Last Friday Whitney and I took a train to Deerfield, a suburb of Chicago, to talk with second graders at Kipling Elementary School. It was “Disability Awareness Week” at Kipling, and the kids asked a lot of questions during the Q & A part of the presentation. Some examples:
- Does Whitney like other dogs?
- How do you know when it’s time to go to bed?
- How do you bake bread?
- How do you write books?
- How do you drive?
- If dogs are color blind, can they see any colors at all?
- Does Whitney ever slip on the ice?
- Where did you go to college?
- What’s Whitney’s favorite color?
- My favorite question of the day, hands down, was this one: “If you need to go to school to get a Seeing Eye dog, but you don’t have a Seeing Eye dog yet, how do you get to the school?” Tomorrow morning Whitney and I are taking a train to another suburban school: Sears Elementary, in Kenilworth. This time we’ll be talking with kindergartners. Note to self: go to bed early tonight.
You’re right to rest up for this crowd. Can’t wait to hear the questions you get from the little tykes.
Some of these questions are sneaky, for instance, “How do you know when it’s time to go to bed.” It implies a standard for bedtime based on seeing something–darkness? clock? I taught preschoolers, but it was so demanding that I only lasted 2 years. I couldn’t wait to teach adults.
I’ve been asked the bedtime question by children before — during my presentation I tell them that even though my eyes are open, all I see is the color black, and I think it makes them wonder how I know when it’s time to go to bed because sometime in their young lives they’ve been told, “It’s dark out, it’s time to go to bed.” And whoa, I bet teaching pre-schoolers *would* be VERY demanding — heck, I’ going to bed early tonight and I’m only spending one single day with the kindergartners!
Hi Beth,
My favorite question also.
Cant wait until baseball season starts up again.
-Bob
Me, neither — the mere idea of sitting outside in a sunny ballpark right now makes me smile. Bring it on!
Good luck, but I know you will wow the crowd…kindergarteners or seniors!
Gotta admit, it sure is fun to hear seniors read their stories one afternoon, and then hear kindergartners tell theirs the next morning…
Dear Beth, You will be splendid! (Sleep or no sleep!).The kids’ questions are wonderfulI want to know all of your answers! xojudyspock
From: Safe & Sound blog Reply-To: Safe & Sound blog Date: Thu, 16 Jan 2014 23:04:27 +0000 To: Judith Spock Subject: [New post] Tomorrow, it¹s kindergartners
WordPress.com bethfinke posted: “Last Friday Whitney and I took a train to Deerfield, a suburb of Chicago, to talk with second graders at Kipling Elementary School. It was “Disability Awareness Week” at Kipling, and the kids asked a lot of questions during the Q & A part of the prese”
You want answers? Hmm. Maybe you’ll have to come with me to another school visit sometime, Judy. You’re always welcome –we make a good team.
Yeah, how DO you drive?
Well, I’ll say this: I am 50+ years old, and have never had a ticket…!
Besides hearing about the Xmas gifts in your family, the questions you get from kids are some of my favorite posts. We should all try and recapture that openess and willingness to ask anything without fear of sounding silly.
Amen. And stay tuned for the next post — I’ll list a few questions the kindergartners and first-graders asked Friday.
I love the questions, especially that last one! The curiosity being expressed is awesome.
You know, that last question was good in very many ways: it gave me an opportunity to explain how “rusty” those of us who are blind get with using our white canes once we’ve traveled with a guide dog, how sad it can be to say goodbye to your last dog and head off to get a new one, what the first couple days at guide dog schools can be like, and how all that changes when you start training with a new dog. Kids really do ask great questions.
Great questions! I frequently visit our local second grade classrooms with my Future Leader Dog puppies and their questions are the best part….most of which begin, “What would happen if…?”
Oh, you’re so right. Some of the best questions start with “What would happen if…?” Such imaginations –it’s precious.
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