Kelly Summers is participating in Service-Learning as a tutor at Crosby Elementary School. She is serving to meet requirements of her Human Growth and Development Course. Here is a reflection that she sent our office on her first week of service:

I’m giving extra support to kids in math and doing letter sounds. I have been working mainly with one girl and what I have
noticed so far is that she is getting her letter and numbers mixed up so that is going to be my focus with her. The whole class knows my name, they know when I am going to be there and for how long.

Today when I entered the room everyone jumped up to say “hello” then the whole class was asking the teacher if they can sit at my table to get some extra help. The teacher is pretty fair and she does let one or two of the students to sit with me which is fine with me because I feel the children can always learn from each other or get support from other students.

Today, the story I want to share with the BCC community highlights one little boy in particular. Upon my arrival this morning, he came over to my table and said, “I’m seven years old, and I have a brother who is seventeen years old and he has taught me everything about the world so, you see I don’t need to sit at your table to learn.”

Upon hearing this, I responded: “Wow, you are so lucky to have a brother to teach you [about] the world, because I don’t even know that.”

The boy just had a big smile on this face.

I continued:  “You still can sit at my table and color if you would like.”

The boy smiled, saying “Well, I guess I can do that.”

Wow!! How funny is that interaction? I have to say that little boy made my day! It is great to know the power and influence of older person that has on a child is truly amazing.