Alexander (8) gave me a book to read from his library of approximately 400 titles, The Wall, Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain, by Peter Sís, an artist born in Czechoslovakia in 1949 and an American citizen since 1988. The book is a memoir filled with photographs of family and American rock band culture, numerous drawings from his youth, and a timeline of events in the place of birth. I recommend the book, which is entirely in English, to children who are good readers and adults.
Alexander reads at 6th to 8th grade level. I believe his reading level is much higher. Telling his mother that the reading passages from the SSAT were easy, but the questions were hard, he scored 60% correct. We are working on that score. I’m just there to give him a bit of coaching. Unlike some American students, Alexander has a sense of urgency. Perhaps, that arises from the fact that his parents are immigrants.
Whenever the God subject comes up and I talk, Alexander gives me a I’ve-heard-it-before look. Who knows on which side of the scales of faith he will land? My other student is not Catholic, and I tease him, “I would be on your case in high school.” He knows that among the precepts of literacy is hope. As a tutor, for their sakes, I shan't live in a box.
Alexander reads at 6th to 8th grade level. I believe his reading level is much higher. Telling his mother that the reading passages from the SSAT were easy, but the questions were hard, he scored 60% correct. We are working on that score. I’m just there to give him a bit of coaching. Unlike some American students, Alexander has a sense of urgency. Perhaps, that arises from the fact that his parents are immigrants.
Whenever the God subject comes up and I talk, Alexander gives me a I’ve-heard-it-before look. Who knows on which side of the scales of faith he will land? My other student is not Catholic, and I tease him, “I would be on your case in high school.” He knows that among the precepts of literacy is hope. As a tutor, for their sakes, I shan't live in a box.
1987 - I am thinking of a box as a cage, a prison, or a tomb.
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