Talking AND Listening

Like most, I had mixed feelings coming back to school on such a beautiful day after a week long vacation.  However, I am so glad that I did.  I loved the energy, excitement, and the rejuvenation that the students brought in.  We had a long morning meeting, but it was so worth it.  Hearing their excitement about the Easter Bunny, their vacations, the teeth that were lost, the relatives they saw, and goals they accomplished was so heart warming.  I loved the difference I saw since our winter break.  When we returned in January, students just wanted to blurt out what they did and never really listened to one another.  This time around it was much different.  It's funny how you don't see the day to day changes, but you do see it after a period of time.  As we sat around the dark blue and I facilitated each student sharing something they did using complete sentences, I quickly found myself not being the only one asking questions and wanting to know more.  Students were chiming in, in conversation speech, asking questions, prompting their friends to "say more" and to explain more.  It was great to see the conversation prompts that we have learned in reading and writing come out, but not in a forced way.  Their patterns of speech, conversational skills, and listening have all changed over the past few months.  As I sat and told what I did, I didn't have to blurt everything out, instead, I could give a little information and students took turns asking more to hear about what I had done.  Learning to communicate and listen is such an important skill, and they are not just rote skills that students pick up.  It takes a lot of modeling, reinforcing, prompting, and guiding.  But, by golly, these kids in room 3 are on their way!

I love that now the students are engaging in conversations with the cafeteria workers, paraprofessionals that are not in our classroom, and other adults in the building.  Not only are they entering their essentials saying "good afternoon" or asking how their teachers are, but they are giving unprompted compliments towards other students and adults.  They are listening to each others' words, truly playing cooperatively and making me laugh more than I ever thought possible.  It's amazing how such a basic skills, such as asking someone how they are or what did they do that weekend, can be so gratifying when it's not being pulled out, tooth and nail.  I know as some of you read this, you're thinking, "yeah my kids talk all the time" or "what's so special," but here in Kindergarten this is a big shift for them.  I have some students that called each other "him" or "her" for a better part of the year, but finally they have names!  Some students will respond to questions, but never answer (or listen to an answer), but it's all changing.  My little guys are growing up.  In a matter of 10 days, some of them have changed more than I thought they would.

It's the little things in life....

Be Proud. Be True. Be You.

This weekend I ran participated in the Cosmic Run 5k.  It was supposed to be the kick off to getting ready for my wedding, but that's another story.  I was SO unprepared for it, and debated about not evening going if I couldn't run the whole thing, but I'm glad I did.  I told my students on Friday that I would be doing it and they were so excited, especially when they hear I was going to get paint-like things thrown at me and I would be wearing glow sticks.  I did well at the 5k - nope, didn't run it all, but what I did run, I ran well.  I had so much fun!  Running has felt like a chore to me in the past two years or so, but it didn't Saturday night.  I always tell my kids, you don't know how good it'll turn out until you try. I tried, and it was way better than I expected.  Of course Monday morning they could not wait to see pictures.  After finding out that I didn't win (what a shock!) and that I wasn't still covered in paint, they were very excited to hear how it went.  After explaining what I did, one student told me, "I'm proud of you!" when asked why, she simply replied, "You were worried about running, but you did it!  See it wasn't that bad, was it?"  No it wasn't sweetie, it was what I needed.  I needed to prove to myself that even if I don't succeed the way someone else may want me to, I succeeded the way I needed to.  I succeeded and made myself proud.  My job is now to empower my students to do the same - be proud of who they are, what they can do, and not judge themselves based on others.

Be proud. Be true. Be you.

Happy Birthday to Me!

When you teach little ones, birthdays and holidays are of utmost importance.  They are also terrible at keeping secrets!  Last week, they began planning the "best surprise ever" for me.  Of course, with in a few minutes I could figure out what they were up to, but of course I acted like I knew, saw, or heard nothing.  I knew my teammate was in on it as she asked to have our students share quiet time in her room the other day, from which I was called to meet with someone. I figured they were up to the usual cards, pictures, and "I love you" messages.  When they returned, I heard about an egg hunt and a "surprise she'll never guess".

Today, I walked into a decorated classroom (thank you co-workers), was presented with a homemade crown, and had a pile of cards to open.

