Oops...been a while...

But I have an excuse...I've been busy teaching!

26 days of school under our belts and what a ride it has been so far.  We have good days and bad, but we keep moving forward!  My class continues to amuze, amaze, and challenge me and I really do enjoy every minute of it!

I have seen so many "aha" light bulb moments go off and some steps backwards, but we are always moving along and trying our hardest.  This week starts the reading grouping and it should be interesting. 

I've implemented groups in the afternoon where I have one group leader...5 groups of 4 students.  I carefully chose my leaders because I know I can depend on these munchkins to help and support their friends if I can't get there quick enough.  Some of my leaders are overpowering and I hope they step it up and not "boss" or "bully" but lead by example.  Other leaders are shy, but are smart and just need a little self confidence boost.  I like the direction our afternoons are going and look forward to seeing how this week goes.

My mornings are going great.  Twelve eager kindergarteners who are in a routine and are thriving, growing, learning, and impressing me.  They love doing our listening, following instruction, reading comprehension part of the morning.  They love our sight word work, phonics groups, and handwriting!  These munchkins love LEARNING!  Our mornings flow, we are heading in a great direction, and now we are taking on the adventure of guided reading!  I know they are going to do great!

Tired....

I'm tired...forgot how energetic these 5 years are...do they ever stop?  We are in constant motion these days!  Lucky for me my full day friends are pretty sedate in the morning (probably just jinxed myself), but throw in the half day friends and it becomes pure chaos to say the least.  I'm still in the process of tweaking how things are run in the afternoon and I'm on the never ending mission of finding a way to get everything done with a bunch of energizer bunnies.

I know we are only on day 6 of the year, but I have unrealistic expectations sometimes...a girl can dream can't she?  I know we will our happy medium in time and that they are new to kindergarten, they are little, and still a little apprehensive about the whole thing.

I'll see that light, but for now I see lots of coffee, chocolate, and toothpicks in my future.

Let the Assessments Begin....

Begnning of the school year means....assessments...lots of assessments.  Sometimes they can be time consuming, but they are always worth it.  This year I have 12 full time students and they are the ones that get all the heavy duty reading assessments.  These will start tomorrow and I'm ready...going to do it a little different this year and am hopeful that it will be a positive influence for teacher and students!

That Smile....

I have a new student this year...a little girl...met her yesterday for the first time when her mom dropped her off to have lunch with us.  (She is in my half day program which started today)  She was a little apprehensive when separating from mom yesterday, but I reassured her and introduced her to some new friends that I knew would be a perfect fit for her.  She ended up doing great while with us and then mom came. 

Mom told her she would be getting off the bus at our school and would spend the afternoon with me.  She looked a little unsure, so I told her how excited I was when the bus was bringing all my friends back to me from the big school.  I promised her I would be standing outside with my "all day friends" and we would be waving and clapping when they got off the bus.  She looked right at me and said, "you WILL be there getting me off the bus?"  "Yes, that's what I do and then you spend the afternoon with me.  We have lunch, go outside, do some math, science, and social studies."  She looked a little at ease and I told her, "I promise to get you off the bus and I won't let the bus leave until I have your hand in mine."  She liked that idea and happily skipped out with her mom.

Well, we were outside patiently waiting for our half day friends to arrive via bus.  My 10 friends were happily talking and waiting and finally the bus arrived! It was the first day of public kindergarten, so we had to wait a little longer then we thought we would.  I took my list to make sure I got 9 anxious 5 year olds off the bus...a new bus driver from last year...I can adjust...  The bus driver looked at me and told me she didn't know who was getting off with me.  I told her don't worry I have my list.  I called out my friend's names one at a time.  One by one those anxious little faces appeared at the top of the bus steps.  I finally get to my new little girl's name and I waited patiently for her face to appear.  I told the bus driver her name again and she called out the name.  Then I see this little precious face appear around the corner of the seats...."Ms. Robin you are here!!!!" A HUGE smile plastered on the face of my new one who bounded down the bus steps, threw herself in my arms, and gave me the biggest hug!

To say she made my day is an understatement! The trust she put in me after knowing me for maybe 1 hour is a lot.  Sometimes I forget how little they are, how much they depend on me, how much they rely on me. This is another reason why I teach.  To see those faces light up when they see me, to get those hugs that get me through some tough days, to just witness the little joys in  their lives, that is a big reason why I teach.  I teach because it is what I was meant to do, born to do.  I teach because it is who I am.

Off to a great start!

My munchkins started Tuesday and it has gone great...hope I just didn't jinx myself... 

