In an ideal world I would be working in an architecture firm, but reality is my schedule is so out of whack it’s rendered employment anywhere damn near impossible. At least until recently, I found an organization willing to employ me for a few hours in the a.m. and I am even given the chance to teach what I love. How awesome is that?
I started tutoring at Lighthouse International’s Child Development Center, for those not familiar, Lighthouse offers services and resources for the visually impaired, the Pre-K center is one of several services and functions as an integrated school where visually impaired kids learn alongside their sighted peers. I have a group of rowdy 4 yr. old kids, such a wide range of personalities! Although it takes 40 min. to get there and I have to wake up at the butt crack of dawn I can’t get enough of those kiddies! Plus, they seem to love me every time I walk in I’m greeted with a chorus of “You’re back!” As crazy as they can get, they keep me sane and grounded.
The other day I brought a few architecture books, because after all the teaching is heavy on the architecture/design, the book was not even close to their reading levels, but there were plenty of pictures and most were curious enough to ask questions.
I discovered kids love Frank Lloyd Wright, Fallingwater totally grabbed them and they got the notion of bringing the outdoors in without my pointing it out. They also liked the book of Buddhist Stuppas but in terms of teaching shapes and geometries, Louis Khan is the way to go. They were able to easily identify circles, squares, and triangles.
I also taught them how to make origami houses, not surprisingly the boys had the most difficulty with this exercise as it involved actually listening to and following directions. I’d like to do a walking tour in the near future since they do love walking about in the city, and it’s an excellent opportunity to teach them about the many architectural styles without boring them to tears. Call it learning in disguise.
I love each and every one of them, but I’ve made significant connections with only a handful, I haven’t given up on the others however. Let me tell you about my little blonde-haired scruffy partner in crime- his name is Max and he likes to build things, he knows Spanish better than some adults I know, he also likes to jump and leap and thumb his nose at gravity. He’s a handful but has a heart of gold and a love of learning, and is a great designer/demolisher (he’s the only one in class to have gotten the concept of a floor plan; in his own words it’s a slice across). Also I can’t believe it took a kid to make me realize that I’m pretty fucking cool.
Max: You mean you’re actually learning how to build buildings like that!!!! (pointing to commercial high rise)
Me: Yeah
Max: (Eyes bulging out) WOOOOOOOW!!!!! You’re so cool!
Awww my heart got all fuzzy and warm. Seriously love this kid. I photographed his masterpiece pictured above, not the best resolution- for a camera phone it will do.
