After yesterday's calm and reassuring day, today was on the other end of the spectrum. All the 'warm fuzzies' I was feeling last night about how well my class had behaved were lost today as our noise and energy levels seemed to triple over night. We were going 'buggy' to put it mildly.
The "dance of the snow bunnies" (a phrase I've stolen from another K teacher) was especially wild today. It seemed to be more chaotic than ever trying to get 26 little bodies into snow pants, boots, coats, hats and mittens for recess. Then 15 minutes later (much shorter for some) it was time to reverse all that energy and put everything back into some semblance of order in the coat room. And once we DID get back into the classroom, some of the children were still in recess mode. (wrestling with each other, loud voices, crawling around, you name it) We took time to review several rules for recess and expectations for the classroom.
As the day went on, things did improve a little and so, at the end of the day, we accepted an invitation to visit the 7th grade science room to see their collection of Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches. The Kindergarteners LOVED it and were braver than I could ever dream to be. They touched, stroked and even held the creatures with interest and enthusiasm. The 7th graders were very knowledgeable about these multi-legged 'monsters' and my students asked lots of interesting questions. I learned a lot myself. It seemed like a perfect end to our buggy day!
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Loved
Today was my birthday and it was great from start to finish. We didn't get a snow day (like last year) but we did start the day with a 2 hour late start due to a teacher in-service. The in-service was pretty painless and we actually finished about 30 minutes early, so there was a little bonus time before the kids arrived. I was bombarded with "Happy Birthday"s and hugs (my favorite daily gift). I also got 2 homemade cards (some of the best writing I've seen these 2 kiddos do all year) and 2 others that had personalized messages from the senders.
One little girl talked her mom into bringing a birthday cake and ice cream for the whole class. Score!! This was a huge hit with the children and they spontaneously broke into "Happy Birthday to you" as they were enjoying their treat. I loved it!
I was also the grateful recipient of some beautiful gifts: cocoa, cappicino mix, a mug, a Willow carving, a bag of goodies from an alumnus, and the class gave me the gift of having a great day together. Who could ask for more??
Well, the icing on the cake came when I took our 'Pennies for Pajamas' collection to the bank to find out how much we had collected. Amazingly, the total was $113.93! I was able to purchase 15 pairs of pajamas in a variety of sizes and designs with the money the children (and their parents) donated. I think that part of the day made me feel the best of all. Tomorrow we get to box them up with notes from our class and Scholastic will add a book to each pair and donate them to shelters for the Great Bedtime Story Pajama Drive.
I am so lucky to do what I do. What other profession can make you feel so loved?
One little girl talked her mom into bringing a birthday cake and ice cream for the whole class. Score!! This was a huge hit with the children and they spontaneously broke into "Happy Birthday to you" as they were enjoying their treat. I loved it!
I was also the grateful recipient of some beautiful gifts: cocoa, cappicino mix, a mug, a Willow carving, a bag of goodies from an alumnus, and the class gave me the gift of having a great day together. Who could ask for more??
Well, the icing on the cake came when I took our 'Pennies for Pajamas' collection to the bank to find out how much we had collected. Amazingly, the total was $113.93! I was able to purchase 15 pairs of pajamas in a variety of sizes and designs with the money the children (and their parents) donated. I think that part of the day made me feel the best of all. Tomorrow we get to box them up with notes from our class and Scholastic will add a book to each pair and donate them to shelters for the Great Bedtime Story Pajama Drive.
I am so lucky to do what I do. What other profession can make you feel so loved?
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
You Can't Catch Me, I'm the Gingerbreadman
One of the best things about teaching in December is carrying on traditions from year to year. The teacher I first started teaching Kindergarten with always had the children make real gingerbread men to hang on the Christmas tree in the classroom. (Yes, we DO get to have Christmas at our school). No rolling out and using cookie cutters for this project. We make the cookie men piece by piece because it helps to remind them how our bodies are put together (and sometimes their self portraits improve dramatically after this activity). It also reinforces math terms (sphere and cylinder) and fine motor skills when they decorate the men with 'red hots' and raisins.
