sang Happy Birthday to me in March. One fine singer's voice rang out clearly after the song, "And any more!" Does he know something I don't know?

The schoolyard pollen calls, and I must go. The kids want recess. Somehow the students are not as allergic to Mother Nature as I am, and those who are still think recess is worth the price. Maybe next year I'll get a giant fan for our play yard and tell the pollen to go callin' elsewhere!