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Inspired by a colleague's recent quest to hunt down more advanced training manuals for her employee, I took our company on an excursion this afternoon to find some more advanced training manuals for my own employee. It hadn't really occurred to me that K.Lo might be ready for something new in the reading department. Our company is lucky to have quite a large selection of training manuals, and K.Lo has enjoyed paging through them for the better part of her career (here K.Lo is pictured at 6 mos. on the job) . In the back of my mind, I had noted a recent lag in this interest. But as Managers are often *ahem* preoccupied with the many other facets of running their companies, it had not yet clicked: K.Lo's ready to move up. Suddenly she's got the attention span for some real stories. Nothing complicated, but it seems the time has come to pass down most of those cardboard training manuals to our new hire.
Last night, we tried out Green Eggs and Ham, and it was a hit. Today, our CFO approved the purchase of the following (used! we like used) training manuals:
Harry the Dirty Dog, by Gene Zion
Arthur's Reading Race, by Marc Brown
The Tooth, by Dr. Seuss
Clifford's Spring Clean-up, by Norman Bridwell
Come on Over, Grover, by Katharine Ross
We've also pulled out a few copies of the Curious George training manual series, as well as Where the Sidewalk Ends. Previously, these manuals had been stored away due to certain violations of the Employee Code of Conduct.
I have to say, my favorite part of K.Lo's interest in these manuals, aside from her enjoying The Manager's Recommendations from her own early training days, is the one-on-one training session time with the employee. The curling up in the crook of my arm, the quiet air of content, the captivation with words and story. I'm a big fan.
Next stop is the library, where The Manager will have to fork over some overdue fees from that time I forgot to return a training manual shortly after hiring a new employee. Frankly, I think they should give me a break, but the CFO has finally conceded to pay up. Maybe.
I remember having that exact same light bulb go off for Ella.
It is a rather wonderful experience of that one on one time, where they are listening to your words so intently, looking at pictures with so much interest, and all the while learning the power of reading and books. FABULOUS!