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.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Sunday, September 12, 2010
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!
Thursday, September 9, 2010
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.
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!
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!
Sunday, September 5, 2010
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!
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!
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