The ‘mystery guest? paced apprehensively behind the curtain, awaiting interrogation by fifth-grade students assembling somewhere in the gymnasium.
Soon enough, the first question.
‘What’s your job??
Wait, isn’t that what they’re trying to figure out, with yes-and-no questions only?
‘Don’t answer that,? said Gina Joy Roemer, school building aide, acting as moderator.
‘Remember, you’re asking yes-or-no questions,? she told the students.
The queries continued.
‘Do you do anything with kids??
‘Well,? the guest thought, ‘I’m here, aren’t I.? He answered out loud, ‘yes.?
So went the April 24 edition of ‘Bronco Time 20-Questions Career” at Independence Elementary School. New school employment contracts this year provided 25 minutes extra for each teacher per week for planning and conferences.
Students needed something constructive to do during that time.
‘The first idea was to use it as a second recess,? said Roemer, who organized activities with Lisa Sementowski, instructional aide, and Marilyn Lash, reading aide.
‘But as a mom, I thought, do they really need another recess??
‘We started brainstorming with teachers and the principal,? Sementowski said. ‘The goal with the kids was not to have a free-for-all.?
‘The goal was to make the time fun and educational,? Roemer said.
Sementowski brought games, puzzles, and other activities for different ages out of storage in her basement, and bought others. She packed them in a cart for easy transport to classrooms as needed.
But over the weeks, some older students were getting bored.
‘The younger ones still liked them,? Sementowski said. ‘The older ones, not so much.?
So they had another idea: invite people from the community to help out.
‘We invite professionals to come in and talk to students about how they use math and reading in their jobs,? Roemer said.
‘I really felt this was an opportunity to do something that mixes education with fun,? said Principal Chris Turner. ‘It’s less structured, but students learn something valuable.?
Invited so far: Lisa Smigelski, owner of Lisa’s Confection Connections, mural artist Michelle Tynan, and Jeff Noftz, co-owner of Kinetic Systems bike shop on Main Street.
As for the April 24 guest, students were running out of questions. But they slowly closed on their quarry.
‘Did you graduate from college?? ? yes.
‘Where did you go to college?? ? not a yes-or-no, but what the heck…
‘Ohio State University.?
‘Boo,? said the students.
Almost last question: ‘Do you write books??
Pretty close. Newspaper articles written by the guest, Phil Custodio of The Clarkston News, are bound into archive books every few months, which are, technically, books.
‘I’m going to say yes,? he told the students.
Soon, all 20 questions were asked and guest introduced, with just enough time for a brief discussion. Then students went back to class, having learned a little about how reading and math skills they’re learning translate into job skills, Roemer said.
Bronco Time organizers continue to seek volunteers to participate, as well as Michigan-based activities for students.
‘It’s been a little work, but it’s fun,? Roemer said.