Teacher Colleague Letter written at the end of the semester on December 7, 1999

Dear Colleague,
I chose the ROR program because I think it's an excellent program. I've learned how important it is to read to children. Therefore, I wanted to be a part of the program. I gained 3 things which would include different reading techniques, how to gain the attention of children with books, and how valuable and fun reading with children is. I still have 3 questions: How will the ROR program become more popular? What can be done to inform parents about ROR? Where do the books (given to patients) come from? Good luck!

Sincerely,
Tiffany Rohrer

I went to the pediatric office on Thursday morning for my first visit. I had been really excited about the Reach Out And Read program because I think its an excellent idea. However, Thursday morning I found myself being a little nervous. Even after attending the training session at Lane Library and discussing it in class, I was still nervous about approaching the children and their parents.

When I first went in, I didnt know what to do. I thought, What if the child doesnt want to read with me. What would I do then? After sitting there for a few minutes I got the nerve to approach a young boy and his mother. The boy actually wanted to look at a book with me. So, I ended up reading about three books of his choice. I tried to involve him in the book by asking questions and talking to him while reading the story. He seemed a little shy, but replied to my questions. His mother was friendly too! After this first interaction I felt a little better.

Next, I approached a three-year-old girl. She was playing with the toys. So, she was not interested in my books. She also seemed very shy. I spoke with her mother and grandfather for a while. They were very friendly. The mother told me that the little girl doesnt see her father very much because they are divorced. I thought this was really sad. The young girl is only two years old and she is already missing a father figure. However, since the grandfather was with them, Im hoping that he spends a lot of time with them.

Finally, a young boy, who just turned one on Saturday, came in with his mother and grandmother. I noticed by his facial features that he had Down Syndrome. He was adorable. I went over and shared a book with him. While half of the time he was looking around the room, the other half he was looking at the book trying to turn and touch the pages. His facial expressions while looking at the book made me have the best feeling inside. I was so excited! He would smile and move his hands. He acted like he was really enjoying the book. When I was finished, his grandmother thanked me. It was also nice to see that she appreciated it! I could tell that they adored him. Right then I knew that I would like going to the office each week to read.

Overall, my first experience went really well! I was actually surprised! I think this program is a great thing and can get children excited about reading. Im excited to go back this week!

Last Thursday when I visited the pediatrics office, I didnt get much of a chance to read to the children. The receptionist warned me that they wouldnt be very busy and that there were only two doctors there so they were taking the children back really quickly. So, this experience wasnt as good as my first one. A few children came in and went straight to the toys. Im stilling having a difficult time approaching the children when they are having so much fun playing. The children seem more interested in the toys and games instead of the books. Plus the children were only in the waiting room for a short time before they went back to see the doctor.

Im hoping that this week the children will be in the waiting room a little longer. This will give me the chance to approach them and share a book. Maybe I could first sit down and play them for a few minutes and then ask them if they want to pick out a book to look at. Hopefully this week there will also be more children at the office to read to.

This experience wasnt the best. I basically just observed a few children while they briefly played with the toys. So, I dont have much to reflect on or write about. Hopefully this week will be better.

Unfortunately this visit was very similar to my previous one. When I first arrived at the doctors office, it was very quiet because there wasnt any patients in the waiting room. I got myself prepared to read, hoping that some children would soon walk through door. However, the room continued to be silent. So, we decided to organize the bookshelf. That only took a few minutes. So, I was again sitting there thinking in my head, I hope some kids come soon before I have to go! I had picked out some books at the library and I was excited to share them with someone.

Finally, a few children came in with their parents. Just as I got excited, the kids darted over to the toys and began playing. Its obvious that children would rather play with the cool toys instead of looking at a book. Also, the toys are the first things they see when they walk in the room. The bookshelf is in the corner, not as easily visible. Then as the children began playing, they were immediately called back to see the doctor.

I only had ten minutes left and I was really hoping that I would get a chance to read to at least one child. So when a girl, about 10 years old, walked in with her mother I told myself, Im going to ask her even though she is too old. She sat next to her mother and they began communicating in a different language. I got a little worried. I wondered, Does she speak English at all? I was a little nervous to approach her. But then I thought, What do I have to lose? So, I asked her if she wanted to read a book and she blurted out no! This was kind of disappointing and discouraging.

I must remind myself that this was only one experience. Therefore, I shouldnt be discouraged about the whole program. I will go back next week and try again!

This visit was very different from my previous two visits. It was different in a positive way. During my past visits, I had no children to read to either because the office wasnt busy or they were taking the children back very quickly. However, during this experience I could not complain about not having anyone to read to!

When I first arrived to the office, it was quiet and empty. I first thought to myself that I hope this visit doesnt turn out like the past two. Then a mother came in with her one-year-old daughter. Ironically, they were there three weeks ago when I did my very first visit. I had talked to the mother at that time, but the young girl was playing and didnt want to read with me. She seemed very shy. However, this time the little girl sat on my lap while I read a story to her. She was very quiet and just stared at the pictures. She didnt make many facial expressions, so I was just hoping that she was enjoying the book. I was very excited that this time she sat with me and allowed me to read to her.

