By Sue Murphy
I am hoping for good things this school year. The teachers and students deserve it. With all that COVID mess, last year was rough on everybody.
School in itself is rough enough. Take your average kindergarten class (I hear some of you screaming “NO!”). These little guys, even the preschool veterans, are embarking on a whole new adventure. They come through the door both excited and scared. They have a new backpack and lunchbox. That’s great. But they’ve been told that they will be expected to learn letter sounds, which is worrisome because every letter they’ve ever seen just sits there and makes no sound at all. They’ve heard rumors that they will be asked to figure out how many cookies Billy has left if he starts with four and eats two. They don’t even know Billy.
But there’s more. On day one, they will learn that, even if this Billy wants to eat those two cookies, he will have to wait until snack time. You can’t just go eating cookies whenever you feel like it. Also, when you see a really funny squirrel outside the window, you are not supposed to get up and run to go see it. Getting out of your seat is frowned upon. Running? Also bad. You’re not even supposed to shout, “Squirrel!” so your friends can see him, too. If you want to say “Squirrel!” you are supposed to raise your hand and say it in an “inside voice.” Well, by then, the squirrel will be gone.
Everywhere, everywhere, there are rules to follow and lines to stand in and times when you are supposed to sit and be still. Turns out, the world would like you to sit a lot. It also would like you to be quiet a good bit of the time. This is difficult for some little people. It’s difficult for parents and teachers to enforce, too, but they must at least try because the expectations will not change for another, well, they don’t really ever change. (Please don’t tell the kindergarteners that. They may lose heart.)
But, kindergarten friends, I am here to offer you a few words of consolation. Yes, you will be expected to sit. Yes, you will be asked to remain quiet until called upon, but while you are sitting there quietly (here’s the good part), your teacher will show you some amazing things. Teachers have access to all sorts of wonders. She’ll show you that when you mix yellow paint and blue paint it magically becomes green. I’m not kidding. She will teach you all the words to the “Plejaleejunts.” She might bring in caterpillars that will turn into butterflies right before your very eyes. Pretty amazing, huh?
Also, you’ll discover that when you give your classmates a chance to talk, you might find out that Charlotte, the girl who sits right next to you, has a rabbit named Rosie. You love rabbits! You would never have learned that if you were talking all the time.
And those letter sounds? Not to worry. Your teacher will lead you in games and activities and cooking projects and you will wake up one morning and say, “Hey! Bingo, bubbles, banana bread. B says ‘buh’!” Even when you stumble across the fact that in the word “circus” the letter C makes two different sounds, do not despair. It will all make sense later. Actually, it won’t, but every English- speaking person has gotten used to it.
So, my little lunchbox friends, be patient. Sit and listen and good things will come your way. I promise.