LEWISTON — In Val Golding’s classroom at McMahon Elementary School on Thursday, five second-graders sat around a table with “Grammy” playing word-contraction bingo.

Looking at Gabrielle Rochette, 8, “Grammy,” also known as Jean Davis, asked: “What is ‘who is’?”

“Who’s,” Gabrielle answered.

Davis then asked Ben Pelletier, 8, “what is ‘is not’?”

“Isn’t,” he answered.

As Davis called, students surveyed their bingo cards. Those who had the words on their cards covered the squares. Soon two students exclaimed, “Bingo!”

Davis verified the wins. Another round began.

The game helps enhance reading skills. “They love to go to ‘word work station’ with Grammy,” Golding said. “She’s an avid bingo player.”

Davis is called “Grammy” by everyone at McMahon, including Principal Tom Hood. “She’s been here since her granddaughters were in kindergarten,” Golding said. The twin granddaughters are now in the sixth grade.

Having a volunteer foster grandparent in the class “is huge,” Golding said. Davis helps with clerical chores that free up teachers’ time and emphasizes lessons to individual students and small groups.

If a student is struggling with spelling or a math concept, “she pulls them aside and works with them,” Golding said. “She goes slower. That helps improve their grades.”

Hood described Davis as kind and patient. “She accepts all children for who they are,” he said. “Every school needs a grammy. Every classroom needs a grammy, or a grampy.”

A mother of four and grandmother of seven, Davis, 60, first volunteered in 2005 after she become a widow.

Initially she did clerical work to help teachers. In 2009 she joined a foster grandparent program through Penquis of Bangor.

“You won’t get rich,” Davis said. After a background check and orientation training, certified foster grandparents get a stipend of $2.65 an hour. “I mainly work with kids now,” Davis said.

She encourages others who are 55, have time and like children to consider volunteering as a school foster grandparent. “Schools need grandparents,” Davis said. “They are in dire need of help.”

The work is rewarding, she said. “I get a lot out of it. I like to see the kids smile, to see them get something right, watching them grow.” And, she added with a smile, “It beats doing housework.”

At Park Avenue Elementary School in Auburn, Colleen Fickett is one of three school grandparents.

Fickett, 64, retired two years ago. “I stayed home from February to November.” She decided she needed more in her life. She became a school grandmother through Penquis’ Foster Grandparent Program in Bangor.

The mother of three grown sons, Fickett has no biological grandchildren. But at Park Avenue she’s a school grandmother to 96.

“The kids are delightful,” she said. “Most of them appreciate your help. It gives me a reason to get up in the morning, to see their smiling faces.”

She works in five classes, grades K-5, helping whoever needs attention. “Most of the time they’re doing math, science or reading.”

One of her favorite activities is “orange feet” in kindergarten. Students pass around a toy penguin. When it’s their turn to hold the penguin, they share their favorite part of the day. “It’s nice,” she said.

Park Avenue second-grade teacher Allison Bowie said Fickett makes a big difference providing students with individual help. She expresses a lesson “in a different way than I do,” Bowie said. “It helps them understand the concept.”

Students enjoy her, Bowie said.“She always has a smile on her face. It’s great having her.”

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