So, I have this impossible-to-ignore urge to write tonight. It's the end of the school year, and I honestly don't know how I feel about that. I don't know what the next school year will hold for me (I will be moving onto first grade, which is all new territory for me), so in some ways I'm trying desperately to hold onto kindergarten - to what I know and understand. Don't get me wrong, I am so looking forward to whatever my teacher journey has in store for me. It's just scary. New things are scary.
Tonight, as I reflect on my day, I am find comfort in the happy moments. Here are just a few:
I had a delightful conversation with a little guy who owed me just a little recess time this afternoon. He sat at his table working on his kindergarten memory book. I walked past him to ask the teacher next door a quick question and noticed he was coloring his person bright pink. I said, "Are you pink?" He responded with, "This isn't me. It's you!" Today, I was happy to be pink.
We reviewed the I-Charts we have created for our Daily 5 time today. I had a student model the correct way to do Read to Self, and then I chose one of my barometer students to model the incorrect way. After he got his book box, he sat on the bench in front of his friends and started to model incorrectly how to do Read to Self. He started by throwing a few books on the floor and trying to read one upside down. Of course, one of our expectations is to use a whisper voice, and this little guy is well aware of this expectation. Before I knew what was happening, he threw his book on the floor and screamed at the top of his lungs. After just a moment of stunned silence, my class burst into laughter - the type of laughter that causes a person to roll on the floor. It took me just a few moments to bring them back to me and we had a great conversation about how this behavior would stop him from becoming a better reader. Then he had a chance to model the correct behavior again (which he did a great job of doing). This moment, while chaotic, silly, and completely surprising, was a great learning experience for my kiddos; I am grateful this happened today.
One of my students brought me flowers this morning - lilacs to be exact. He presented them to my foster grandma (I had stepped out to make a few copies quickly), and said, "My mom told me to bring these to Mrs. Hansen." I can just imagine him saying this. He pretends to be a tough guy, but he is a sweetheart in hiding. I am certain the idea to bring me flowers was his own and not his mom's. It would just be silly to admit that.
I checked sight words today in preparation for 4th quarter report cards. One of my kiddos who has struggled and struggled with these words got all but 3 correct! That's a very high 3 (meets expectations) on our 1-4 scale! I grinned from ear to ear, and we celebrated with an enormous high-five! She has grown so much and has become a confident reader!
Finally, while we waited for dismissal, I found great joy in pulling up Let It Go on my computer and allowing my kids to sing along at the top of their lungs. They know every. single. word. I had a couple of kiddos hop up on my bench during center time to perform it for the class today. It's the sweetest music in the world. I want them to leave my classroom smiling, and this helps me succeed in that goal.
As I go to bed tonight, my prayers will be simple. I'll pray for each of my kiddos and their journey onto first grade - that they continue to be the joyful, loving, sweet kids with a strong desire to learn that I know they can be. I'll pray for confidence and strength to take on whatever challenges next year brings, and I'll pray for rest and relaxation for everyone (teachers, students, administrators, parents, etc.) this summer. Tonight, I am simply grateful for this year.
Tonight, as I reflect on my day, I am find comfort in the happy moments. Here are just a few:
I had a delightful conversation with a little guy who owed me just a little recess time this afternoon. He sat at his table working on his kindergarten memory book. I walked past him to ask the teacher next door a quick question and noticed he was coloring his person bright pink. I said, "Are you pink?" He responded with, "This isn't me. It's you!" Today, I was happy to be pink.
We reviewed the I-Charts we have created for our Daily 5 time today. I had a student model the correct way to do Read to Self, and then I chose one of my barometer students to model the incorrect way. After he got his book box, he sat on the bench in front of his friends and started to model incorrectly how to do Read to Self. He started by throwing a few books on the floor and trying to read one upside down. Of course, one of our expectations is to use a whisper voice, and this little guy is well aware of this expectation. Before I knew what was happening, he threw his book on the floor and screamed at the top of his lungs. After just a moment of stunned silence, my class burst into laughter - the type of laughter that causes a person to roll on the floor. It took me just a few moments to bring them back to me and we had a great conversation about how this behavior would stop him from becoming a better reader. Then he had a chance to model the correct behavior again (which he did a great job of doing). This moment, while chaotic, silly, and completely surprising, was a great learning experience for my kiddos; I am grateful this happened today.
One of my students brought me flowers this morning - lilacs to be exact. He presented them to my foster grandma (I had stepped out to make a few copies quickly), and said, "My mom told me to bring these to Mrs. Hansen." I can just imagine him saying this. He pretends to be a tough guy, but he is a sweetheart in hiding. I am certain the idea to bring me flowers was his own and not his mom's. It would just be silly to admit that.
I checked sight words today in preparation for 4th quarter report cards. One of my kiddos who has struggled and struggled with these words got all but 3 correct! That's a very high 3 (meets expectations) on our 1-4 scale! I grinned from ear to ear, and we celebrated with an enormous high-five! She has grown so much and has become a confident reader!
Finally, while we waited for dismissal, I found great joy in pulling up Let It Go on my computer and allowing my kids to sing along at the top of their lungs. They know every. single. word. I had a couple of kiddos hop up on my bench during center time to perform it for the class today. It's the sweetest music in the world. I want them to leave my classroom smiling, and this helps me succeed in that goal.
As I go to bed tonight, my prayers will be simple. I'll pray for each of my kiddos and their journey onto first grade - that they continue to be the joyful, loving, sweet kids with a strong desire to learn that I know they can be. I'll pray for confidence and strength to take on whatever challenges next year brings, and I'll pray for rest and relaxation for everyone (teachers, students, administrators, parents, etc.) this summer. Tonight, I am simply grateful for this year.