Last week I reminded my grandson to take God with him to his exam. I always said a prayer before an exam. Usually, I asked God to help me remember what I studied. I did not go into an exam without the work.

I knew that he worked hard. He was proud of his average with all “A”s. This professor was tough. In his mind she was very smart but not a great teacher.

In my day that last week of school we only went to school on the days that we had an exam scheduled. Of course, I lived in town and could walk to school. Regents were scheduled the week after regular exams. I did my praying on my way to school.

What exactly do exams test? I believe they test short term memory as we all crammed for them. I have come to understand that not all of what I learned ended up in short term memory. I have used things that I never thought I would use.

When I taught math, I always tried to make it practical so the children could see a reason for learning the facts. We figured a fence around a garden. We learned times tables through the twelves – dozens are twelves and so are inches in a foot.

I lived in Dunkirk and often went to the beach to study. We usually went to The Point. I took my portable radio to listen to as I studied. That transistor radio I mentioned was one of the first things I bought with my own money from my first job. I was so proud of it and made sure that sand did not get in it.

A good friend and I each went to work at 5 p.m. He picked me up to study, then brought me home. After I had time to get dressed and cleaned up for work, he picked me back up and took me to work. I appreciated the transportation. Because we had a car we could stay at the beach longer.

He went to college with me too. When he got mononucleosis, he dropped out of school. I felt so bad. I kept in touch and encouraged him to return to college. None of our friends thought he would, but he surprised them all and finished. I know that he taught for many years.

In my college days, I studied at the beach as well. By then I had access to my mother’s car. Often, I picked up a friend who was by then married. Her course of study was shorter. Her husband and the fellow I dated played together on a softball team. We spent a lot of time watching softball. At this point in life, I can say that I outlived all of them.

Dunkirk holds many wonderful memories for me. Although I was anxious to move out of there, some things I miss. I miss the beaches. When our foreign exchange student and I roomed together for a class reunion we went and walked at the beach. Memories are made of this.

Now, the road runs the opposite direction. Where we came out you now go in. Our leisurely walk provided memories as well although I did get a blister. It was a good thing that I had some sandals to wear to the formal event that night.

When I was teaching, I always prepared for exams the weekend of Memorial Day. I went to the service at the cemetery, then went home to finish the exams. I never started on Tuesday because the children were tired from their days off. By Friday we were done. That meant that I had at least another week of classes. I loved that last week because I could just enjoy my students. I planned activities that were fun to keep them busy. We spent time measuring things around the room. That is a skill that they would use later. We created a store and purchased things with play money. Another useful skill. We did nature treasure hunts. All of the children participated.

I even planned a picnic one year where we cooked. We made sloppy joes, raw veggies, pieces of fruit and cookies. One year I made a batch of rhubarb sauce since the children said they did not like it. It turns out that they liked the way I fixed it and came back for seconds.

Any time you can fully engage your students it is a win!

Ann Swanson writes from her home in Russell. Contact her at hickoryheights1@verizon.net.