So many fresh and eager faces! I get so excited to start the new year and I hope my little ones are just as excited as me.  So far so good...not a tear shed on day number 1 or 2 or 3 (at least not in front of me).  I'm so proud of my little friends -- new and old!

With such a big crew this year...21...I wasn't sure how it was going to work, but it seems to work...plan and simple it works!

Almost Ready...I Think

The first day of Kindergarten is just around the corner!  I have my "to do" list and am slowly...very slowly crossing things off of it.  Sometimes I wonder if I will ever get to it all....with the threat of Hurricane Earl coming at us I wasn't sure if any of it would get done...but somehow I always manage! 

As  I grow and get older I figure life shouldn't be wasted worrying about "to do" lists, but I'm a list maker and feel accomplished when I get to cross something off the list.  It's now just habit that I make these list and I don't let what doesn't get done impact what I am doing...teaching, loving, and nurturing my little munchkins.  Afterall it is just a list not the end of the world!

School starts Tuesday and I know have 21 munchkins!  What will I do with all these newfound friends?  I'm really getting excited and nervous like I do every year at this time.  This is the last weekend of summer...I'm trying to enjoy it and yes, I actually am enjoying myself even knowing that my list is full of uncrossed items! 

Kids get excited about the first day of school, but I'll let you in on a little secret....shhh, don't tell anyone....teachers are just as excited and nervous as their new little ones!

I'm off to enjoy my last couple of days of summer.....see you when the school year begins!

Why Teach?

I have always wanted to be a teacher...ALWAYS!  There wasn't a time in my life that I didn't dream of being a teacher...sounds funny, but it is true.  I love it when parents are dropping off their kids and look at you and say, "How can you do this all day?"  My normal response is "How couldn't I!" 

Yes, I'm a rare breed to say the least.  I look back at the advice I've gotten in my life from people I admire...people I inspired to be like...people who got me.  One of these people in my life was a professor in college...she is one of those rare people that you run across in life and are so thankful to have known them.  I'm not sure where she is now, but I would love to reconnect with her...maybe I'll see is she is on Facebook!  I'll never forget sitting in class the first day of Reading/Language Arts IDA's and she walked in...I've never seen her before.  She stood in front of us and said, "If you can sit here and honestly deep down in your heart say that you love ALL children, good behaviors or bad behaviors, then I'm glad you are here.  If not teaching isn't for you so don't waste either of our time, so please leave."  I sat there and was on the same page...I do have a soft spot in my heart for those kids that have a hard time..always have always will.

Basically I teach to make a difference, big or small, in a child's life.  All kids need to be given a chance to be the best they can be...they need to be guided (some more firmly then others), but they are looking for someone to help them.  I look at my own children and am so thankful for the teachers they have had.  I am so thankful for the teachers that have really impacted their lives.  I hope that I have impacted someone's life and that as they grow and develop into the person they were meant to become they will remember me in someway.

So...I wonder if my college professor knows how she impacted my life and in such an amazing way.  I want her to be proud of the person I became.  I want to say thank you for helping me to become the teacher that I am today, thank you for believing in me, trusting me, respecting me enough to go out of your way to help me.  You stood by my side when people were trying to destroy me...you believed in me! 

I would like to tell my 19 new munchkins....I believe in all of you!  We are getting ready to embark on a great year and I'm so looking forward to the adventure!

The countdown....

Well....I'm sitting here taking care of 2 sick children (2 out of 3 lucky me) which means I'm stuck in the house so we don't spread the germs!  At least I'm getting done all of the things that I didn't think I would get done before the first day of school.

My oldest (the healthy one) is becoming a pro at running the laminating machine!  Nameplates are set to go as are a bunch of new bulletin board things.  Little does he know about all the literacy centers, math centers, and science centers that are yet to be laminated...shhhhh don't tell him.

I also managed to crank out a ton of labels which I needed to get done.  My "to do" list is slowly being checked off...this isn't how I wanted to spend these past few days...we were suppose to go to the zoo today with work, but was awoken by a child with a 104 temperature!  Trust me I would rather be at the zoo enjoying the beautiful day that is out there.

Beginning of a New Year...

It's that time again and yes, I think I'm ready!  I have a BIG class for me...19 munchkins! 

I love preparing for the new year...love the new supplies...new faces....new resources...new everything!  I get excited and nervous...no two years are alike...each one brings new challenges and new joys.  What will the year bring...how will my munchkins mesh...so many unknowns. 

I'm going to have a helper in the afternoons since we have so many fresh faces joining us...not sure who yet...but excited to see who is coming in (luckily I get along with most people). 

I'm doing things a lot differently this year...lots of new curriculum changes...exciting and new!  I'm doing an overhaul on how things are done in the room and I hope the munchkins are open to the change...they are adaptable and that's a good thing.  It's hard to shift from the way they think things will run to the actuality of how they are really run.

