Three new students

So last Monday evening I went into the city for class. When Clyde picked me up at the train station, the car died. We called and waited for Triple A (AA for those in the UK), who came in good time considering it was over 90 degrees and rush hour. They gave us a jump and we went on our way.

We were a half hour late for class, but no one seemed to mind. The place was full with kids of all ages. Mostly they were doing some crafts for the end of Summer Camp picnic, but a bunch went upstairs with Clyde to do some mathematics. Three little boys were waiting for me.

I introduced myself. They looked like they were all related, and the same age. Turns out one of them was nine, the others seven and six. They are unrelated. The nine year old, Y, is disruptive. I don't really know how to deal with disruptive students - can anyone offer advice? Clyde says to let it get so far and then say something like "Enough!" with an authoritarian tone of voice, and I admit I didn't try it. I have no idea of Y's background, but he seemed like a talktalktalkative child.

The other two, R and L, were sweet boys. Both were interested in reading aloud for quite a long while. I was impressed, really, that they held out so long. First L picked up a Frances book and determinedly read the words on the page, sounding out where he had to. He wasn't a skilled enough reader to really get the story, only the words. And the songs were a little vexing, but he did notice that they rhymed! After a time, and a disruption, I pulled out Danny and the Dinosaur and asked him to read that with me. He read about half before giving in to the temptation of running about and shooting the shit with Y. As much shit as you shoot when you're seven.

Y kept whining about when he was "gonna" be allowed to go up and do math. By that point, I was getting ready to read to them instead of having them read to me. I had picked out George's Marvelous Medicine, by Dahl, and was sitting waiting. Sweet little R was by my side, eager to hear me start, but I had to wait on Y and L to settle. In the end, I asked them if they wanted to do math. They replied to the affirmative and so I went up with them and requested that Clyde give them some problems to do. Eventually he was able to calm them down to a little more work. Of course, they are young and undisciplined, and I do not grudge them these things. I am not very disciplined either. But I do try to show respect when someone else is talking, or giving of their time to help me. If they come again next week, I will see what I can do to better address the situation.

Small boy R sat and listened while we read nearly half of George's Marvelous Medicine. He was intelligent and interested and made remarks about the fabled medicine. We laughed over the concoction and wondered about what we might make. By the time eight thirty rolled around, his eyelids were drooping. I wouldn't have read as far as we did, but Ms T from the previous week tired of her math tuition and asked if she could read to us for a while. I readily accepted.

At the end of the evening, R said he'd come back every Monday night because he enjoyed the reading. Which is a great bonus for me.

I realise I have to let go of trying to control what happens with this thing. I can't control it. I'll never know who will show up one week or the next. Little Ms B of Harry Potter 1 didn't come this week and I missed her smiling face. I hope to see her again. In the meantime, I'll supply the books and be there to listen while they struggle through the words and listen when I read. If I only help two or three young people, that's more than I might have done had I been too selfish or shy to put in the effort.

A quick addendum: It's not that I want to "control" my reading time at Cliveden Park. It is what it is. It's just that I hope to have some regularity and structure eventually. It's a lot to wish for the first two times the children show up.