Spring 2017, 2nd place prize winner
Blog Post 1
I am in a sea of pink: pink leggings and pink t-shirt. Her pink and sparkly fingernails thumb the pages of Fancy Nancy, a book (you guessed it) also happens to be almost completely pink. I reach for Pinkalicious on the shelf but turns out Fiona's favorite color is blue. Thankfully, I cover up my mistake by grabbing Aqualicious as our next book.
But, Fiona does not really like to read. She is she more of a math person and wants to be a doctor. I told her when I was a kindergartner I did not like to read either. She looks at me shocked as if she can't believe I was ever her age. (When guessing each other's ages later, she placed me at 40.) I tell her it just takes time and she can be both a math and reading gal. Plus to be a doctor you have to read lots. Fiona cocks her tiny eyebrow and sits down next to me.
Mary Kelly, our fearless reading buddies leader, explained that to keep a kid engaged every drop of enthusiasm has to go into your reading. I used every trick of the acting trade I had learned in high school. Suddenly the color blue in Aqualicious becomes the most interesting thing I have ever heard. The reading is so intense. I know I sound crazy. On the bright side, I found a new talent picturebook reading which I don't know if it will ever be applicable, but for right now the smile on Fiona's face is completely worth it.
This week her mom told me Fiona asks about me and said she missed me. Of course, this little comment has made my day (week? life?) For some reason the validation of little kids is the best gift in the world. Even if it means via Fiona's request, I am probably going to dye my hair pink.
Blog post 2
"WILDFIRE!" Fiona roars at me. We had almost finished her book about Crazy Hair Princess, but now wildfires seem a little more interesting. I think the haze over the flat irons may have been her inspiration. She tells me her eyes wide that her grandparents had to be evacuated. It is a marvel to hear little kids use big words. It makes everything either sadder or funnier. On the funnier side, she uses an impressive vocabulary for a five year old when it comes to gossiping. She has more than once rolled her eyes at me telling me her friend was "just too emotional" to go to her birthday party. Her gossip streak and five boyfriends contrast her adorable sweetness. Every time she passes her sister, who is also in reading buddies, she gives her a big kiss and hug. When I asked her what makes her happy she first sarcastically says "nothing." After thinking about it she lists me and everyone in her family. She even wants to write a book about how not to start a wildfire so it won't happen again. Her little mercurial behavior keeps me on my toes and I couldn't be having more fun. This fiery nature makes it hard to keep her focused. I think I'll ask her mom if I can bring in stickers or rewards for focused behavior something princess or fire themed.
Blog Post 3
The Joy of Learning
Small hands trace
The page.
Carefully sounding out
The letters.
W-er-dz.
听
Sun filters through the windows
听
We giggle at mistakes.
It's a game now.
Running around the shelves
And the pages.
Words?
听
The words they
Make sense!
She jumps,
so joyfully,
To The End.
Words!
听
Thank you so much to all those who were involved to make this wonderful program happen. It provided an amazing opportunity to be in Boulder's community. I want to thank the program for helping me meet my amazing Reading Buddy Fiona. I really will never forget the moment she read her book for the first time with no mistakes. We were in our usually spot where the sun shines through the window during the golden hour of the day. She sat in my lap to do the recording for the anticipated presentation. I could see her face in the light reflected on my computer and the pride and pure happiness made me tear up. She was so proud of her new skill. I had noticed her getting better and better; she was starting to get repeat words and sounding out the new ones. But I don't think she fully realized it until she read her whole creation. (Turns out I had forgotten to press the record button and we had to do it one more time...oops.) But that moment really articulated why I want to become a teacher. Fiona didn't just get better at reading she started really enjoying it. I am so lucky to have had this experience. I hope I can do it next year or something similar. Thank you all for your work and energy to make this awesome collaboration happen. And a thanks to Fiona for reminding me for being so joyful.