Remedial Intervention Required

Marisol cannot correctly pronounce the name of one of her classmates. She calls her B’na Lee, so yesterday I said to her, “Repeat after me: Aaa. Na. Lee.”

Marisol slowly repeats, “Aaa. Na. Lee.”

“Good!” I say. “Aaa. Na. Lee.”

Marisol repeats it slowly and perfectly again.

“That’s perfect!” I exclaim, then I say, “Ana Lee.”

And Marisol brightens. With a proud grin upon her face she turns to her friend and classmate, holds out her hand and says, “Come on, Banana Lee!” They clasp hands and run to the slide.

I remain kneeling on the sidewalk with my mouth open in astonishment. Ms. Angel chimes in brightly, “That was really good, Ms. Charlene. What are you going to teach her next?”