SHE WANTS TO SAVE the earth. It’s a lofty and noble goal for my granddaughter, who started second grade on Tuesday. Each year, on the first day of school, her mom documents basics about Isabelle on a small chalkboard. That includes a response to “What I want to be when I grow up.” This year Izzy aims to be an environmentalist. As a first grader, her professional goal was becoming a game designer. And on the first day of kindergarten, she wanted to own a toy store and also be a mom.
It’s interesting how Izzy’s interests evolve as she ages, as she grows her world and knowledge and connections with others. The possibilities are endless for her generation. I hold such hope in these young people, just beginning their formal educations.
And I hold hope, too, when I see a photo of Izzy and three neighborhood friends waiting at their urban bus stop. “Smart, Brave, Beautiful” banners Bethel’s tee. What a reaffirming message. For all of them. And how reaffirming that they are of differing ethnicity, their skin tones varied and, indeed, beautiful.
Sixty years have passed since I was a second grader in a small southwestern Minnesota elementary school, where my paternal grandfather served on the school board. My classmates and I were mostly farm kids, all white. We wrote in “Big Chief” lined tablets which today would not, should not, fly. Attitudes differed in the 1960s. Words like diversity, respect and environmentalist were not part of our everyday vocabulary.
But words, overall, held my interest all those decades ago. I have Mrs. Kotval to thank for sparking my love of words, of reading, and eventually of writing. Each day after lunch, she read to her third and fourth graders from “The Little House” and other chapter books. Through the writing of Laura Ingalls Wilder, who lived many years earlier in nearby Walnut Grove, I began to appreciate the nuances of the prairie. And I learned the importance of descriptive, detailed writing. Wilder engaged all of her senses to describe the prairie and life thereon in her series of wildly popular books. With her love of the natural world, this writer unknowingly documented the environment for me, my children and for my second grade granddaughter, today an aspiring environmentalist.
Early on, I aspired to be an elementary school teacher. But that changed as I grew my world, my knowledge, my connections. Words focused my passion. Unlike most of my elementary school classmates, I loved penmanship—letters and words flowing in script across the pages of my penmanship book. I loved spelling. I loved reading, even in a school and town without a library and thus with limited access to books. And by high school, that love of words expanded to writing.
I want to pause here and stress the importance of passionate teachers in fostering students’ interests. From Mrs. Kotval reading to her students after lunch to junior high English teacher Mrs. Sales teaching me all the parts of grammar to high school teacher Mr. Skogen requiring students to keep journals, their influence on me and my eventual career was profound. I would go on to earn a college degree in mass communications, leading to a career as a journalist, writer, poet and photographer.
That brings me full circle back to Laura Ingalls Wilder, who early on influenced my detail-rich writing and photographic styles. In 2017, I became professionally connected to the author via “The World of Laura Ingalls Wilder—The Frontier Landscapes That Inspired The Little House Books.” Author Marta McDowell chose three of my photos (including one of prairie grasses at sunset) to illustrate her 396-page book documenting Wilder’s life and relationship to her environment. Perhaps some day my granddaughter will open the pages of McDowell’s book and find the photos taken by her grandmother. Whether Isabelle becomes an environmentalist or something vastly different, I expect she will always care about the earth and her role in saving it.
© Copyright 2023 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Wonderful reflections (on learning, granddaughters, and the environment). Thanks.
Was Mrs. Sales, your English teacher, from Redwood Falls? Because I had an English teacher named Mrs. (Betty) Sales in high school in RF. She was married to Virgil Sales, a PE teacher and wrestling coach.
Thank you, Ken, for appreciating the varied aspects of this post.
YES, Mrs. Sales is the same Mrs. Sales who taught you. I had her as my English teacher in 8th grade, I believe. Besides grammar, she taught he how to take notes via outline form, a skill I used as a student, even in my college years.
An inspiring back-to-school story. I love seeing so many 1st day of school pictures on Facebook. I loved school. I loved learning new things. I loved Laura Ingalls books. And similar to you, I loved reading and writing. I earned my BS in education, and went into teaching for several years – subbing, preschool teaching, classroom para… Second graders were my absolute favorite class to teach! I hope Isabelle finds her dream job(s). She sounds like a smart and sweet young person. And thanks in part to her grandmother Audrey, she has a variety of opportunities open to her. ❤️
So many girls and women before my granddaughter blazed the path of opportunities. And, yes, I was among them as more doors opened to young women when I was in high school and beyond. Isabelle is sweet and smart. Why were second graders your favorite class to teach? I’m curious.
What a lovely and loving post. I have no doubt that one of your pictures may appear one day, when they least expect it, right before their eyes.
I knew I wanted to write a post about the first day of school. So when my daughter sent pix of Izzy with her chalkboard and then Izzy with her neighborhood friends at the bus stop, I knew I had the beginning of my store. I love when that happens and a story writes itself, sort of.
Yes, that’s the best, when it develops organically, and all fits together.
And some days that happens more easily than others.
So true
My mom taught in Vesta for a little while. Your connection to the Laura Ingalls Wilder story is fantastic. Good job.
Your mom was in Vesta after my time there. Thank you for appreciating my professional connection to Laura Ingalls Wilder.
Lovely post, Audrey. I love seeing the world of yours through your nostalgic eyes. ❤
Penny, how wonderful to hear from you. I try to connect yesterday and today without going full-on nostalgic.
Love it! 🙂
I have a lot of blog posts to catch up on but here I am! Notice the exclamation mark. I have no doubt that sweet Izzy will become something extraordinary when she grows up–she already is.
Oh, Beth Ann, what a sweet comment. Like you, I’m behind on blog reading also. But we can only do so much and sometimes we need to prioritize. And your time with family right now takes precedence. For me, it’s managing my health by limiting my screen time.
I need to check into that book! I love that Izzy’s mom keep track of her annual thoughts. So special.
Gretchen, you would enjoy this book. And, yes, I love that Amber documents the kids first days in this way. When Amber, Miranda and Caleb were growing up, I always took a first day of school photo on our front steps. The chalkboard info is a great addition.
Beautiful post today 🙂 My mom taught us to be well rounded from reading and math to mechanics to art. I tried to instill that in my nephews and goddaughter too. Be open to at least trying – you never know what you might like or even love or be passionate about if you do not give it a go at least. Sorta of like eating veggies – have to try it twice to really know if you do not like it – ha! Also, I am so blessed that many women before me blew the doors open, crashed the glass ceiling, toppled the ladder, etc. to be okay to be out of the box per se, be creative, be whatever, etc. Happy Day – Enjoy!
What strong women you had in your life. And you have done well to pass along that “well roundedness” attitude. I missed the part about math, apparently. Have a wonderful weekend. I hope you’ve been spared storm damage. I thought of you last week and every time a storm aims at Florida.
We appreciate the thoughts and prayers with the not to be named season Florida is in right now. I think we are like the majority that deal with weather just hunker down and wait it out. Think Positive too!
Every place has something, right?