My "shift" overlaps snack and recess, so I get to go out and play with my son and some of the other kids. Today it was shooting hoops. And sure enough after watching J shoot "granny style" the Physical Education teacher in me took over and I had a mini lesson with a few kids on the proper form. We all had a blast.
But the best part about volunteering isn't helping his teacher, or getting to see my son in a different environment, or even getting to know all of his classmates.
No, the best part is all of the interesting things I learn:
- there are going to be at least 3 Elsas and 3 Ninja Turtles in my son's class alone (I think the boys are all planning on being different Turtles, though)
- to make a headless man costume you need a special hat
- one boy has two costumes, a skeleton and a pirate hat so he is putting them together
- it is impossible for a 6 year old to sit on a stool for 10 minutes without rocking it and/or falling off
- someone's big sister chopped off all her hair to donate to Locks of Love
- my son is not the only 1st grader that does not want to waste precious recess time in the bathroom or at the drinking fountain
- one girl fell off her bike this weekend and has owies on her hand, elbow and knee
- if one girl's Mom eats gluten her tummy sticks out and she looks like she is pregnant
- one child can't get a Kona Ice after school because he needs to go to a reading class ...with his brother (glad he added the last part because he is one of the advanced readers in class)
- one of the moms thinks the principal is cute
- be very careful what you say in front of your child or it may get repeated at school.
Oh, and we managed to sneak in a little phonics lesson in here and there too. Did you know there are 44 sounds in the English language?