THE POTENTIAL POSSIBILITIES OF ANY CHILD ARE THE MOST INTRIGUING AND STIMULATING IN ALL CREATION. --Ray L. Wilbur
My school started on August 12th, and I found out I was getting an ESL student. This boy hardly knew English. I'm talking, not even the ABCs. He couldn't write his name in English either. Years back I had taught kindergarten in the states, and I felt like this boy would have a better chance starting in kindergarten, rather than 1st grade. But because of his age, he remained on my roster.
It's been 2 1/2 weeks now. This boy has proved me wrong. He has a great attitude and works extremely hard. He has mastered letter names and almost all their sounds. He's sounding out one syllable words like d-o-g. And it's only been two and a half weeks.
When I read picture books, especially those sparse of text, he understands. Ame Dyckman's Boy + Bot was a hit as well as Peter Brown's You Will Be My Friend.
This little boy has reminded me how quickly young minds soak up information. We authors write so parents and teachers can pour our words into their brains. Fiction and nonfiction--they love it all.
Go forth and write something great. Young gelatin-like minds are waiting to soak it up.