 During the start of the day, after begging and pleading from 18 beaming faces, I allowed them time to "finish their surprise".  Of course hearing and seeing what they were doing was really awesome.  The way they collaborated, delegated and made choices together. I saw students taking the lead, organizing (in a kindergarten fashion), and including others.  I saw how much they had grown socially.  As they hid all the paper eggs around the room, I sat with my eyes "covered" beaming with pride that they could all come together for a joint cause, without an adult facilitating it.  Of course the egg hunt was awesome.  (They did not know that every year it is what I look forward to most with my family.  Even if I am the only one in the family that still hunts for them, I'm okay with it.  Knowing I'll be missing Easter this year with my family, it made this even more special.)  They could not wait to "help me find" all the eggs.

Later, I was serenaded by multiple staff (including principal and secretaries) during our snack time.  Talk about being embarrassed and overwhelmed.  Of course my students quickly chimed in with the usual, "Are you one? Are you two? Are you three?" song.  Of course by the time they got to 20 they were less enthusiastic, but they continued on counting.  When they finally got to my age, which to their disbelief was not 45 or 72 or 99, they told me I was too old.  Gee, thanks for the reminders kids!  As snack finished, my teammate (who is beyond fabulous), comes in with her iPad and asked everyone to come over for the surprise. The iMovie begins to play, with the title being, "Why We Love Ms. Brown!"  Of the course of the past few days, she would leave lunch early or ask to have a student come in for something or would pull them during recess or rest (our classrooms connect) and recorded with each of them why they love me.  I teared up.  Seeing and hearing their cute reasons just made me realize even more how much what I do matters.  Nothing melts your heart faster than those sweet innocent faces telling you what they love - I read the best books ever, or I always give them a hug, even if it is just because I let them have play centers outside.

I know I love those kids dearly, but after hearing all those reasons, I want them to know how much I care about them!  I tell them all the time how proud I am and just chat with them, but hearing what makes me special to them, makes me want to tell them what makes them special to me.  Needless to say, Friday morning, they will have their own Easter egg to find around the room, with a note saying what I love about them.  I hope they smile as much as they made me smile today!  

How-To Writing

First of all, I love teaching kindergarten!  Students are so enthusiastic, willing, and have such as desire to please and learn.  Not only that, but they make me laugh!  I don't think there has been a day yet that I have not laughed with them.  Which leads me into my day the other day...

In writing, we were working on writing How-To books.  We introduced the concept, talked about what needs to be included and the importance of sequence.  Students have been writing a few of their own, but many are lacking specific details, which became my focus for the day.  

My mini-lesson for the day was for the students to teach me how to blow a bubble.  Sounds basic and simple enough, or so they thought.  As I stood in the front of the room with a pack of gum in my hand, I asked them what I had to do.

"Put the gum in your mouth!" In went the pack of gum, wrapper and all.

"Yuck!! You don't put the pack in!  Just the piece gum"  In went went the piece of gum, in it's wrapper.

"No!! Take the wrapper off"  As I took of the wrapper, their next direction was, "Now put it in your mouth."  In went the wrapper.

Between the grossed out faces and laughing, I finally began to get specific directions.

Here's what they came up with...

1. Get a pack of gum.
2. Open the pack of gum.
3. Take out one piece of gum.
4. Take the wrapper off the gum and throw it in the garbage.  Put the one piece of gum in your mouth.

Then came the chewing, smoothing, and blowing of a bubble.  I could not help but laugh at how literal I was taking every direction, but it was getting my point across - writers have to be specific. 

Of course once the gum was in my mouth, they told me to chew it.  How long? With my mouth open? closed?  Mind you, every time I have to keep starting over.  I should have bought stock in Trident before I started this lesson. 

Next step, make the gum smooth.  Here went all my tries at it - smoothing it on my tongue with my fingers, smoothing it in my hands, smoothing it on the table (no worries, I had sanitizer wipes nearby!).  Students totally got where I was going.  By the end, they were really on top of making sure that their steps were thought out and specific. 

I would attach pictures of the lesson (oh yes, it was captured on film...), but due to our restrictions, I can't.  Students work has become much more specific though.  Smelling like bubble gum, getting sticky, and making a mess was well worth it.

