If only: Three gifts I’d like to give
During the holiday season we seek ways to give, not only to our friends and family but also to those less fortunate than we. Teachers give of themselves all year, whether it’s giving extra time to help a struggling student or volunteering as a coach, church helper, or scout leader. The one gift that is most difficult for us to give — for many teachers even harder to come by than money — is time. I often wonder what teachers would give if they had the time. Here are my top three if-only gifts I would like to give if I had the time.
1. An afterschool club for kids in my community. I know many of the kids who get off the bus on my street go home to an empty home, the TV, and a snack. This is a solid, middle class community, and most of the parents get home well after dark this time of year. I would love to invite the kids to get off the bus at our community center multi-purpose room for a short game of (you name the game), a chance to eat their snacks together with other kids and some adults, and a chance to get the homework done in a friendly, cheerful place. After they were done, maybe we could go outside and play some more or invent silly games. A few adults could go a long way in making homework a positive thing that happens among friends and making a little physical activity more fun than the remote. Alas, I am still working when the buses roll down these streets, so I cannot give this gift– at least not right now.
2. Computer help for seniors (or not so seniors) who are embarrassed to say they need it. I know so many adults who do not know how to find great vacation places or share a link to a Google Map or write a blog post. They have so many stories to tell, but are afraid to start. If I were free at 10 am, I’d love to share Tuesday Tech Fun at Ten for an hour or so. I have a feeling we would discover many hidden talents and interests among folks who have no idea how much technology could open their worlds. But on Tuesdays at ten, I am otherwise occupied.
3. Family tech fun nights. It would be great to help elementary kids surprise their parents with the thought provoking things they can do using online tools like the ones we have feature TeachersFirst’s Special Occasion Ideas for the Classroom. This collection shares a selection from the hundreds of creative tools kids and adults can find on TeachersFirst to collect and montage writing, images, and sound into clever personal projects. I would enjoy organizing the kids as the experts to teach the adults how to lessons without touching the mouse as the grownups make their own projects side by side with a mini Geek Squad.
It seems quite self centered to say, “I would like to, but can’t.” Maybe in 2013 I can find the gift of just a little more time to give away. I would love to hear what other teachers’ dream giveaways might be.