We start back September 7 and I have nothing but high hopes for the year!

Reflecting....

Wow, looking back at the year it was a wild ride!  I had so many challenges to overcome and I think I handled them appropriately.  I had a lot on my plate and it was overflowing...I'm hoping to jump into this new year with both feet firmly planted on the ground. I'm going to do better at blogging my thoughts to help me think through them.

I'm excited about the new year and the new batch of kids headed  my way.  I have two kids repeating with me, but we will continue where we left off...the joys of private kindergarten! I'm eager to implement new curriculum and getting in gear for my new batch of kindergarteners.

One of those days....or weeks!

Yes, it has been one of those days and weeks.  So much energy my little ones have and I'm fighting the cruds, so I'm spent!  It is Wednesday though...only two more days to go!  I don't ask much of my little ones, but it seems they just want to do me in this week.  I told them that I wasn't feeling too well and would love it if they were to take it easy on me...well, I asked them to step it up and be on their best behavior at least. 

It seems that the already over the top energy level went even higher...the handsy kids are handsier...the loud kids are louder...the whiny kids are whinier...get where I'm going with this.

Also the excitement level is elavated because we had not one, but two friends with birthdays this week.  Maybe a cupcake would help me feel better!

Yay!!

So my little munchkins were all engaged happily in free choice centers...it was Fun Friday afterall...and I was sitting doing some planning, taking some observations, and indulging in conversations here and there.  One of my little munchkins came over and asked if it was O.K. to use my pointer (which some of my friends use as a weapon, so we now ask).  This little one is my lowest and can almost write their name now!  I'm thinking...sure anything if you want to go touch letters around the room go for it! 

I watch her walk away with much pride that the pointer is in her hand!  She walked over to our sight word pocket chart (where our weekly words and sentences are displayed).  She preceeds to look around to make sure no one is watching her (but I'm secretly watching).  She takes the pointer and points to every word, yes word, and reads them correctly!  She then moves onto the sentences..once again she uses that pointer and reads those words.  I actually tear up a little knowing how far she has come!  This is what it is all about...the pride in her face was priceless!  I called her over and told her how proud she just made me and her face glowed!

I love my job....

Light Bulb Moments.....

Boy have we been having those light bulb or aha moments in our classroom! 

It has been hard with the cold snowy weather to get out to let the extra energy get released!  Instead I've been trying to channel that energy into learning new and exciting things.  Today as my class was buzzing I actually took a step back for the first time in a while.  I witnessed:

1. A few friends dancing and singing their sight words along with the dvd...the smiles on their faces were priceless! 
2. A few friends gathered around a table graphing sight words that they were spinning on spinners.  The excitement in their voices over which word on their graph was "winning!" priceless!
3. A few friends using word family mats to create words and write them down...."Ms. Robin I know how to spell fin!" priceless!
4. A few more friends using pictures and letter tiles to create simple CVC words.  "Ms. Robin look I made 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7...7 words!" priceless!

It is in moments like this that I know what I am doing is the right thing.  My little friends were excited, engaged, happy, and most of all loving learning....PRICELESS!!

Full Steam Ahead...

Well I don't want to jinx myself, but odds are I just did....

We are full steam ahead right now going into the direction I wanted us to go!  So many of my friends are having so many "lightbulb" or "aha" moments that it's been crazy!  I still have some tough friends and some have so far to go (but I will add that they have come so far already), but I feel that things are coming together and that we are headed in the right direction.

I just did some sight word reassessments and some of my friends are making me proud.  Don't get me wrong...yes, I still have one or two friends who still struggle with letter recognition...they aren't all reading Einsteins!

There is nothing I love more then seeing pride in their eyes when they get something really get it.  My shy one is shy, but she has been having tons of these moments lately and I'm beyond proud of her.  It is hard to have her break out of that comfort of just whispering words to me and stand in front of her friends and point to words on a chart that she knows. She is becoming more and more confident in her abilities and I know she is proud of herself. 

All I strive for is that each and every one of my students have self confidence and pride in their learning abilities...not too much to ask for is it? Well...choo choo off we go!

Wheels are churning again!

Yes, that's right...here I go thinking again.  Doesn't help that I bought a book today on differentiated literacy centers.  So I'm going to be up to my elbows in making some new literacy centers!  I think these are going to work though and will crank them out as fast as I can.  I'm also starting my new sight word program on Monday and am really excited about it.  I only hope that my little rugrats are going to be as excited about all the new things as I am!

