Why Carol Stream seniors are 'grateful' for young teachers

Bernie Kling, a great-grandmother of seven, can't help but show off.

At 88, she's the techie in her Carol Stream retirement community. She does all her banking online - "Oh boy, isn't that fun" - and stays in touch with her big family via email.

"My friends have called me and said, 'Would you Google this for me?' And I feel so smart," said Kling, playfully rolling her eyes.

Last year, that all seemed about as foreign as Katy Perry's nail art. Kling had never touched a computer when she signed up for a class at Windsor Park to learn some basic skills, worried that she'd be "left behind" in an increasingly wired world.

"I never thought I'd be able to handle it to be honest with you. I'm going to be 89 years old," Kling said. "You can imagine what that was like. Just mind-boggling. But I'm game for anything."

Her teacher? Some 80 years younger. Twice a month, they meet for an hour in a quiet room off Windsor's lobby. And despite the age gap, they click.

"I can't tell you how nice they are. Sweet kids. And they're so, so efficient, so adept to everything," Kling said. "They know just what to do."

Here, kids are taking pride in sharing what they've learned in school with adults they treat more like grandmas and grandpas. These students from Carol Stream Elementary District 93 have already grown up with technology and can troubleshoot on-the-spot. So they must practice patience, teaching step-by-step and not expecting their older students to know what they do.

"I come every chance I get," said Betsy Rodgers, who set up folders in her inbox and talked cheerleading with her teacher, Hailey Smelser.

The program started about a year ago, with the district loaning 25 laptops Windsor residents can check out at any time. They complete a survey requesting what they want to learn from the youngsters.

"We give that one-on-one, specific, dedicated support to each one," said Tony Schlorff, the district's director of technology and innovation.

On a recent afternoon, students in the Expect Respect club at Cloverdale Elementary in Carol Stream volunteered after school, showing seniors how to look up YouTube gardening videos, make a PowerPoint presentation and find a doctor online. The kids in turn hear about former careers as musicians and authors.

"The generational gap isn't nearly as big as we'd think," Schlorff said.

Fourth- and fifth-graders - the most responsible in the school - have to apply to join the club. At first, their sponsor was leery and couldn't resist a few pointers on the school bus ride to the complex along North Avenue.

"Don't go too fast, and make sure they're understanding it as you're going through it," Cloverdale second-grade teacher Katie Raymond told them.

Today, she freely gives over reins of the classroom.

"They give good examples," Raymond said. "They're just great little teachers."

You'd expect these little teachers - ages 9 and 10 - to get distracted, maybe drag their feet to the job. But Patryk Golinski stayed on his feet the full hour, leaning over the shoulder of his student, Muriel Krakar, and her screen.

"We are here to help them," the 10-year-old said.

Seniors end the class feeling more connected. Kling's son in Colorado sends her photos she can now print out and keep in a "regular portfolio."

"I'm grateful for this," she said.