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?

It Takes Five Minutes

From edutopia

"Kind words do not cost much. Yet they accomplish much." - Blaise Pascal

I have found that parents are conditioned from early on to dread the phone call home from their child's teacher.  Maybe they often had phone calls home to their parents when they were in school, maybe an older child often requires phone calls home, or maybe it's just society's perception on when a teacher calls home it must be because something is wrong.  That mindset really bothers me.  Sure students are going to do things that require that phone call home to explain it to parents and ask for reinforcement at home, but I don't want parents to dread seeing the school number on their caller id.  

From the start of school, I have made it part of my weekly routine to call home to at least two families and celebrate something with them for the week.  Maybe it's their child's excitement in an activity or really thoughtful act towards a friend, maybe it is an academic success, or better yet, a social/behavioral improvement.  For some of the parents that knew me previously, they were not caught off guard by the phone call, but for others who have already learned to dread the call home, I think they were weary of my intentions,  wondering when I was going to drop the bomb of "what their child did today".  When I called one parent in particular, she began with a very defensive tone in her voice. Once I explained I was calling home to celebrate what her child had done, her tone began to change.  She began asking, "so why are you calling if he is doing good?" and saying, "I've never gotten calls like this."  After explaining what I wanted to celebrate, the parent responded, "Ms. Brown, you've made my entire day.  Thank you for loving my son.  I know he's not easy, but I'm so grateful you see his good side."  She began to quietly cry and it broke and warmed my heart at the same time.  I was saddened to know that at such an early age parents can feel that the system is against them, but I was relieved to know that the parent could see my good intentions.  I knew I would have to often call home to really forge a relationship with this parent, but that was a commitment that I knew I needed to make. 

One of my favorite responses came just a few weeks ago when I called home to celebrate some "rockstar reading" of one my students.  I could hear the beaming look of pride on the father's face when I was sharing his daughters' success with him.  When I finished sharing, he said, "I know it's 5 pm on Friday night and you have a million things you should be doing, but can you please call my wife and share this with her?  I know I cannot do any justice for the sincere excitement and pride in your voice.  She's been at work for the past 18 hours due to an emergency and I know this will make her day."  How could I say no?  The whole point of my phone calls is to share positive moments with families.  Five more minutes in the grand scheme of things was nothing. It was so worth it. On that Sunday, I received a picture via email of that same student playing school at her house.  But in the picture, she was on a phone.  The father explained he told his daughter that I called and how proud he was of her for her hard work at school,later that day when she was playing school, he walked in to hear her on the phone, calling home to her pretend students' parents saying "I just love _____.  She is so super smart. She works so hard."  His message - "Thank you for showing my daughter how to make someone's day, one phone call at a time."  

Throughout the year, I have called families over and over again to celebrate (and discuss incidences and concerns).  I have found that because I have invested in the time in developing relationships and celebrating, that parents are much more receptive to when I call home with a concern asking for their support and follow through at home.  They know that I value their child and recognize when things are going well.  I'm not "out to get their child" or blame them for everything.  There will be "bumps in the road" as students go through school, but I don't want parents to only know about the bumps in the road.  So many more positive things happen everyday that I know parents will never know about, unless it is shared with them.  

It takes a village to raise a child, and I know that by winning parents over and having them view me as someone on their child's side that I can accomplish much more.  It takes five minutes to call home.  The kind words about their child do not cost you anything, but to a parent (and a child) they could mean the world.  Celebrate the little things in life, for life is about the journey, not the destination.  

Preparing to Celebrate for Dr. Seuss

Dr. Seuss Day is quickly approaching!  I love this day for two reasons: 1. It's Dr. Seuss' birthday which means we have the opportunity to read all the fabulous works by this favorite author and 2. On March 2, 2007 I began dating the man I am marrying in a few short months, after spending the day dressed as Cat in the Hat for my school district.

As a senior in high school who wanted nothing more than to be a teacher, I was beyond thrilled by the opportunity to visit all the elementary schools in district and participate in all their Read Across America activities.  (Here's a picture from The Record Journal)

Since dressing up as Cat in the Hat, I have found myself in a variety of costumes throughout the years that help bring books and characters to life. There's something about the amazement on the students' faces when they see their favorite character in "real life".  And for my fiance, he's accepted the fact that I will never grow up and that being a kid at heart is just who I am. As for my students, I can't wait to see their faces when Cat in the Hat is their teacher on March 3rd.  But until then, I tried creating an Animoto that includes images from some Dr. Seuss books that we will be reading this week (I needed way more than 30 seconds, but unfortunately I was not paying for an upgrade to include them all).


