Am I smarter than a fifth grader?

Thanks to a small group of students at Rountree Middle School in Allen, I now know why the game show, "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?" became so popular. When I first pondered this question (I never really watched the show), the answer appeared to be a no-brainer. Of course I'm smarter than a fifth grader! I went to college! But if you're talking about going head-to-head with one from Allen ISD, think again my friend. Think again.

Last week, I had the pleasure of visiting a very gifted and talented group of fifth and sixth graders at Rountree Middle School off East Main Street. Our executive editor, Rick Mann, offered his help to the "Activating Inquisitive Minds," or AIM, class to create a school newspaper and when I heard about this, I was eager to mold a few minds.

After the hour-and-a-half spent there, it dawned on me that we as adults have a tendency to drastically underestimate our children. From the moment I walked in until my last goodbye, I was amazed at the critical thinking skills these kids were incorporating into their strategies and the level of respect they granted me. Forget the need to "dumb things down" - I felt guilty for even entertaining the notion. These kids knew their stuff, and what they didn't know they asked unabashedly. "How do you find your sources?" "Do you have people give negative feedback to your stories and if so, what do you do?" "What qualities do you need to have to be a good journalist?" "How do you write a feature story?" "What do you enjoy most about your job?"

Each student showed a genuine eagerness to learn more, and their questions led to even more meaningful ones. They didn't even ask what my favorite color was.

Behind this clever bunch, however, was an even brighter teacher. For only having class with them once a week, I could tell she was the perfect fit for what they needed to continue blooming beyond the standard curriculum. These students had special needs and she delivered, using challenging and thoughtful language. Although I came to help them (and I hope to revisit as their project progresses), I left realizing that no matter how long we've been here, we can all stand to expand our minds beyond the status quo. Tenure isn't an accurate means for measuring intellect, but it sure has a truthful way of slapping you in the face and making you realize how much you don't know.

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