By Paul Nathanson, Sherwood Head Start

Paul Nathanson and Dolores Mejia’s class at Sherwood Head Start.

Is there any greater satisfaction than arriving at your volunteer site and being greeted by a group of preschoolers surrounding you with calls of 'Teacher Paul', 'Teacher Paul', and giving you multiple hugs?

After having been a KOREH L.A. volunteer at the elementary-school level for four or five years, I decided on a change of pace last year. This is my second year at Sherwood Head Start in Van Nuys. The children are a delight.

Because of their ages and attention spans, the activities change every 20 to 30 minutes. I have not been assigned to any particular children, but move with the activities - helping with crafts, visiting the activity stations and talking with them, interjecting reinforcement questions (what color is that car?, how many bunnies are in this puzzle picture?, etc.), giving encouragement, and consoling when necessary.

During circle reading, I usually read a book that the teacher has chosen on the topic of the day or week. The children hear my pronunciation (with a New England accent) and the teacher often translates it into Spanish. Sometimes I'm handed a paper with the story to be read and the teacher uses a felt board to illustrate it.

I always bring a book or two with me, often about familiar characters. Disney has several storybooks that have stickers in the back pages. These are great rewards for listeners, as are the stickers we get in the mail, such as happy faces, flowers, or animals. I also take a book with me during outside activity time, as there are always a couple of children who prefer to spend a few moments being read to. I have also had a child pick a book out of the class library and "read" me a story.

I look forward to many years of 'staying young' in the Pre-K KOREH program.