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The Review
page 4
May 3, 2016
An
unbridled passion for teaching
Though she’s a retired teacher, Joan Harms isn’t retired from teaching. STERLING – In a classroom setting where desks and chalkboards are replaced by haystacks and horses, Joan Harms found a new way to satisfy her passion for teaching others. Each summer, Harms, who retired after teaching at Sterling public schools for 34 years, hosts the Horse Lovers Book Club for students ranging from first grade through seniors in high school. “People are always searching for their reason or purpose in life, and this is mine,” Harms said. “I cannot describe the satisfaction that comes from seeing this make a difference in kids’ lives.” The lessons occur at Copper Bit Ranch, 29145 Pilgrim Road, named after Copper Cactus, one of more than 100 horses Harms has trained there over the past 4 decades. The club runs for 9 weeks, and its weekly sessions include about 45 minutes of gathering in lawn chairs in the shade reading a book about horses followed by another 45 minutes of hands-on experience learning how to manage and care for the animals. Harms divides the club into small groups of seven or eight, based on age and experience levels with horses, to promote an inclusive atmosphere for the students. The reading portion is supplemented with activities related to the material, anywhere from coloring horse illustrations to mak-
ing crafts from horseshoes. When the lesson moves into the stable, the students take part in a variety of interactions with the animals, such as braiding their manes, giving them a bath or covering them in pieces of paper that label the different parts of the horse. By featuring a range of activities, Harms said the club approaches learning at many different levels to engage the children. “It’s important to know that any one style of learning doesn’t fit all children, and the same is true with horses,” she said. The club also can provide the students with a stress release, as horses carry no judgments and impose no pressure on others, she said. “It also teaches them responsibility and empathy, which is so critical in our society,” Harms said. “When people have experience caring for another living being and know the responsibility that goes along with it, then they can take those lessons with them throughout life.” One of the several horses the club members would encounter is the dusty silver-coated Wielkanoc, named after the Polish word for Easter Sunday. At 31, he’s the oldest horse on the ranch. That’s almost 100 in human years. He once belonged to the Wrigley family. The students learn about different bridles, saddle styles and knots as well as how to feed, measure, shoe and harness the horses. When the weather calls
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Does Joan Harms know her way around a horse? A look at the ribbon-covered wall at her farm should answer that question. In addition to Harms’ extensive for indoor activities, the horse sense, she has plenty of books students in her reading club can use. club members congregate in Harms’ basement, where where from coloring horse that goes along with it, then attitude toward reading, the walls are lined with illustrations to making crafts they can take those lessons which can develop in hundreds of horse figu- from horseshoes. with them throughout life.” some students from presrines. When the lesson moves One of the several horses sure to reach reading quoThe room also has stacks into the stable, the stu- the club members would tas at school. of photo albums containing dents take part in a variety encounter is the dusty “I try to provide a haven pictures of past club mem- of interactions with the ani- silver-coated Wielkanoc, for kids that just lets them bers smiling and engaging mals, such as braiding their named after the Polish word escape from all of the with the horses and ponies. manes, giving them a bath for Easter Sunday. busyness of city life and Harms said another goal or covering them in pieces of At 31, he’s the oldest horse lets them connect with of the club is to dispel chil- paper that label the different on the ranch. That’s almost a group and learn somedren’s negative attitude parts of the horse. 100 in human years. He thing new,” she said. toward reading, which can By featuring a range of once belonged to the WrigThe club, which was develop in some students activities, Harms said the ley family. established in 2008, usufrom pressure to reach club approaches learning The students learn about ally starts in early June reading quotas at school. at many different levels to different bridles, saddle after school lets out for “I try to provide a haven engage the children. styles and knots as well as summer break. for kids that just lets them “It’s important to know how to feed, measure, shoe In addition to running escape from all of the busy- that any one style of learning and harness the horses. the club, Harms has also ness of city life and lets doesn’t fit all children, and When the weather calls been involved in 4-H for them connect with a group the same is true with hors- for indoor activities, the 42 years, and also gives and learn something new,” es,” she said. club members congregate riding lessons. she said. The club also can provide in Harms’ basement, where One of her most rewardThe club, which was the students with a stress the walls are lined with hun- ing experiences has been established in 2008, usu- release, as horses carry no dreds of horse figurines. to have her former school ally starts in early June after judgments and impose no The room also has stacks or riding students return school lets out for summer pressure on others, she said. of photo albums contain- and ask her to teach their break. “It also teaches them ing pictures of past club kids, she said In addition to running the responsibility and empathy, members smiling and “My goal throughout club, Harms has also been which is so critical in our engaging with the horses my entire life has been involved in 4H for 42 years, society,” Harms said. “When and ponies. to teach others, and and also gives riding les- people have experience carHarms said another that passion does not go sons. ing for another living being goal of the club is to dis- away.” One of her most reward- and know the responsibility pel children’s negative ing experiences has been to have her former school or riding students return and • Full Service Optical Lab ask her to teach their kids, • Contact Lenses she said (including bifocal & specialty lenses) “My goal throughout my entire life has been to teach • Comprehensive Eye Health Exams others, and that passion does not go away.” • Diagnosis/Treatment of Eye Diseases Harms divides the club • Great Selection of Eyeglass Frames into small groups of seven or eight, based on age and experience levels with horses, to promote an inclusive atmosphere for the students. 314 W. Washington St. • Oregon, IL www.northwesteycare.com The reading portion is supplemented with activities related to the material, any-
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