First-grade teachers make lasting impression on children’s lives
By Ron Jensen, U.K.
bureau
Ron Jensen / Stars and Stripes
Keenan Knutelski meets his first-grade teacher, Pam Wilson, on Monday at RAF Feltwell
Elementary School, England. |
RAF FELTWELL, England — Pam Wilson was explaining the impact
that first-grade teachers have on youngsters when she was interrupted by one of last
year’s students who wanted to give her a hug.
“See what I mean?” she said. “You’re swamped with
kids who come to you on the playground, on your way to the cafeteria. I still remember my
first-grade teacher.”
Addison Warren, a second-grader this year, said he stopped by to
greet and hug Wilson “because I really like her. She’s very nice.”
Chances are, Addison will not soon forget Wilson. First-grade
teachers leave long-lasting impressions on children. Four such teachers at Feltwell
Elementary School discussed that topic in between parent and student visits during open
house. Schools in the United Kingdom district begin classes on Tuesday.
“I think first-grade teachers are probably some of the most
influential factors in children’s lives,” said Talesa Vickroy, who has taught
first grade for 14 years.
Carol Hannah, who has been a first-grade teacher for 15 years, has
evidence of that. She is returning to the States next June to attend the high school
graduation of two boys she taught in first grade.
“They asked me to come back,” she said. “I think
that’s neat.”
That importance survives, the teachers said, even with the presence
of all-day kindergarten, which provides children with their first real taste of a world
absent mom and dad and all things familiar. Despite kindergarten, starting first grade
remains a major step.
“I’m thrilled we have all-day kindergarten,” said
Vickroy. “But that’s an introduction of school life. [First grade] is their
first experience with formal education.”
Children may learn to recognize letters of the alphabet in
kindergarten, but they learn to read in first grade. Kindergarten may teach children to
recognize numbers, but first grade teaches them to add and subtract.
Carol Isakson, who has taught first grade for five of her 20 years as
a teacher, said first grade has not diminished in importance.
“This is where a child learns to read,” she said. “If
they are successful when they learn to read in first grade, they’ll be successful the
rest of their lives. Of all the grades I’ve taught, you see more growth in first
grade than in any other.”
Parents, too, see the jump from kindergarten to first grade as
significant.
“I think it’s more important [than kindergarten],”
said Michael Thompson, who escorted his daughter, Hannah, to school Monday. “This is
where it all starts. It’s tremendously important that she get the right teacher, the
right atmosphere.”
Wilson said teachers have to determine quickly a child’s
development level and push for improvement. It’s not possible for all children to
reach the same level at the same time.
Students came and went Monday. Some were too timid to speak. Some
were more outgoing. All looked around in wide-eyed wonder at the room where they will
spend the next nine months of their lives.
The teachers welcomed the children and the parents and explained
briefly what will happen in the classroom.
“It’s also an adjustment for the parents,” said
Wilson. “The parents have to feel comfortable with giving up their child for the
day.”
That’s something, too, that all-day kindergarten has yet to
conquer. Sherry Knutelski said her son Keenan has been looking forward to the start of
school.
“I can’t contain him,” she said.
But she also knows how it will feel when the school bell rings
Tuesday and Keenan is no longer at home.
“I’m going to be bawling my eyes out tomorrow,” she
said.
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