What have you done to help get your students to understand what you need them to? 

50 days remaining

As we counted the days of school today, I realized there are only 50 days until first grade, 50 days until I have to say good bye, 50 days to get them where they need to be.  There are only 50 more days to see these bright eyed, smiling faces. 50 days to hear their contagious laughs, share their silly stories, and comfort them when they are sad.  50 days.  It seems so long, but yet so short.

Last year, I cried my last day of school.  As a first year kindergarten teacher, I could not believe how far they had come, how close I had gotten, how connected we were. I knew I would have to say goodbye, but I didn't expect to be as emotional as I was.  I knew I would see them again in August, that they would come back to visit, that they would stay in touch, but I didn't want to let go.  But I survived, as did they.  I know that it's not goodbye, it's just "see ya later," but still it makes it hard.  The teacher I student taught with told me that after 35 years of teaching, she still teared up the last day of school when it was time to say goodbye.  She told me, the year she stops feeling that, the year she loses the connection, drive, and emotional attachment, would be the year she would retire.  As much I cannot stand goodbyes, I am very much the same.

I have 50 more days to make some of the best memories I can with these students. I have 50 more days to share in their growth, successes, struggles, and happiness.  I have 50 more days to make a difference.  I'm going to make it the best 50 days I can.  Let's finish the year strong.  Let's end on a great note.  I'm committed, what about you?

Spring is Springing!

Finally there is nice weather in our immediate future!  I don't know about you, but I could not be more excited.  No more snow boots and pants, no more cold hands, wet socks and feet, or missed recess time!  When I announced as of this week, no more snow clothes for recess, I was prepared for the, "But I want the snow!" or "But I have to wear them!" Instead, I was facing excited friends who cheered louder about not having to wear all those items than they do for recess in general.  I think they are relieved to not have to spend 5+ minutes each day getting dressed, then another 5 or more getting undressed.  Today, they were beyond thrilled when I said get ready for recess and they just had to put on coats, maybe gloves.  I have missed recess days where it takes 2 minutes to get out the door.  I have missed the basketball games, the kicking of the soccer ball, the beautiful chalk drawings, as well as the endless lines for the swings and monkey bars.  Spring is here, as are our favorite recess activities!  As much as I don't want it to happen, I am happily awaiting the scraped knees, muddy shoes, sand-filled pants, as it is true indicator that the nice weather is here and the students get to be outside.  They get to be kids, they get to run and release all that energy.  I cannot wait to get bouquets of dandelions or chalk hand prints on me from when students tap to ask you a question.  I cannot wait to see my friends in their glory.  Tomorrow, the last part of the playground opens for them. I'm not sure who is happier - my friends or me.  All I know is when 10:45 hits, there is no grumbling or fussing, we are ALL headed out that door.

Sometimes it's just one of those days...

We've all had them - one of those days, one of those weeks, where it seems like nothing is going our way.  Just when we think we will catch a break, something else happens.  It's just like the book Alexander and the Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day By Judith Voigt.  Alexander thinks nothing is going his way and nothing could be worse, but worse keeps happening.  I have found myself in one of those long weeks this past week.  In the moment I am just trying to "survive".  I was overwhelmed and burdoned and just needed a break.

Luckily the days pass and there is something that does change our perspective.  Something happens that makes us realize, "ahh, it's not that bad" or "Ahh, I can do this."  For me, it was a note that a student wrote to me on Friday in their beautiful kindergarten handwriting full of hearts, butterflies, and rainbows.  The note she had so ever carefully tucked behind my leg as she ran to her seat to patiently wait for me to see it.  Thankfully their "stealth mode" is rather obvious and I was able to play into it, or so I thought.  I opened the note to see "Ms Brown i stil luv u" written across it. As she saw me open it, she ran over and said, "It's okay if you're having a bad idea" and gave me a big hug.  With a tear in my eye I thanked her.  I thanked her because it was that card, that simple gesture that changed my terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day around.  Her simple heartfelt words made me realize that as stressful as things get, it's okay to have a bad day.

Have you ever had one of those days?  How did a student change it around for you?