1st-grader from WL-B relives school in classroom at home

[June 14, 2011]  Tori Schilling was a West Lincoln-Broadwell first-grader in Mrs. Schreiner's class this past school year. By day she was a good student and a happy 7-year-old. By night and on weekends, she was transformed into a small version of her teacher, complete with classroom paperwork, daily schedules, workbooks and tests, student folders, and a grade book. Tori loves the classroom environment so much, she has tried to recreate it at home so she can review the day's activities. She has 22 "students," visible only to the innocent eyes of a child.

Her pretend classes go on almost daily, according to her mother, Tami. Sometimes the activity moves from its original space to the kitchen -- for lunch. On other occasions, the students are paraded out to the yard for PE class, with Tori carrying her keys (for the gym, of course) and wearing her whistle. To complete the authentic appearance of an adult teacher in the classroom, sometimes Tori wears her mother's dress shoes.

"We know she's in here holding classes," Tami said, "but we're not supposed to listen or come in here while she's busy. We (Tami and her husband, Tony) can hear Tori giving her students instructions and teaching them the same things she learned that day. Now and then, she recruits her brother, Trey, 5, to be one of the students. He'll go along with it for a long time, but sometimes he just gets tired of her bossing him and walks out of class."

Mrs. Schreiner was told of Tori's classroom at home and got updates on its appearance and content from Tori's mother as the school year progressed. If Mrs. Schreiner changed anything, Tori went home and made the change in her room.

When Tori completed workbooks, they went home to be stacked neatly for her students to use. She has a small computer on her desk, just like Mrs. Schreiner. There is a container full of pencils and markers, an easel to replicate the whiteboard, flashcards, and a weather map and United States map are behind the teacher's desk, just like at school. The trash can even sits in the same position.

Each student in Mrs. Schreiner's first-grade class from last school year has a folder with their name on it in Tori's classroom, and their names are in Tori's grade book. Since West Lincoln-Broadwell had only one first grade and will have only one second grade, the students' folders and other named items in Tori's classroom will continue to be accurate. If a student joins the group or leaves, she'll adjust her information accordingly.

"Tori has always been very observant of her teachers," Tami said. "Her kindergarten teacher remarked that Tori seemed to be constantly observing her during class." Tori's two aunts are teachers at Washington-Monroe. Maybe she has a natural attraction to the profession.

"Mrs. Schreiner said I could go to school and help her set up her room for the new first grade," Tori announced, "because I know where things go."

Tori's favorite subject is math. When she isn't teaching, she likes to ride her scooter and play in the yard.

[By MARLA BLAIR]