UC Davis Children’s Hospital teacher Nicole Castle warms up Richard, Reese and Jahmarcus with math puzzles before hitting the books. Castles is the sole instructor for all school-aged children in the pediatrics ward, as well as school-age patients in other wings of the hospital. In a given week she’ll schedule bedside sessions with as many as 30 students.

When their health permits, Castles prefers to gather her subjects in the hospital’s teen room, which doubles as her classroom from 10 a.m. to noon on weekdays. "The goal is really to get them in the classroom with me, but it’s hit or miss," says Castles. “A lot of times they aren’t well enough, and we just can’t get them in here.” — When their health permits, Castles prefers to gather her subjects in the hospital’s teen room, which doubles as her classroom from 10 a.m. to noon on weekdays. “The goal is really to get them in the classroom with me, but it’s hit or miss,” says Castles. “A lot of times they aren’t well enough, and we just can’t get them in here.”

Castles teaches bedside at UC Davis Children’s Hospital in Sacramento. Formerly a second-grade teacher, Castles has been the only teacher at the children’s hospital for the past 15 years. With patients like Maurice, who was diagnosed with a brain tumor in August that has compromised his speech and motor skills, she works closely with the hospital’s occupational and physical therapists.

But with his hectic schedule of radiation, dialysis and therapy, it’s not always easy to find time for school. “He’s a gem of a kid, and I really enjoy him,” Castles says of Maurice, “but it’s a lot of energy for him to exert. He’s getting stronger and doing a lot better, but it can take a lot out of him.”

Castles works with Leilany Martinez, a second-grader, on math and spelling. Martinez, who was hospitalized with appendicitis, is more of a short-term patient.

Sometimes Castles is sly when requesting schoolwork for a patient, so as to prevent the school from disenrolling the student. "The kids are usually going to go back to their home schools, so it's just silly to pull them out of the district," says Castles. "It sounds scary to the family, and it's not in the best interest of the child." — Sometimes Castles is sly when requesting schoolwork for a patient, so as to prevent the school from disenrolling the student. “The kids are usually going to go back to their home schools, so it’s just silly to pull them out of the district,” says Castles. “It sounds scary to the family, and it’s not in the best interest of the child.”

Bedside Manner

Teacher Nicole Castles brings education to patients at UC Davis Children's Hospital

Back SNAP Nov 21, 2014 By Allison Joy

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