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By Pat Dearing “Why not?” questioned the concerned teacher. “Because the bees outside chase me. They think I’m a dandelion!” Phonetics is one method taught in many schools as a first step in learning to read. That is, the sounding out of letters and words. Working with first graders provided me with many memorable experiences which I was always anxious to tell others. I worked in a small room that was an adequate size for tutoring one or two children, such as my job required. I most often taught phonetic skills and listened to the youngsters read. One day while working with a delightful lad who was having difficulty pronouncing the work e-g-g, I patiently proceeded to give him a helpful hint. “It’s something you fry in a pan.” And he replied, “Oh, French fries!” One Valentine’s Day, a little first grader sauntered into the principal’s office and approached the school secretary. Holding a valentine, he asked the secretary how to spell the principal’s name. Then after he wrote it on the envelope, he handed it to the secretary and explained, “Tell her to sound it out!” The first graders were given a list of words that they had learned to read. They were instructed to take the list home and read the words to their parents. The following day the teacher asked one lad if he’d read his list to his mother. He arrogantly answered, “No, I didn’t have to. She all ready knew them!” If adults sometimes have difficulty understanding the outcome of elections, there was one student in school who simply couldn’t understand the election of class officers. The teacher had explained to the class that the best person for leading should be voted class president. After the election, this particular fellow whined, “Teacher said that the best person should be elected, and I wasn’t.” There was teacher exchange day. The instructors in the upper grades changed classes with those in the lower and vice versa. The sixth grade teacher found herself in a second grade classroom. She was encouraged by all of the helpful assistance she received. She listened to the advice of one little girl in regards to taking attendance. “Call the names. If they’re here, they’ll answer ‘here.’ If not, they won’t say anything!” Presently in retirement, Pat enjoys writing, especially for children. With eighteen grandchildren she had plenty of experience with little ones. However, at one time, she worked in a remedial reading program at an elementary school. At break time in the school lounge, teachers related unusual or humorous incidents that had happened with their students. Pat decided to record many of these stories in a journal. Later she compiled several into a booklet and presented it to the staff at the end of the school year. They thoroughly enjoyed reminiscing then as Pat still does today.
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