kids say/do the darnedest things....

Trinity's Life Advice

The After School Academy at the Roseland Library/Bookstore sharing a song that was stuck in their head. (Lamarcus and Niemen mocking the girls)

KidzLit

Each Wednesday, Ms. Katrina and I deliver the KidzLit curriculum at the Roseland Library/Bookstore. The curriculum not only provides reading enrichment but also engages the children in fun activities that increase comprehension as well as development in the areas of caring, manners, respect, service, and various other values.

Today's book was "Something Beautiful" by Sharon Wyeth. The book is about a nameless little girl whose struggling to find something beautiful in her neighborhood. Initially, she can't see pass the poverty, homelessness, litter, and crime. By the end of the book, the little girl discovers something beautiful all around her neighborhood despite the other issues going on. I'm not going to give all the juicy details of the book so you'll have to stop by and check it out.

One of the activities today, asked the children to answer

"How would they help make the world more beautiful?"

Due to lack of time and other issues, only one student completed the activity.

Here's what she wrote:

"I would make the world more beautiful by helping other people grow gardens so they can always have food, clean trash off the streets, recycling, painting old doors and walls, and giving the homeless people homes."

-Tytiana

Over the week...I'll be sharing more of their ideas/thoughts on how they can help the world become more beautiful.

Our next activity will be planning a "beautification" project for the Roseland Community.

Stay Tuned.

The Wisdom of Melvin

Over the years I've had many inner city teenagers relay stories of teachers and administrators who discourage their dreams and encourage them to go to trade school because, "That's where you need to be."

I've always been frustrated by this. So, I try to take little opportunities to remind the kids that they have every capability they believe they have and should never let anyone tell them any different.

It was on one of these mini encouragement sessions that I began explaining to the kids that I am a college professor who teaches teachers. I stressed to them that the things they can do as a result of our technology class is more than most teachers. I went on to explain that because they were young and inquisitive they have endless potential in front of them and things we won't be able to teach them that they'll need to teach us.

I happened to mention that many of the teachers I teach resist technology. They refuse to even try. To which Melvin, so innocently replied with such wisdom that we should all heed:

"Miss Janet, if they don't want to learn then why do they want to be teachers?"