February 25th & 26th

Today was a great day in class. It started off by getting to watch my son do the morning announcements. But my favorite part (other than seeing my son) during announcements is the little pledge that only Miss Leidholm's class does.

"I pledge today to do my best
In reading, math and all the rest.
I promise to obey the rules
In my class and in the school.
I'll respect myself and others too.
I'll expect the best in all I do.
I am here to learn, all I can,
To try my best to be all I am."

What a motto to set for young children. I think it is really amazing for these children to learn how to take self responsibility.

Today I took individual children out in the hall to read with them. It really struck me how some of the kids with more self-esteem, could read better, when the other kids with lower self esteem struggled with reading. There was this one girl that was so excited to go out in the hall with me. She ran to me, gave me a giant bear hug, then dragged me down the hall by my hand to where we were going to read. She had not read the book we were about to read. She was very distracted the whole time she was reading, I kept having to keep her on point. She also kept telling me that she wanted to be fat just like me when she grew up. I asked her what she meant, she replies "Well, when moms like you are fat, that means they are good cooks. My mom is really skinny, and her food is always gross. Cayge told me you were the best cook, and make yummy food. So, I want to be a good cook, and fat like you." Well, I guess I couldn't be anything but flattered. I guess it was a compliment. Then there was a boy that I went out in the hall to read with. He told me straight off the bat, that he didn't want to read, and he wasn't going to. I asked him why, and he told me that he already knows how to read, and that he didn't need my help. So, we just sat there and talked for a few minutes, then I bet him that I could read the book faster than him. And before we knew it, he had read the whole book, and did a very good job at it. It just goes to show that some just need a little push to do what they know they can do.

Feburary 26th

Today in Mrs. Hill's class, they got to do "Kids On Campus" and go to the REC Center. First we partnered up and headed across the street to the Rec. Once there we played games in the indoor hockey area. Then the kids got to do the Rock Climbing Walls. They were so excited. I couldn't believe how equal it was between the boys and the girls. I thought that the girls would be "girly" and be more timid, but they jumped right in (most of them "butting" in front of the boys!). There was one girl that chose not to do it, and one boy that was a little more timid then the rest, but for the most part, they all had a great time.
*Mind you that they weren't allowed to climb higher so that their head was at about four feet, and there was an adult with them whenever a child was on the wall.
It was a really enjoyable time for all the kids, and I am so glad that our University offers a program like this (both the service learning and the Kids On Campus) to the young children in our community.