First-graders “work” on newly-implemented project

BERGHOLZ -- Haley Hashbarger is a first-grade teacher at John Gregg Elementary School. This year, she decided to put the children in her classroom to work.

No, she isn't breaking any child labor laws. She is, however, instructing the 6- and 7-year-olds on how to apply for potential employment and explaining why it is important to conduct a proper interview. She has even gone one step further and incorporated jobs into her lesson plan.

Throughout the summer, Hashbarger went online and researched potential lesson plans for the upcoming school year. Her scrolling ultimately paid off, as she stumbled across a new jobs system that older classes were using. The lesson focused on the requirements one must consider when applying for a job.

She thought this would be a wonderful addition for her first-graders -- despite the fact most are 6.

"During the first week of school, we were practicing the jobs to see which they would prefer doing," Hashbarger explained. Since the first-grade classrooms at Edison Local's John Gregg have a camping theme, she created jobs centered around that topic. Jobs included camp cleaner, technology helper, lights operator, calendar helper and teacher's assistant.

She walked through the process of how the children applied for their desired positions, saying in addition to their application, each was given a form to complete. The form consisted of questions that would be asked of a potential employee, including, "Why would you like this job?" "Why would you be good for the job?" "Do you get up early enough that you could get this job done?" "Would you be able to leave school on time and still get your work done?"

These scenarios helped the first graders decide what job would suit them best.

Once the form and application were completed, the parent and pupil had to sign.

It was then time to begin the interview process.

"The children all dressed appropriately," she commented. "I even had a student who wore a bow tie and one little girl wore a pretty dress for her interview. Some of them were really nervous when they came up to my desk. They were just so cute."

One by one, each boy and girl took their paperwork to the teacher and answered her questions. Hashbarger asked one pupil why he wanted the task of camp cleaner. His reply was, "Because I help my mother at home and I clean up after myself."

Positions were assigned and the children have been taking their jobs seriously since the start of the year, Hashbarger noted. For the second nine weeks, the first graders were told they would have to apply for a different job using the same method as before. However, their teacher informed them if they were really good at their job and no one else wanted to take on the role, they could keep it for another nine weeks.

"I was thrilled with the idea," Hashbarger concluded. "And the kids love and enjoy it, too."

The class has even taken the school's motto of being respectful and being responsible, and incorporated it into the new job program.

If asked, they will state, "Be respectful, be responsible and be safe while completing the job."