Volunteering

I haven't done a whole lot of volunteering in Bianca's classroom. Part of me has been afraid of bringing Portia along (from the time she was born Bianca was in kindergarten) and then when Portia was in preschool, it was my only writing time. So I'm ashamed to say I've only been in Bianca's classroom for an occasional holiday party before now.

This year, Bianca's teacher was putting together book groups and needed parents to volunteer. It was on Friday mornings when Portia was at preschool. I was tempted. After all, it's no secret that I love books and reading and love talking about books. But still, there was a new rule at the school about getting fingerprinted and you had to drive all the way across the city to do it and I frankly didn't want to have to do that. Well, no moms volunteered for the book groups so Bianca volunteered me for her group. At first I was a little irritated, but after the first discussion (we read five chapters for each "meeting") I was hooked. I really came to enjoy the time I was spending in Bianca's classroom (actually in the cafeteria at a little red round table), overseeing her in the discussions and interacting with the other kids in her group. We read and discussed Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson. It was historical fiction based on the Yellow Fever outbreak that took place near the time of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

My group from Mrs. Jensen's fifth grade class

Today was our last meeting. It was a little rowdy (as the kids will be if you let them as I kind of did) and we juggled and answered questions for candy. I'm sad. I'll miss going in on Fridays.

Maybe I'll volunteer on my own next time. I'd definitely be up for leading another book group discussion.