As the hour continued, I was feeling pretty good since I had such a great start. Then, a woman came in with 15 children. I was really shocked and confused. I was wondering whom they all belonged to. Though they were all over the age of five, I didnt hesitate when a few of them approached me. I asked them if they wanted to read with me. Four of them appeared to be interested and quickly picked a book. One of the girls informed me that her mother had 15 kids and many of them were adopted. I thought this was amazing!! They were all getting a flu shot. I really admired this lady for taking care of 15 kids! Unfortunately, I didnt get a chance to talk to her because she was busy the entire time. I did read a few books to the children and they also read to me. I think they really enjoyed reading to me. Since they were older, I got a chance to ask them questions about the books and talk more with them. It was great!

By the time they all left it was time for me to leave also. I was really impressed with my visit. It gives me a great feeling. What a way to start of the day!

My visit this week to the office wasnt very productive. I didnt get to read to any children. It was a very quiet and calm morning. When I first went into the office there was no one there. Through out the first 40 minutes only a few children came in. However, they were sitting in the glass area and were immediately called back to see the doctor. I was a little disappointed and hoping that a few children would quickly come through the door. A young boy, about 4 or 5, came in with his mother and baby brother. Unfortunately he was more interested in holding and playing with his baby brother. However, he was adorable. It was obvious that he was proud to be a big brother and wanted to take care of him. He kept telling his mom, I want to hold him! Though I didnt get to read to him I was enjoying observing him!

Then it was time to go. I didnt get to read to anyone, but I did get to observe a few children. I think its very interesting to watch children play and talk with their parents. My visit was still a good experience!

My visit at the office went really well this week. When I first arrived at the office it was calm and quiet. There were only a few people waiting. I decided to place some books on the floor in front of the bookshelf. Im not sure if this really attracted the children or if I just had a lucky day, but I had someone to read to for most of the hour. However, I think they had more patients than they have had through out the past few weeks. It was really great.

The first child I read to was about one year old. She was sitting on her mothers lap a few chairs down from me. When she looked over at me I talked to her a little bit and showed her the books. Her face turned into a huge smile followed by a tiny laughter. She was adorable. So I asked the mother if she would mind if I shared a story with her. She was glad to have me read to her. She sat the baby in the chair next to me. As I began the story, she just stared at the pictures with her fingers in her mouth. It didnt take long until she wanted to hold the book and put it in her mouth. So we didnt get to finish to entire book because she was quickly called back to the doctor.

I was happy to be there because I was off to a good start. I could already tell that I was going to be busy. I watched a few families come in while others were leaving. The kids came over to look at the books on the floor. I would sit on the floor while they were picking a book. Then I would share it with them. One girl I read to was about five years old. I enjoyed reading to her because she would answer the questions I would ask about the story. She would also really check out the pictures. It was obvious that she was enjoying the book. That makes me feel really good inside!

My experience this week at ROR was quiet and calm. It surprises me because there seems to be a big difference between my visits. On some days the office is busy with a steady flow of patients allowing us to read for most of the hour. However, there are other days when it is really quiet with very few patients. This was the kind of day I had. I guess I figured that the office would be slightly busy most days. However, I think its probably a good sign that there arent always a huge group of sick children waiting in the room.

As I mentioned, this day was really slow. Terry and I had set the books up on the floor and sat beside them. However, only a few children walked through the door. Finally, when a child did walk through the door they either sat in the sick area or were immediately called back to see the doctor. Ive been hesitant to go into the sick area, especially now with the flu going around. I did read in their once to a child, but I prefer to stay outside of that area. During this visit there wasnt even a lot of time to observe children playing. There was one girl I saw leaving with her mother. She was adorable and couldnt wait to get out of the office! Hopefully, my next visit will involve many children! This experience was a great one. Not only did I have a hand full of children to read to, but also they all appeared to be enjoying the books. Hopefully next week will be as good as this week!

My last experience at the office was a very good and was a great way to end the semester! When I first walked into the office and got the books set up, there was a boy sitting with his mother. He was about ten years old, but I asked him if he wanted to read. He answered, no thanks. I wasnt surprised, but I thought I should at least offer!

There was a girl waiting in the room all by herself. She came over and asked where I was from. I explained to her the program. She was a senior in high school was thinking about going into elementary education next year in college. So, she asked me a lot of questions. It was really cool. I was excited that someone was inquiring about teaching. Fortunately, I had many good things to say.

Later I read to a little boy. He was very shy. His dad asked him about four times if he wanted to sit and read with me before he finally answered yes. He was probably about four years old. Once I began reading the book he seemed to be enjoying it. He was called back to see the doctor when we were only half way through the book. So when he came back into the waiting room, he sat down by me so I could finish the book. I was really glad to see that he wanted finish the story. I thought that he must have been paying attention and enjoying it. I was also very glad to see the father encouraging him so much to read with me. Many parents in the waiting room dont acknowledge us, but he was very friendly and encouraging!

I thought this was an excellent way to finish the Reach Out and Read program. I think this is a great program and Im very excited that I got to be a part of it and see it in action. I hope it continues to be successful!