<html> <head> <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"> </head> <body text="" bgcolor=""> Just wanted to share with you some of my experience volunteering this morning. I signed up to do <a href="http://www.9.0ne.org/w/Ms._Danhi_2012#vol_ar">AR testing</a>, and this was my first time. I arrived 9:10a (after dropping my son of at pre-school), was in the classroom a couple hours, ate lunch with my daughter and her classmates in the cafeteria, and left around 11:40a. Ms. Danhi hooked me up with an <a href="http://www.arbookfind.com/bookdetail.aspx?q=31673&l=EN&slid=317821754">AR book, "Hi, Cat!"</a> I read to the class, which was fun. I did a bit of review at the end, to let it sink in a little more. I tested kids one at a time on the computer in the classroom, as the library was being used when I got started. Ms. Danhi told me I could take three kids at a time down to the library, but I stayed in class because I wasn't sure how to do three at a time, and I enjoyed being in the classroom. I chose the order of students randomly. There's a stack of cards with student login information, and I had students pick a card (the next student) as the left (they enjoyed that). I was mostly pleased with how well everyone did. They were a bit rowdy when I read and reviewed the story (as 5/6 year olds are :) ), but I was pleasantly surprised to find most everyone did well on their test (they were paying attention afterall! :) ). The same tricky test question tripped up quite a few. Props to Ella & Julia for acing it. I worry about Michaeel not really trying. I missed Javier because his login information card was missing from the deck I was drawing from. I didn't see Arelis, Madelis, & Noelia, I'm told, because of their (lack of) English. In the background, it seemed to me Ms. Danhi was often frustrated working with this (young) age group. As Audrey mentioned before, it really is a kick to be with each of the kids and their unique personalities. Big smile Celine, dancing Cristal, Kirubel the jokester, Maya all hugs, Elliot the reader; just some the personalities that will stick with me. I put <a href="http://www.9.0ne.org/w/Ms._Danhi_2012_photos">some pictures on our website</a>. I was told Maya is the only one without a media release (so she cannot be photographed). I'll be volunteering again! :) </body> </html>