So, imagine if you will, 26 students, each with a ball of dough and listening skills that don't last very long. Somehow they were able to follow directions and turn their lumps of gingerbread into shapes that resembled people. I always marvel at the variety of sizes and styles that we get, even though they all follow the same set of steps. Of couse, every year there's one child who comments that the dough looks like poop or a few the don't like the smell. There are also a few that decide to try tasting the dough uncooked. A few years the cups of cinnamon candy and raisins are completely empty when I pick them up. This year they only took out what they used on their cookies and left the rest alone.
So, when the cookies were baked the children were anxious to eat them. When I explained that they would be hung on our classroom tree you would have thought that I had announced recess had been cancelled for the week. Such disappointment should never be heard in a Kindergarten room.
So, since my birthday is this week, we will have some gingerbread cookies for snack time just so they can have a taste of real gingerbread. (Chances are a few will only have a bite or two before they get thrown in the trash.) But at least when they hear the story of the Gingerbread Man, they'll know why the characters in the story were trying so hard to catch the crafty little fellow and what the fox tasted when he got the best of him.
So, imagine if you will, 26 students, each with a ball of dough and listening skills that don't last very long. Somehow they were able to follow directions and turn their lumps of gingerbread into shapes that resembled people. I always marvel at the variety of sizes and styles that we get, even though they all follow the same set of steps. Of couse, every year there's one child who comments that the dough looks like poop or a few the don't like the smell. There are also a few that decide to try tasting the dough uncooked. A few years the cups of cinnamon candy and raisins are completely empty when I pick them up. This year they only took out what they used on their cookies and left the rest alone.
So, when the cookies were baked the children were anxious to eat them. When I explained that they would be hung on our classroom tree you would have thought that I had announced recess had been cancelled for the week. Such disappointment should never be heard in a Kindergarten room.
So, since my birthday is this week, we will have some gingerbread cookies for snack time just so they can have a taste of real gingerbread. (Chances are a few will only have a bite or two before they get thrown in the trash.) But at least when they hear the story of the Gingerbread Man, they'll know why the characters in the story were trying so hard to catch the crafty little fellow and what the fox tasted when he got the best of him.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Back at It
When the school year started, I had great intentions of keeping a daily blog of my final year of teaching. Then my class continued to grow and grow until I have the largest roster in my 33 years of teaching Kindergarten. Twenty-six busy little bodies, a full time associate for one student and starting tomorrow, a part time associate to help me with the academic portion of the day. That makes 29 bodies in my room on a normal day and 30-31 on days when I have a High School helper for 90 minutes and some very reliable and dedicated parent volunteers who help for an hour or two each week.
If you have ever worked with young children, you know that trying to keep that many little bodies on task and motivated is a full time job. Just trying to find room for the desks, the coats (& hats, mittens & boots) and space for activities and even resting mats is a daily challenge. Luckily, I LOVE my job and what I do. Unluckly, I am no longer 20 years old and the energy I used during the school day, has left me exhausted by the time I get home at night.
So, my blogging has been ignored, but not forgotten. This week I have resolved to try to make an entry at least weekly. If I can get myself into the habit of writing that ofter, perhaps I will be able to chronicle aat least a few of the everyday happenings in my chaotic yet charming classroom of cherubs.
If you have ever worked with young children, you know that trying to keep that many little bodies on task and motivated is a full time job. Just trying to find room for the desks, the coats (& hats, mittens & boots) and space for activities and even resting mats is a daily challenge. Luckily, I LOVE my job and what I do. Unluckly, I am no longer 20 years old and the energy I used during the school day, has left me exhausted by the time I get home at night.
So, my blogging has been ignored, but not forgotten. This week I have resolved to try to make an entry at least weekly. If I can get myself into the habit of writing that ofter, perhaps I will be able to chronicle aat least a few of the everyday happenings in my chaotic yet charming classroom of cherubs.
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