Saturday's Kids

Last weekend a bunch of the older kids (P4-6) were lucky enough to be sent to camp. Looking forward seeing the kids again to hear about it.

So, two kids, who weren't at camp, came in. I got to spend some one on one time with Shakila and Samir (not their real names). We read about Africa from the Disney Geography book and then the kids wrote a bit, and then we played Scrabble.

Shakila wants to be an astronaut when she grows up. How do you tell a kid that - well, in the real world - you can't really be whatever you want to be. You don't. You can only believe that they can be better than where they are now and help them believe in themselves too. I think.

So, I asked her what she needed to be good at to get there. And she said Science and Math. I added English - which she said was her weak subject. We went and got a book about Science (NOT a textbook - they're the most boring things ever invented). Someone had donated a really good Science BOOK several days ago. Lots of colourful pictures and decent sized typeface. And so we read about blood cells. Then Shakila checked out a Science book from the bookshelf to bring home - along with a worn, yellowed, Secret Seven novel.

I happened to be at Parkway on Sunday and found some really good phonics books for the younger kids. It bugs me that 7-year-olds can't write their names and no one at home's helping them to. It also bugs me that parents don't see to it that their kids are at the centre every weekend, and that many of them think it doesn't really matter whether they show up or not. Where's the sense of ownership and responsibility?

Anyway, back to the Parkway book sale. Found a REALLY cool book on the human body. Comes with re-useable stickers. So, the kids can do a session on anatomy and the digestive system etc one weekend. (Next week they're doing the Water Cycle and weather.) Psyched about finding the sticker book, but still really bothered about the parents. How do we break this cycle for the kids? How do we help the parents help the kids?