Red Words Make Me Sleepy . . .

Originally published in the Lake Tahoe School – Bobcat Newsletter, 10/18/2026, written by Bob Graves

It all started during the second week of school this year. Casually wandering by the first-grade classroom one day, Ms. Jeanee beckoned me inside for a moment. Entering the room, the unusually loud chatter from the students, matched by a few sly smiles here and there, had my Head of School warning senses tingling . . . All I needed was some ominous cello music in the background to add to my sense that something was definitely amiss. As it turns out, little did I know that I was about to become a central figure in the topsy-turvy world of Red Words.

For the uninitiated, Red Words are those tricky little words that do not follow a specific spelling rule. Words like “were,” “there,” “some,” and “here” seemingly defy the common rules of grammar. While these words may seem simple to us as adults, young students sometimes struggle to fit them into their learning. To overcome this, from kindergarten through second grade, we place special emphasis on their use and spend extra time teaching them, culminating in students writing and using them in sentences. Most importantly, we make learning them fun and a bit of a game – hence, my role in the process.

After being lured into the first-grade classroom, Ms. Jeanee asked a student to read aloud to me how the class was using the Red Word for the day – “does.” Slowly and deliberately – I suspect she was practicing her comedic timing – the student read “Does Mr. Graves nap?” The students’ response was to laugh so hard that you would have thought we were at a comedy club where the comedian landed the perfect punchline. I will never forget their joy and the satisfied glances they exchanged as they savored the moment. My positive answer, explaining that I do indeed enjoy a nap or two, was almost irrelevant to their happiness in surprising me. 

Then and there, I decided to myself that I would be more than happy to serve as an inspiration to their Red Word fluency. To help this process, I now stop by the classroom regularly – often claiming to have just woke up from another nap – to ask if they have any new words to share with me. If you remember how young children are, you know they will figuratively beat an issue into the ground with repetition – especially if they have a willing “victim” and a little humor is involved.

So far, my involvement and classroom appearances in Red Words activity have included the following – see if you sense a theme. For the word “there” – “There is Mr. Graves napping.” “Done” – “Mr. Graves is done napping.” For “here” – “Here is Mr. Graves napping.” “Under” – “Mr. Graves is napping under his desk.” And my new favorite to date for the word “down” – “Mr. Graves is napping down under the school.” For the latter, I confessed to being surprised they had discovered my secret tunnel under the garage – something the timider laughter this time seemed to imply that several students might have believed . . .

I frequently share that joy is an important piece in the learning process – especially at Lake Tahoe School. Learning should be fun, full of twists and turns, using different approaches, yet grounded in solid intent and purpose. Such is the work of our teachers each and every day on behalf of the students in their care – only occasionally being interrupted by a wandering Head of School.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I am going to go back down to my secret tunnel and get some rest – yes, take a nap – in preparation for the Red Word Olympics in January. I’m already yawning . . . Learning can be so exhausting!

Have a great week ahead.

Bob