Advice from Miles

Dear Janitor, Hey, my name is Miles, and I want to help with your problem of getting stuck in the janitor’s room, janitor. I think my advice will be helpful because I’m very good at solving problems. You can tell I’m good at solving problems because I’m a detective. I also know a lot about being in problems. I learned about your problem while I was in kindergarten.

As you can see, I have a lot of wisdom I want to share with you. Just imagine you have a bunch of space, and call for help and use your phone to ask your relatives for help. And trust me, I have been in a lot of closed spaces. If there is a vent that you think you can fit through, and you know the school by the back of your hand, you should go through it. But if you don’t know, then don’t use it because then you could get really hot, really cold, or sick. If you feel like the walls are closing in on you, push and you will see reality.

The best advice I have given was teaching my sister how to walk. I told her, “One foot in front of the other, and keep it steady.” She can barely understand me, but I had to help her walk. So I kept trying, but then I had to help her learn how to talk. It helped make her strong, and because it made her strong, I hope my advice makes you strong and can help you get out of the janitor’s closet.

From, Miles

OUR ADVICE TO HENRY

Dear Henry, When you don’t have room to move around, think about this: we have been in situations like this before (like when we were doing an escape room with our cousins). It was in a little small cabin, and we had to go back and forth. You can have a small space, but it can feel like a big space if you keep walking around in different areas. You won’t be so squished.

If you are lost, pay attention to where your home was (the woods), and think about how you got where you are now. You can retrace your steps. Be careful to not wander near a zoo because you could get caught. Call out for Amy or your mom for help. If you can’t find them, try sniffing them out. When you are sleeping, you can think about your problems, and you will solve them in your sleep!

Ms. Islam says you can solve problems with math: you can count all the places you can go. If you have three places, you can go to them twice: that’s like six places!

From, Mrs. Islam's Third-Grade Class

OUR PLAYGROUND ADVICE

Dear Class,

Help! I want to make a playground that helps people feel happier and have more fun when they play on it. How do I make a playground? What should I put in my playground to make people who use it happier?

From, Lauren

Dear Lauren, You should try to . . . • Have a bounce house! • Have a pool! • Make it outside in the backyard! • Include a chalkboard for drawing and a big bucket of chalk! • Make it next to water, like the ocean! • Make it like a waterpark without water! • Have slides (some with water) and swings! • Start by digging, then put in cement! • Ask a construction worker to help with the dirty work! • Make it like a gymnastics gym! • Have a rock climbing wall! • Make sure the ground isn’t hard (use wood chips)! • Have a ball pit with colorful balls inside! • Add parkour stuff and a juice bar! • Put a maze and a really long slide! • Have an ice cream booth with strawberry, vanilla, and mint ice cream. Don’t forget toppings, too!

From, Ms. Islam's Third-Grade Class

AZ REED

AGE 8

About Az My name is Az. The best advice I’ve ever received was from my dad. The advice was: ask for help. It was the best advice I’ve ever received because my dad is nice. I think my dad is smart because he always says, “I’ll get some food,” and I always listen to him. So I love Daddy.