Glasgow Daily Times, Glasgow, KY

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August 12, 2010

First grade from different perspectives

By JIMMY LOWE For the Daily Times

GLASGOW — Area schools are back in session. Now my oldest daughter and my oldest grandson are both in the first grade. While he’s in another teacher’s classroom for most of the day, he and his mother are in the same school and will encounter one another from time to time in the halls and lunchroom.

The first grade experience is a special one. It’s often the most memorable of all the time spent in school. That’s when there seems to be so much to learn and so much excitement to get right to it. That’s when the pencil’s eraser is used more than its lead and when the notebook pages are so proudly displayed on bulletin boards and refrigerators.

Likely, you can still recall your first grade teacher. This is often an individual whose influence lasts a lifetime.

While she passed away years ago, the sweet lady who introduced me to the world of the classrooms remains very much alive in my memory. I can still hear her joyful voice and hearty laughter. I can still see the sparkle in her eyes as she told us about our big world. She had a spirit for learning that was contagious.

There have been thousands of teachers just like her through the years. My daughter is this kind of first grade teacher, and my grandson is in a classroom with another one just like her.

As my grandson returned from school this week, I asked him, “What are you looking forward to about this school year?”

“Playing on the monkey bars. They didn’t let us do that in preschool or kindergarten.”

“How else do you expect school will be different for you this year?”

He thought a moment, then concluded, “The lessons will be harder.”

“What is your favorite subject to study?”

“I like reading.” He told me about a story he once read that featured flying pigs. Then he added, “I also like figuring math problems.”

If you ask my daughter what she will be teaching this year, she will answer with “students” rather than listing the subjects. Her curriculum includes reading, writing, science, social studies, arts and humanities, and practical living. She says the first year is important because it builds a foundation for future education.

She has 26 enrolled this year and says the biggest challenge will be keeping their attention focused.

“Well, when they need a break from all that focusing,” I remind her, “take them out to the monkey bars during recess.”

My best wishes go to them and to all those who are beginning this new school year. May the teaching and learning be meaningful. May lives be enriched by what’s accomplished during the next ten months.

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