During the coronavirus lockdown, a fifth-grade teacher contacted me asking for help. She was 1 with students not attending online class but her students all loved the story in my book. So she asked if I had any 2.
My immediate 3 was for me to do a 4 book club where I would read to the students. The idea was 5 by Mrs. Sandberg, my first teacher in America.
When I moved to America from Iran in 1972, I spoke seven words of English. Despite the language 6, I immediately loved school. My favorite part of the day was 7 lunch, when Mrs. Sandberg read to us. Her kind voice transported me to 8 places where animals could talk and where kids had grand adventures.
With this joyful memory, I started the club. At the first session, five kids 9. I read to them and tried to 10 a conversation. Whenever I asked a question, I was met with complete 11. The following week, a few more kids came; they 12 started responding, but with one-word answers. The next session, they gave 13 answers and more students participated in the conversations.
This club has quickly become the 14 of my week. I have gotten to know the students and grown fond of every single one of them. Reading out loud forces me to forget everything else for an hour. I recently wondered if our post-lunch reading hour had given Mrs. Sandberg a chance to forget her 15, too.
