Teachers Come in Many Forms

The Recreation Center’s official teacher of 25 years, Mrs. Elizabeth Massey, known as “Miss Liz” to her students, teaches a parent and tot preschool and Kindergarten Readiness class that offers a unique style that allows parents to join their children in the classroom. This enables each parent to give individualized attention to their child who is learning to read, write and connect socially to other children while playing games in the classroom and on the playground.

 As counselors, we all teach the kids how to be confident, make good choices, behave better, be kind, use their manners, clean up after themselves and always do their best. They learn group play from our group games, as well as individual play. They learn the rules of sports and good sportsmanship when we play baseball, soccer, gaga ball, and other sports in our beautiful park. We encourage them to compliment others on the opposite team for a play well done or a good catch. Playing sports at the recreation center teaches them that they don’t always win, and that’s okay. Crying doesn’t change the scoreboard. We are constantly teaching them that they don’t need to be entertained every minute of every day. Sometimes, we can just hang out and “be.” This philosophy has curbed the “I’m bored” statement that kids often say. I enjoy teaching them to ask their moms and dads, “How was your day?” so they learn to take an interest in others. Another simple yet important life skill we teach them is when someone asks them, “How are you?” a great response is, “Good, how are you?” 

We’ve also taught many Kindergarteners how to tie their shoes, ask for help, pick up their trash and be responsible for their own backpack and water bottles. Since we are located at the park, we come in contact with a lot of dogs, so another great thing they learn from our Rec Center staff is to never pet a dog without 1) Asking the owner’s permission, 2) Letting the dog smell your hand before you pet them and 3) Never put your face into a dog’s face. These are life skills that will serve them well, even as adults. 

Instead of only tattling on others, I remind them to share the good things with me! "Who was kind to you?" "Who were you kind to?" It is wonderful to have a child run up and say, “Miss Joanne! I held the door open for the group!” They love receiving positive responses for doing things for others. At our “snack time,” we talk about how important it is to eat foods that don’t have any ingredients listed on them, such as bananas, apples, carrots, strawberries, and other foods that come from the ground. We teach them that foods with red dye are not healthy choices. Our Miss Liz helps us out a few days during the week and loves to challenge the kids with trivia questions about animals, foods and geography, to name a few, while waiting for the rest of the children to arrive after school. It’s her unique way of maintaining their attention and teaching them something at the same time. Massey’s love for teaching has touched the hearts of children and parents alike, instilling a love for learning that will last forever.

We are truly a learning center and are grateful that we are blessed to work with such wonderful children. And how cool is it that we not only teach them, but the kids also teach us every day?

Photo courtesy of Liz Massey