A Very Sweet & Sassy Retirement to my 3rd Grade Teacher, Mrs. Kidwell
Posted on June 12, 2009 in the Real Beauty category
If you know me (and I know you do, because my 2 website visitors are my mum and mum-in-law), you know I LOVE to read. And I don’t mean LOVE – I mean LLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOVVVVVVEEEEEEEE to read.
I’d be filthy rich if I was paid to read books – any books – and food labels, cereal boxes, shampoo bottles, website terms & conditions, trademark rules, curling iron manuals, cookbooks, etc. I remember loving books in kindergarten and reading the newspaper in grade one.
But it wasn’t until my 3rd grade teacher at Our Lady of Guadalupe in Hermosa Beach, Mrs. Kidwell, held a reading contest, did the fire really start of burn. There was a huge bug on the wall and each class member had a section of the bug’s body with our names. We received a star for every book we read.
As I do when I’m obsessed with something, I went overboard. I read book after book with a new found frenzy. I was insatiable. As I recall, the stars poured over my card an onto the bug’s body beneath it. And…I think I won – it made such an impression that I kept my bug body and stars – I still have them in my special keepsake box of my proudest accomplishments.
That’s what I remember most about Mrs. Kidwell. She put me in my first advanced reading group (I was rewarded for loving to read – yeah!) and fueled the fire.
Even though Mrs. Kidwell left on maternity leave during the year, I still consider 3rd grade one of the best (despite a Dorothy Hamill haircut and gauchos – just kidding, mum) because she challenged me and helped me discover one of my favourite hobbies.
I can’t believe she’s been at OLG for 25 years. She doesn’t look a day older than she used to and, is just as lovely and friendly. I can imagine the kids adore her as much as we did in 19-blahbadhi-blah-blah.
She was my mum’s teaching partner for a spell, too. My mum seemed to get all the best partners. I’m sure it was wonderful to be in the class with them — two hot mamas guiding the cute little kiddies.
Mrs. Kidwell, thank you for helping me discover my true love of reading. It is one the greatest gifts I’ve received and one of my best habits. You left a positive impression on me and I’ll always be grateful for your inspiration.
Happy Retirement!
Cheers, Kristin & Rob
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Kristin, I am a book worm too! In my case it was my family that instilled the love of books and reading in me but clever and supportive teachers helped to foster this addiction along the way. Yay to books. what would life be without them?!Thanks for the lovely post about one of life’s greatest pleasures.
Jo