Writing with 2nd Graders

From the beginning of the school year I wondered how I could help Jay's 2nd grade teacher with classroom parties or with the kids. When I hadn't heard from Ms. P I started to think maybe she didn't need help or maybe 2nd graders didn't want their "mommies" helping in the classroom. Maybe I was already obsolete in my child's eyes. You know, when the kid thinks the mom is THE biggest geek on earth. I figured that was probably me.

Then a couple of weeks ago I received a note in Jay's Thursday Folder...hold on, I must say how much I LOVE Thursdays if only to go through the paperwork sent home by the teachers and PTO at Jay's school, LOVE the Thursday Folder...okay so I'm back. I read a note from Ms. P saying how she could really use some help in the classroom.

"WooHOO, I can help, pick me, pick me!" was how I felt inside.

I quickly left a message for Ms. P and asked what she could use help and when, from there I could get in where I fit in. She responded with a request for one hour at a time for reading and writing. The kids are at different levels in each subject so it's hard for her to help everyone in the 30 minutes of work time they have. I signed up to help on Wednesdays and Fridays for an hour with writing.

I must admit that last night I was a little nervous because today was my first time volunteering in 2nd grade. Kids tend to do that to me. But when I woke up I looked forward to getting out of the house and meeting more of these kids Jay talks about.

When I got there Ms. P gave me the low-down on how to help and who might need the extra help. They were working on 3-paragraph sentences.

And the heavens opened up...I was in heaven! Something I could actually help with without having to ask Ms. P is I was doing it right...maybe I AM smarter than a 2nd grader!!

I helped a couple of the kids who seemed...stuck. Each girl told me their story idea and I fielded questions to help pull more detail out of them. I was comfortable, glad to cheer them on and thrilled to help take some of the work off Ms. P's plate! And for just an hour? Who doesn't have one hour to help the teacher?? Okay, what at-home mom doesn't?

My Wednesdays and Fridays will be spent watching 2nd graders learn my favorite subject, writing. Writing and reading are critical learning points for kids because once you "get it" you just get it. And they are life-long skills. I'm already enjoying my time with a classroom full of 2nd graders!

And, in case I've piqued your interest, when Jay got home from school we talked about my time in her class.

"I enjoyed helping your class today," I said probably fishing for how she felt about it.
"And I liked having you there!" Jay said.

And we lived happily ever after.