Toys, Toys, Toys

This is the joy of working with kids. This was my Tuesday in three snapshots:

• A group of 5th graders before class was huddled around a handheld version of "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?" For the record, they weren't doing too bad.
• In that same class before the period started, one of the 5th graders came up to me and proclaimed, "I need 5,000 yams and an AK-47!" I told him I doubted that he could get that many yams in the school, and I was even more sure he wouldn't get an AK-47 in. He assured me he wouldn't be able to hurt anyone, since he just wanted to spray yam guts around. I've chosen to be impressed by his imagination...
• In the evening I worked with a 5th grader one-on-one at a mentoring program. The group activity at the end of the night was making cards/drawings/messages to send to Haiti earthquake victims. My student asked if we could skip it and go play basketball. I said no, but we could play after we were done. So, I was concerned he would blow off the activity, but he decided to get two sheets of paper and told me to copy what he did. We proceeded to fold the paper into boats, and then cut out masts and glue them to the center. On the mast, he wrote "we care," and then on the boat itself, he wrote his name and "we love." I told him he has a big heart. He asked if I was sure, and I said yes. He added that he hoped the victims could play with the boat and have some fun, at which point he pointed out that it can actually float in water.

Working with younger kids has reminded me how awesome toys are. I loved Legos growing up, and some of the kids I work with love them too. I like talking about toys with them when I get the chance, because it gives me a glimpse into their interests. They are always excited to talk about something they play with.

In my short time regularly working with 5th graders, I've realized that you are always on the brink of something memorable with them. It may be funny, it may be outrageous, or it may even be deep and meaningful. It is part of the adventure.