I love my job! Today I ran Family Math Games — a program where I have a bunch of board games and card games for all ages that promote math skills. I only ask that at least one parent plays with the kids. The program was my idea, and today I had 41 people in that room happily playing games — parents and kids playing together.
This fills my heart with happiness. Once upon a time, I taught college math. Then, so many of the students saw me as their adversary, since I wrote and graded the tests. This way of teaching is so much more wonderful!
And my job is filled with things like this. On Monday, I’m going to attempt to teach kids Scratch programming — but I’m planning to do so just by letting them mess around with it, play.
On Wednesday, Tech Shop is coming for a Computer Deconstruction program. They’re going to bring tools and old computers, and the kids will take them apart and find out what’s inside. It was from attending this program that I was brave enough to take a screwdriver to my film scanner — and I actually fixed it! During that program, it’s so much fun to see the kids’ curiosity and confidence increase as they go.
And storytimes are about learning through fun, too. Listening to stories lays the groundwork for learning to read — and it’s completely fun, not painful at all.
Can you tell? I so love my job. Because I get to touch lives by encouraging kids to play!
I am truly blessed!