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Second Wind Dream project puts Dorothy Bode back in the classroom
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .Dorothy Bode, who was a teacher for 43 years, had a chance to educate again on May 2 as she read to the students of Zion Lutheran Preschool as part of her Second Wind Dream. Poland Shepherd of the Valley residential care coordinator Patricia Ahlswede (right) helped Bode show the preschoolers the illustrations in "Goldilocks and the Three Bears."
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .Dorothy Bode (left), a resident of Poland Shepherd of the Valley and a retired teacher, had a Second Wind Dream wish granted when she visited Zion Lutheran Preschool to read "Little Red Riding Hood" to the students. Bode's niece, Joanne Bode (right) helped out her relative during the story time on May 2 with a Big Bad Wolf Puppet that added spice to the story.
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .Dorothy Bode (back) completed a craft with the students of Zion Lutheran Preschool on May 2, after her story time with the students that was part of her Second Wind Dream.
By SARAH FOOR
When officials at Poland Shepherd of the Valley wanted to grant a wish through the Second Wind Dream project, they knew resident Dorothy Bode would be the perfect candidate.
The 93-year-old Bode, who taught as a teacher at Jackson School in Youngstown for much of her 43 years of teaching, now has dementia and is nonverbal most days.
However, Shepherd employees have found that when they hand Bode a children’s book, she will begin to read and entertain like the natural teacher she is.
Bode’s Second Wind Dream was granted on May 2 as SoV officials brought her to Zion Lutheran Preschool in Cornersburg to read to a 4 and 5-year-old class.
After Bode was welcomed and given a warm hello by the preschoolers, she began to read “Little Red Riding Hood,” with her niece, Joanne Bode, helping to turn the pages.
Shepherd of the Valley officials were overcome with emotion seeing the Second Wind recipient read to the preschoolers.
“It is truly amazing how the mind works. Dementia doesn’t erase it all right away – when we hand her a book, she remembers that part of her life and it comes back,” said Elida Cowles, admission representative for the Poland facility.
Bode read “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” and Eric Carle’s “Brown Bear, Brown Bear,” and the Zion students entertained Bode by singing their ABCs, “Wheels on the Bus,” and “I’m in the Lord’s Army.”
Bode gave each student a pencil at the close of her reading because she often gave treats to well-behaved students in her teaching days.
After story time, Bode and the children made drawings on scratch-off paper for a craft.
Joanne Bode said it was a joy to see her aunt interact with the children during the Second Wind event.
“I think she remembers kids and how teaching made her feel. She really lit up around the children today, and it was a joy to see it,” she said.