It all started with a book. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher to be exact. Many of you I know have read it already, or it is sitting on your shelf on your to read soon shelf. The novel deeply moved me, and I fell in love with Jay Asher as an author. So naturally I picked up his second book The Future of Us, which he co-authored. I knew right away it was something my students would love to read! I thought I could introduce it as a read aloud with my new English students. Then I finished the novel and realized there were some things that I could not read aloud in class of eighth graders. The only problem was that I had already promised to start a read aloud. Naturally I began to panic, hoping to find another book to read to my students.
A few days later I settled on War Horse by Michael Morpurgo. Of course most people know that horses are one of my favorite subjects. Still after reading the novel, I felt there was something the students could gain from having listened to it.
At first, the students were dead set against it. They weren’t interested in a novel about a horse, even if it was during WWI. Still, I wasn’t about to give up. I contacted other teachers and asked to borrow a harness collar and bridle. I contacted a friend to borrow an English saddle and bridle. Then I brought all of that leather and metal into class. About seventy percent of the class melted.
Many of my students had never seen a horse up close, let alone touched and held the equipment used for horses. Like many people do, they enjoyed the opportunity to do something different. Suddenly horses were not so abstract. Now many of them looked forward to hearing the next installment of Joey’s story. (I just want to add that the book is fast paced and short. It does not give the reader a chance to wish for something else to happen, because often in the next chapter everything changes again.)
I had expected my hands on lesson of horses to add interest into the novel. I did not expect to have students asking me every day if they would get a chance to see horses up close and personal. After receiving requests from several students, I made up my mind. I was going to get those who were interested up close and personal with some horses.
I had several ideas all at once, but none of them were ideal. Then I was having a conversation with my best friend and she mentioned that she had started riding her horse to get him in shape for Equifest (a festival held every year in Wichita to celebrate horses from all over). The last seven years I have gone to Equifest to watch my friend ride, and I know it is an amazing and educational experience.
After I was done talking to her, I had a new goal. Not only would I get my students up close and personal with horses, but I would take them to Equifest. There were three major obstacles in my way: time, transportation and money.
The first was solved by requiring students to give up a lunch (to learn horse etiquette) and one Saturday (to go to Equifest). By doing this, my CT and I avoided taking those students who simply wanted to go to get out of school. It also meant that we did not have to take every student, because they were not missing school.
My second problem was solved by two teachers volunteering to drive students, since we could not get a bus (my CT was one of the volunteers). Still that left the money aspect. Tickets for adults (12+ years) is typically $15.
So, being determined, I called the Kansas Horse Council who is responsible for putting the event on every year. They directed me to the man in charge of overseeing the event. I called him, and he asked me to send him an e-mail with all of the details.
I was very honest with him. I told him that my students could not afford the ticket prices on such short notice, and in order to get them there I would have to pay the ticket price out of my pocket (Oh, yes! I was willing to do that!). He later replied that he would give me student tickets for free and teacher tickets for half price. I was elated!!!!!
So on February 12, my CT and I took our kids to Equifest. It amazing to share a part of my world with them. I lost count of how many times I was thanked and told that it was the best field trip ever. I wish I could plaster pictures of their smiling faces all over for the world to see. I had seven students who were able to go in the end, three of whom I never expected to want to. They all learned so much that day and were able to even see the Calvary unit of Fort Riley in action in the arena. In addition to that they learned about other horse breeds, were able to brush my friend’s horse, and got to mingle with the rest of the horses.
I never thought that a novel would be able to motivate me so much. I hope everyone gets a chance to fight for something and win it in the name of helping their students. It truly is a rewarding and amazing experience.
