I had planned a fun CBI for my students; I never bargained that would include climbing. Believe me, this part of my job is not in the job description! For those of my readers who are wondering, CBI stands for Community Based Instruction. CBI gives students the opportunity to take trips to stores like WalMart, Target and restaurants like McDonald’s. Developing community skills is the focus of CBI. Skills like recognizing the value of money, spending money, ordering food, appropriate community behaviors, communication, making choices, safety, and so much more.

This particular day, I had planned lunch at McDonald’s after a little shopping at Target. My group consisted of ten students and five staff. All of my students had their money to spend at Target and/or McDonald’s. After finishing at Target, we all made our way to McDonald’s. It was a beautiful spring day with lots of sunshine, so we walked. I like this particular McDonald’s because it has a large indoor play area. The idea was to let our students play for a while after they had finished their lunch. Slowly, but surely, each student ordered, ate, and then made their way to the play area. Out of the ten students present, five (Jimmy, Johnny, Abby, Gigi, Lucy) were playing, climbing, jumping, and having an amazing time with another brother and sister who was there with their mom. Striking up a conversation with the mom, I relaxed and watched my students have fun playing.

Now, if you have never been in a McDonald’s play structure, they are impressive. A maze of tubes to crawl through, ladders to climb, bridges to walk across, areas to jump on, nooks and crannies to hide in, and the higher one can go, the better. All built for kids… not adults. After about twenty minutes of playing, it was time to clean up, pack up, gather students, get on the bus, and head back to school. I proceeded to start calling my students one by one to get out of the play area. Jimmy was the closest to the entrance of the play area, so I started with him first.

Showing Jimmy a picture of the bus, “Jimmy, it’s time to go.” He came readily, exiting the play area and going to his teacher.

I spotted Gigi peaking around one of the ladders. Flashing the picture of the bus, “Gigi, it’s time to go.” I knew Gigi would not come, and sure enough, I had to enter the play structure. After a few rounds of “catch me if you can” and tons of giggles, I finally got Gigi to her teacher.

Abby and Lucy took the cue and made their own way to their teachers. Only one left… Johnny, who just happens to be my climber. I could not see him anywhere.

“Have you guys seen Johnny?”

“Yes, he was on the bridge looking down at you.”

Stepping out of the play structure to see if I could get a look at Johnny, I was able to determine where he was last spotted. Calling his name, he peaks out of one of the nooks, and disappears further and higher into the play structure. After five minutes of trying to coax him out, time had ran out.

“Oh boy… how are we going to get him out of there?”

One of my para-educators, Shirley, looked at me and said, “Somebody is going to have to go in there and get him!”

At that point, all eyes fell on me… after all, “you are the teacher!!!”

So, here I am, crawling through tubes, climbing up ladders, and walking across a bridge, built for kids and not adults, to get my student. Of course, he thought it was a fun game, and climbed even higher. In my pursuit of Johnny, I was joined by the little boy who had been playing alongside my students.

“Do you want some help? I can get him for you.”

“What’s your name?”

“Kyle.”

“How old are you Kyle?”

“I’m six.”

“Well, Kyle, I just might take you up on that offer.” So, with Kyle in tow, we make our way to the highest point of the play structure, and sure enough, there is Johnny. All smiles, wedged in a corner I could not reach (because it is not built for adults)!!! Putting my thinking cap on, I formulated a plan. I told Kyle to crawl in there with Johnny and nudge him towards me. I knew that once I got a hold of his hand, he was all mine and would come. I also told Kyle to stay behind him, so that once we started the descent, Johnny could not turn around and go back up. Sure enough, it took several misses, but once I got a hold of Johnny’s hand, he came. Slowly, but surely, I made my way back down, with Johnny and Kyle on my heels. All the while, listening to laughter from an audience that had gathered to watch a grown teacher climb her way down a McDonald’s play structure with two boys in tow!!!

And for me… I got a good laugh and a priceless picture (that I lost) out of it! Oh well, all in a days work!!!