Writer's Block: And the Apple Goes To
Mrs. Pauline Bush, First and Second grade, McDonald Elementary School, Warminster PA 1986-1988.
Without a doubt my favorite teacher.
I'm not sure how or why it worked out, but almost our entire first grade class got to stay together and have her again for second grade too.
I remember walking into her classroom on the first day of school. She was organizing some supplies at one of the side tables. Her hair was very short and black, she had a long thin nose and black rimmed glasses with a chain that went around the back of her neck. She had a serious looking face, and I thought to myself, "I wonder what she looks like when she's mad?"
Mrs. Bush started every day with a letter to the class on the board. She would leave certain words blank, and have us help her fill them in. She always incorporated her scottish terrier, Kaiser, into the letters, and would draw a picture of him on her handouts. (Back then they were called "Dittos", haha!) She taught us how to read and write, and she had us write our own books, which we would get to share with the class. I remember writing books about a whale watch I went on, a trip to Virginia, and about how our whole family got the flu at the same time. That one was charmingly illustrated with images of myself and my family lying around with our tongues hanging out. She always pushed us to learn things that were beyond first and second grade level. We learned sign language, and we built a mouse-house, among other things.
I remember her being excited that I could read so well, and (get this), I remember her telling me that I was very good at math! Who knows what happened once I hit third grade, because it was all downhill from there.
I have often wondered what became of Mrs. Bush. After second grade, about half our class got sent to a different school in the district, so I never saw her after that. I have often thought that I would like to see her again and thank her for making such an impression on me as a little girl.
Without a doubt my favorite teacher.
I'm not sure how or why it worked out, but almost our entire first grade class got to stay together and have her again for second grade too.
I remember walking into her classroom on the first day of school. She was organizing some supplies at one of the side tables. Her hair was very short and black, she had a long thin nose and black rimmed glasses with a chain that went around the back of her neck. She had a serious looking face, and I thought to myself, "I wonder what she looks like when she's mad?"
Mrs. Bush started every day with a letter to the class on the board. She would leave certain words blank, and have us help her fill them in. She always incorporated her scottish terrier, Kaiser, into the letters, and would draw a picture of him on her handouts. (Back then they were called "Dittos", haha!) She taught us how to read and write, and she had us write our own books, which we would get to share with the class. I remember writing books about a whale watch I went on, a trip to Virginia, and about how our whole family got the flu at the same time. That one was charmingly illustrated with images of myself and my family lying around with our tongues hanging out. She always pushed us to learn things that were beyond first and second grade level. We learned sign language, and we built a mouse-house, among other things.
I remember her being excited that I could read so well, and (get this), I remember her telling me that I was very good at math! Who knows what happened once I hit third grade, because it was all downhill from there.
I have often wondered what became of Mrs. Bush. After second grade, about half our class got sent to a different school in the district, so I never saw her after that. I have often thought that I would like to see her again and thank her for making such an impression on me as a little girl.