Class #16--8th Age Reading

Thursday, October 21, 8:30 A.M. 8th Age Reading Class. Class #16 on my “50 Classes or Bust!” journey. I arrive just as Mr. Shep’s reading class is beginning. (Most of my readers may know this, but Mr. Shep’s real name is Mr. Shepherd, but everyone calls him “Mr. Shep.” In fact, when I started working at Calvert in 2004, I thought Mr. Shep was his real name until someone clarified it for me!). Ten smiling faces warmly greet me. This is prime learning time, and the students are ready to go. Mr. Shep, as a change of pace on Thursdays, begins his reading class by reading aloud a “Tell Me Why” story. Today’s story, accompanied by a colorful PowerPoint slide, is about the invention of candy. While he is reading aloud (looking down at the book and directly facing the class), Mr. Shep employs some otherworldly peripheral vision (which is a special teacher power) to notice that one of his homeroom students has just arrived—in the hall! I honestly do not know how he saw the boy in the hall. Without breaking stride, Mr. Shep gives some instructions to the late arriving boy and then goes right back to reading. It was a small moment but one that demonstrated his veteran teaching expertise. (Did you know that this is Mr. Shep’s twentieth year at Calvert?!). After the candy story concludes, the students read independently for a few minutes. The class is quickly onto its third activity, which is a discussion and reading of Smiling Hill Farm. However, Mr. Shep has disappeared, and “Pioneer Pat” has arrived. A man who bears a striking resemblance to Mr. Shep but wearing a Davy Crockett-style coonskin cap is now teaching class! This actually happens often, with Mr. Shep “disappearing” and a variety of characters taking his place, including “Mr. History,” "Thor," and “King SWEN” (King of South, West, East, North for geography class). Mr. Shep asks some questions of the class to refocus them on the storyline and to contextualize the book . The boys and girls then take turns reading aloud, interspersed with questions and comments from Mr. Shep. He is patient and caring with his group of up-and-coming readers. The class is focusing on two key skills: reading comprehension and oral articulation. It is a pleasure seeing the students accomplishing a great deal this morning in an enjoyable, appropriately relaxed atmosphere! Young alumni that I encounter always ask about Mr. Shep; his outstanding rapport with his students has made a genuine, lasting impact on them.