I also have a new student (half day) starting on Monday as well.  It is going to be a week of lots of new and excited things.  I like change (some teachers don't), but it gets me excited.  If something isn't working I chuck it out the door and try something different.  Hopefully this is what we need...some new fresh ideas and ways of learning.  I'm ready, but are they?

List Maker...

that's me!   I make lists for everything...I need to cross off items to feel like I'm getting there...the point where I want to be. 

It's school vacation week...and boy is my list long...I've resorted to making mini lists in order to feel like I'm accomplishing things.  I know I will get it all done, but it's the beginning of the week and nothing has been crossed off yet.  Baby step...baby steps I keep telling myself!

Rethinking....

Here I go...I think too much sadly to say!  Such a class I have this year...where to start...no idea!  They challenge me constantlyday in and day out.  I'm trying my hardest to get this class where I want them to be...I see so much potential in all of them, but it is hard -- a major challenge!

I keep rethinking how I can reach all of them...hard task...how to keep them engaged...how to make them excited about learning...how to make them mesh into a group that supports one another.  So many different personalities...so many different learning levels...where to start...rethinking my whole approach...

Thorn in my side....

For the first times in many years of teaching I have one!  Oh my what to do?!?  I love my job, my students, my fellow teachers, my director...I love where I work!  But, the thorn has burrowed itself twisting and prodding causing some undue stress to my days.

I take criticism with a smile on my face and let the person say what's on their mind.  Everyone has the right to an opinion, BUT and it is a big BUT, don't act like you could teach my class better OR like you are my boss when you don't even work there. 

Should I have to change how I teach, react, respond...just to appease one person?  I really don't think that is something that I should be expected to do...just my honest  opinion. 

My class is tough, very tough, this year.  No two classes are comparable...this year what a mix I have!  Lots of behaviors that shock me (not really since I've seen them all many times), lots of self-esteem issues, and lots of just being 5 and 6.

I will do what I can to appease...better known as telling the person what they want to hear...but I'm having a lot of inner conflict trying to teach how they think I should.  I'll wrap my mind around it all and see if I can live with myself in the end. 

I teach because I want to make a difference, I want my students to be confident in their learning abilities, I want my students to push me/challenge me, I want so much from my students, but is it to much?  I'll continue teaching the best way I know how to , I will push myself even further then I've ever pushed myself professionally.  I will get through this year in one piece and hopefully will come out a wiser, more patient teacher.

Vacation Week! (Well Sort of....)

Thank goodness last week is over...nothing like a bunch of 5 and 6 year olds with nothing but candy on their minds!  I made it!  Now to get through this week...

While it is technically vacation week, we are a childcare center which means we have maybe 12 days off a year.  My little rugrats will be with another teacher while I do office work and plan, plan, plan, catch up on portfolios, plan, plan, plan! It is only a 4 day week because of President's Day, but I have so much to do.  I would love it if there were more hours in the day!

Today I dragged my own 3 kids to get some new teacher resources that I needed to get through the rest of the school year.  Found some great books and can't wait to sink my teeth into them!

Full Moon!

Oh my...what a day!  My little friends were crazy today...what is up with that?!?  I'll blame it on the full moon that I heard was going to be happening...have to blame it on something you know.  Even my most quietest sedate kids were wound so tight -- totally needed to find the HUGE box of Calgon tonight!  I felt like I was talking today and no one was listening!  I love it when my friends have their own agenda as to what we are going to get accomplished during the day.

Whatever happened to doing what your teacher told you to do?  Respect?  Being polite? Authority?  Oy...it all went out the door today.  I literally was ready to throw my hands up in disgust, but I know better then to let a group of 5 and 6 year olds win the battle. 

What a class I have this year!  They amaze me, confuse me, fascinate me, and basically just keep me enthralled.  This is why I went into teaching.... to be challenged, to be pushed, to make a difference.  Well today I was challenged, I was pushed, but did I make a difference?  I hope I did in some small way, somehow, though I'm not sure....

Energizer Bunnies...I have 14 of them!

This year the energy in my class is amazing.  Somedays I just want to sit back and soak it all in...how do they do iT?  I think back and ry to remember, "did I have that much energy in kindergarten?"  I wish I could bottle some of that energy to pull out on those days when I hear, "Ms. Robin, we're too tired to do our work today."  Those are the days when I remind them of how much energy they usually have which leads to those looks of guilt and then they get to work without another complaint.

I get a kick out of the reaction when other teachers watch my friends for me.  They just don't get it sometimes, but leave them alone in my room for 5 minutes and they get it.  I love all 14 of my energizer bunnies...all different and unique in their own way. My biggest wish is that they share some of that uncontained nonstop energy with me!