On a crisp, September morning, my teacher told us that we were going
to tutor 2nd graders in math.  The project was called MathLit tutors.  As I was
sitting at my desk that morning, the teacher handed me a zip-loc bag with a
book and some game pieces.  She announced, “Today you are going to read
your MathLit book.  After you read the book, you will play a math game that
goes along with the book.  In a couple of days, you will be assigned a 2nd
grader buddy.  On Wednesday afternoon, you will help your buddy read the
book and play the math game.”  I was excited and a little scared.  I had never
tutored anybody before.

     My book was easy for me to read.  I noticed a deck of number cards and
number dice in the zip-loc bag.  During our SSR time, I read the book.  I
couldn’t wait to play the game.  The directions were a little confusing.  It took
me awhile to figure out the game.  Finally, I was playing like a pro.  We had
time in class to practice with a partner to get us ready to tutor our 2nd grade
buddy.

     On Wednesday, I was worried.  Would my partner want to sit with me?
Would I be able to teach my partner the game?  As we walked down the hall to
the 2nd grade class, my teacher called my name.  She pointed to me and said,
“Tommy will be your partner.  Please find a place to read.”

     I looked at my buddy.  He had an ugly frown on his face.  I could tell that
he was more scared than I was.  So I smiled and told him my name.  He
smiled back.  We took turns reading pages of the book.  When our reading
time was finished, I showed him how to play the game.  His face gleamed as
he turned over the cards.  And he laughed out loud when he beat me.

     After our sharing time was over, I went back to my own class.  Tommy’s
teacher bragged and raved about how much her class liked the whole
experience.  When I found out that Tommy passed the Accelerated Reader
test on the book we read together, I was so proud.  I had actually taught him
something.  It made me feel warm and tingly inside.