I LOVE MY JOB!

By Rachel Andersen

So...we tutor kids who struggle with reading, as you all know. One of our techniques is to have them all read the same book (There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom which is AMAZING for students on SO many levels!) out loud, and pause periodically to "make connections" to the story through acting things out or having discussions about the characters' choices.

Anyway, today, while we were doing this, one of the kids looked at me and asked "Do we have to take the AR test?"

"No, you don't have to, but you could." I responded.

"And then we can watch the movie" someone else said.

"There isn't a movie." I responded.

Of course, shock abounded because these kids are used to the Books to Movie program where they read a book, take and pass the AR test, get permission from their teachers, and watch the movie with the WRC. The idea that there is no movie for this book was absolutely crazy!

"Could we make it a play?"

My teacher heart was overjoyed and overwhelmed. "Sure. We could write a play."

"I want to be Bradley!" "I want to be Colleen!" "I want to be Jeff!"

"What scenes should we put in the play?" I asked.

"We should do the scene where Jeff goes in the girls' bathroom!"

"And the scene where Bradley talks to his stuffed animals!"

"Can we perform it for the whole school?"

"I...I...will look into the possibility." I stammered, absolutely awed by this magical chaos. "How many of you would actually want to do that?"

Three hands went up instantly.

"So...three yeses and two nos." I said, counting. "I want you to know this isn't a vote - I still need to talk to the principal."

"Actually...I want to do it too."

"FOUR YESES!" One of the kids crowed, excitedly.

"Four yeses!" I said, astounded.

It wasn't long before our time was up and they left the room, still chattering excitedly about this possibility. When they left, I darted toward my desk and pulled out my cell phone. "I LOVE MY JOB!" I texted my mother.

I still have yet to really research the viability of this, but I thought I'd just share the victory I had here where these kids started to own this story and wanted to share it with their friends. In my book, this is as much a victory as the others: testing out of Title, reaching grade level, and hosting a successful literacy night. These kids are learning to love to read.