Anxiously
shifting from foot to foot, I heard the rise and fall of children chattering,
laughing, and arguing in the classroom. I attended more than sixteen hours of
training and yet introducing myself to these four-year-olds felt like standing
on a high-dive with a fear of heights. The moment I entered the classroom
though, this fear evaporated.
One
boy threw his hands in the air and cheered when during introductions. He only
cheered for the women and the teacher laughed, calling him a “ladies man.” We
arrived as the students cleaned the play area. Initially we stood pressed
against the wall, uncomfortably adjusting our Jumpstart shirts. Feeling a
little cowardly – and useless – I began to help the children clean. Immediately ten swarmed, with this
uncontainable energy. I crouched to their level and felt this energy flow
through me.
We
counted play money; I helped differentiate between the fives, tens, twenties,
and hundreds and asked what each student would buy with this money. “A dog!”
cried one. “Shoes!” remarked another. I felt as ease, the unexpected simplicity
of these interactions calming my nerves.
During
Circle Time, the teacher read Oonga
Boonga. One child who sat
beside me sighed, remarking that teacher read this yesterday and she felt
bored. As the teacher reconstructed the book and asked questions, I noticed the
same few spoke and received praise. Students like the girl beside me sat
quietly, with little attention to the book. Others disrupted the reading and as
result, faced reprimanding from the teacher. This highlighted the significance
of Jumpstart; the children hear their name in a positive context and receive
individualized attention, and we as Corps members, feel like a small but
necessary part of this opportunity.
~Ellery Spahr
Corps member
Team Connection
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