Take This Job: 6 In The Morning's Rich Lenz Teaches Class

Riverfield Country Day School opened in Tulsa in 1984 and now welcomes kids from age two months to 12th grade.Recently, I had the opportunity to be a substitute teacher for a day. 

Monday, November 17th 2014, 8:13 am

By: News On 6

Take This Job: 6 In The Morning's Rich Lenz Teaches Class

Riverfield Country Day School opened in Tulsa in 1984 and now welcomes kids from age two months to 12th grade.

Recently, I had the opportunity to be a substitute teacher for a day. I accepted the challenge and went right to work on my syllabus.

Given my background in tomato farming, I would teach agricultural sciences. Never a math ace, I would challenge the kids and myself with advanced arithmetic. Always a voracious reader, I'd also tackle the great American novel. Then I realized my students were in kindergarten and first grade.

My novel would be 'Tops and Bottoms', the cautionary tale of a lazy bear who didn't pay attention. The hare tricks the bear into choosing the tops of vegetables that grow underground, like carrots and bottom of vegetables that grow above ground, like lettuce.

"I thought you were very respectful of the students and that's a huge piece, setting that tone of trust and respect," said Katie Musick, the head of Riverfield's primary school. Katie's encouragement meant a lot.

"We do a lot of small group work, we do a lot of individual work and then we do a lot of collaboration," said Katie Musick.

We did a combination of all three for my next class. A card game designed to get the kids comfortable with numbers.

"I thought that you were animated and excited about what you were doing. We would love to have you back as a substitute," said Katie Musick.

That was very kind and sweet, but not as sweet when the children sang 'thank you' to me.

I want to thank the head of Riverfield Country Day School, Jerry Bates for giving me the opportunity to be a substitute teacher.