Celebrating Dr. Seuss

What's your favorite Dr. Seuss book?  

Reading Aloud to a Child

In Kindergarten, I get the pleasure of teaching children to read and watching them grow into their new identities as a reader.  For some it is a seamless and easy process, for others it is laborious and difficult, but for all it is a meaningful journey that I am fortunate to be part of.  

When the school year started, I stressed with parents the importance of reading every single day to their child.

From: Facebook: The Literacy Site

But as more students are reading in their just right books, I have been hearing from my students that they are always doing the reading at home, not their parents.  I have some of my reluctant readers constantly "forgetting" their just right books at school and often asking if we can have an extra read aloud instead of independent reading time during workshop.  I know my parents are trying to help their child and they want them to be the best readers they can be, but I began to worry that they were getting caught up in the fact that their child is an emerging or beginning reader.  Sure students are excited that they can read the words on the page and can retell the simple story, but they still need to foster a love of books and stories.  The books that most are reading are simple pattern books with little to no story line (i.e. I see scissors.  I see books.  I see crayons.).  Students need exposure to literacy-rich environments.  They need exposure to great role models who read everyday and foster the love of reading and learning.  They need to hear the language of books to learn it and apply it when they read.  They need to see that reading is fun and exciting.  They need to see that books can take them places that a video game or tv show can't.  They need to see that people don't just read because they have to, but rather because they love to. To help make my case to parents, I sent them the link to this article: 10 Awesome Reasons for Reading Aloud to Your Kids Whatever Their Age.  I wasn't sure how well it would be received by some, but I received nothing but positive emails and responses from parents and families.

So here is my plea to you all - read today and everyday for 20 minutes to a child in your life.  Never miss a chance to share a favorite story, a new character, or a hysterical sequel with someone who might just need that extra motivation to find their love of reading.

20 MINUTES A DAY

Read to your children
Twenty minutes a day;
You have the time,
And so do they.
Read while the laundry is in the machine;
Read while dinner cooks;
Tuck a child in the crook of your arm
And reach for the library books.
Hide the remote,
Let the computer games cool,
For one day your child will be off to school;
Remedial? Gifted? You have the choice.
Let them hear their first tales,
In the sound of your voice.
Read in the morning,
Read over noon,
Read by the light of
Goodnight Moon.
Turn the pages together,
Sitting close as you'll fit,
'Till a small voice beside you says,
“Hey, don't quit.”

Author Unknown

From: 20 Minutes a Day

100 day

So I have procrastinated writing a post all week because I didn't know where I wanted to take it, but I have decided that even though I cannot have a blog or outside website for use IN my classroom, I still want to reflect on what I am doing.  So here it goes!

Today was the 100th day of Kindergarten.  For any of you who work with young children, you understand the significance and magnitude of holidays.  I'm not sure about others, but for me, 100th day is the holiday celebration in my room that I cannot wait for.  Rather than just spending an hour on a party, we celebrate it all day, incorporating all the academic areas.  I love that my students are so engaged and learning more than they'll ever know that day.  We started the day with an ambitious list.  Some of our activities included: 

• making 100 day crowns
• building a tower of 100 cups
• doing 100 exercises
• creating portraits of what we would look like when we turn 100
• collecting 100 cans for our community food pantry

As our day progressed, I stepped back and watch a community of learners doing activities.  I was able to just facilitate these activities.  I watched students doing age appropriate things without feeling pressured.  I lost count of how many times my students told me that it was the best day ever.  They had no clue that we were addressing so many standards through our activities.  They counted and wrote their numbers without any hesitation or resistance.  They willingly worked together and problem solved.  They saw the tasks as challenges that they HAD to work together to accomplish.  They did not see it as "this is mine, this is yours".  As they decorated their crowns and made their fruit loop necklaces, I watched them collaborate and help one another.  Groups counted the fruit loops together, while another all sorted the colors first.  I agreed with them - it was the best day ever. Why can't we have more days like this?

It was even more gratifying when students begged me to take pictures and send them home.  They couldn't wait for their parents to see what they were doing.  As we made 100 snowballs at recess, one student came running over, "Quick get the iPad - we need pictures so we can write about it!"  

I stood back as a proud teacher and realized, yes I have to teach curriculum and standards and assessment does drive instruction, but so does creativity and play.  5 and 6 year olds need time to be just that.  And guess what, they are so inquisitive by nature that they are going to question and learn throughout.  The card I received at the end of the day asking, "When can we have another 100 day?" left me thinking, when can we?