Are you smarter than a fifth-grader?

As the mother of a fifth-grader and a viewer of the Jeff Foxworthy show, I will tell you a short story that happened this year to me. Jenee was given a geography assignment about longitude and latitude as well as what locations certain oceans were on the map. I took charge and said, oh, longitude means length and latitude means the steps on the ladder. Well, apparently, that was not what they were looking for on the seven homework questions which she promptly returned home with an "F." I had to call her teacher and apologize that it was me, who made her write down the incorrect answers as I thought I was smarter than a fifth-grader.

The teacher called me back later that day and said that was the funniest message she had ever gotten from a parent in the 20 years she has been teaching. Since most of the class had assistance from a parent and also got F's she explained to the children that parents could no longer help and they would review the homework in class before it goes home. Have you ever watched that show on TV? I have never seen someone get too far as I believe that what our children learn in fifth grade although may not seem important to them at the time, is still pretty good stuff.

For example, in fifth grade the children have to learn the states and capitals as well as where each state is on the map. This sounds a little funny as when I was in fifth grade years ago, most of the children in my class had never been out of our county much less the state. However, there is a ditty on YouTube under Wakko's 50 state capitals that makes the learning process fun and it's an easy way to remember all the capitals if you can memorize it. It starts out with Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Indianapolis, Indiana and Columbus is the capital of Ohio. There's Montgomery, Alabama south of Helena, Montana, then there's Denver, Colorado under Boise, Idaho, etc. It is surely a fun way to make a game out of having to memorize all 50 states and their capitals.

So if you think you are smarter than a fifth-grader how about volunteering at the elementary school close to you. You'll learn a lot of things as I keep finding out on a daily basis with Jenee's homework.

Have a happy Thanksgiving and remember to appreciate your family and loved ones as you never know what will be happening next in your lives or theirs.

Lisa Welch is a Johnson Lane resident and can be reached at 267-9350.