ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, April 24, 1997 TAG: 9704240080
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: N-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SAMANTHA BORNEMANN THE ROANOKE TIMES
Preschoolers are benefiting from the tutoring and friendship they're receiving from some older pupils.
Last spring Cheryl Murphy was in search of a farm where she could take her preschool students on a field trip.
On hearing her dilemma, Emilie Temeles, her next door neighbor, volunteered her land.
Murphy then reminded her neighbor, a teacher at Community School, that Temeles would not be at home during the morning to meet the class.
Undaunted, Temeles shrugged and said she'd bring her pupils and meet Murphy's class there. So the kids and teachers gathered on Temeles' farm, and each pupil in her class of 10- and 11-year-olds played buddy for a day to one of the preschoolers.
The idea was a hit with both age groups.
The older kids were proud of what they were doing, and the preschoolers liked it because "they weren't being dragged around by adults," Temeles said.
She and Murphy decided the excursion had gone so well that they should try it again - but this time in the classroom, with a slightly more academic slant.
So a few months later, Temeles brought her 14 pupils to Murphy's Title I class - for preschoolers who are educationally at risk - at Round Hill Primary School. Each pupil was assigned a little buddy to tutor during reading and skills-reinforcement activities.
The relationships didn't develop instantly, but by the third visit the buddies had formed strong friendships.
"What surprises me is how affectionate they are with these kids," Murphy said. "They've really bonded."
Although the older kids visit Round Hill only every two weeks, they are never far from the preschoolers' minds. Not a day goes by that at least one of Murphy's preschoolers doesn't ask if their big buddies will be coming that day.
The preschoolers aren't the only people talking about Temeles' class, which consists of 15 kids. The students recently received a $200 grant for their literacy project from the Episcopal Churchwomen of St. John's Episcopal Church, which supports extra school activities. What the pupils have done to help younger kids learn to read is admirable, said Moki Moffitt, the group's president.
"We just felt that it was an excellent program and very deserving [of the grant]," Moffitt said.
The students used the money to buy developmentally appropriate books - ranging from "Curious George" to "The Little Flea" - for each preschooler to take home.
By providing these books, the teachers said, they hope to build a home library for the children. "We want to get the parents involved and educate them to read to their kids," Temeles said.
But just as important as the books is the constant one-on-one attention the preschoolers receive during their buddies' visits. By developing a bond with an older child, they are able to improve their communication skills.
That bond was especially important for three preschoolers who spoke only Spanish at the start of the school year. The kids were paired with the three Community School pupils who speak Spanish best after three years of study. The Community School pupils could tell Murphy whether the children were speaking fluent Spanish or a little bit of each language.
Katy Hanson has noticed a clear difference in her Honduran little buddy's speaking ability. Katherine Romero - who is also a big fan of being tickled - now speaks English at least half the time and communicates very well "when she wants to," according to Murphy.
With such obvious proof that their efforts are paying off, the Community School pupils take their roles as tutors seriously. Before each visit to Round Hill, they prepare an activity, such as making macaroni necklaces or counting marshmallows, for the preschoolers.
"The Community School students put in most of the work," Murphy said. "We reap the benefits."
Indeed. On a recent Wednesday, the older kids ran things so smoothly that Murphy had little to do but hand out paper and glue sticks to demanding young artists.
Then it was strictly buddy-buddy time.
Preschoolers first concentrated on cutting out shapes their big buddies had traced for them. Once the tables were covered with sufficient supplies of green, blue, red, pink and purple paper shapes and scraps, it was time to glue figures together onto paper to form houses and animals.
Abby Temeles - yes, her mom's the teacher - asked if the cat her little buddy was making would have a tail.
"He doesn't have one," Chaniqua Ramsey said, shaking her head for emphasis.
"Why not?"
``'Cause he's ugly!" the preschooler reasoned.
When Chaniqua finished, Abby - sounding every bit the schoolteacher - reminded her little buddy that work must come before fun.
"You want to go play? OK, but first we have to clean up," she said.
After cleanup, Chaniqua and the other preschoolers received their books. But it was difficult for many of them to understand the concept of owning them. For good.
"That's for you to keep forever, OK?" Chris Mullins told his little buddy, Kaylan Kesler. "You don't have to bring it back. Let's go put it in your cubby."
Murphy reinforced the message a few minutes later as the kids - already sporting their colorful and Disney-decorated backpacks - gathered in a circle on the classroom rug for a few final comments.
"When you get home today and you take your book out of your bag, I want you to tell your parents who gave you that book," she said.
"Did I give you that book?"
"Noooo." Twelve preschool heads shook emphatically back and forth.
"Who did?"
"Our buddies!"
LENGTH: Long : 110 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: JANEL RHODA/THE ROANOKE TIMES. Buddies Josh Holland andby CNBRose Wyatt work together making shapes during their time together.