12/180 THIS I KNOW...

A parent told my TA today at the dismissal gate (after picking up her child and seeing both his shoes were untied) that if we didn't have time to tie her son's shoelaces, call her and she will come and tie them. 

Okay, I'm usually a pretty calm teacher when it comes to parents' complaints, but... I for one, have tied her son's shoes (both of them, at the same time) twice today. I am sure it had been tied by the other teachers as well... and when he walks, they come untied. Maybe we should call her, after all we have 24 other young children to be responsible for and a group of "runners" that just like to keep us on our toes.

But this I know as simple truths in PreK:

• Play is a child's work
• A small carpet will not do when you need to make a class circle
• Dramatic play needs extra time for clean up
• You can get your steps in if you have the outdoor center in the heat and have to rotate 4x
• Ukuleles are very special tools
• ECE educators work very hard and sit very little
• ECE educators tie a lot of shoelaces all day long
• It's exhausting, but wonderful!

One word: velcro!

11/180 BITTERSWEET BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT

• It's good to have competent TA's that can complete an activity and create a nice hallway bulletin board.

• It's good to meet and get to know the parents of the students in your class... inform them about your program, and invite them to spend some time in the place where their children spend most of their day.

•  It's sad when you hear from a dear friend, that his mother (whom you are also close with) suddenly passed away. My heartbreaks... I know his pain all too well.

10/180 ALWAYS REVISING...

Being a teacher means you are constantly reflecting and revision, and reflecting and revising again...

Case in point.

 

This was going to be our "behavior" incentive tree. (I just like to make trees with tissue for the 3D effect). I envisioned using leaves with students names on them. Students would move up the tree when they are caught doing something positive.  Well, 25 leaves with 25 push pins... maybe not a good idea since you will use it everyday.

I didn't want to go back to the 3-4 colored stop sign... so this happened over the weekend.

Well it was "okay" today, but still not quite there. My team partner and I wanted to add words so that students knew what they could do to move up (they never move back down). So we are toying with the idea to start on the lower level with: We are great students!  The next level would be something like: We are following a class rule!  Then: We follow all the class rules!  And the top: We teach others how to follow class rules!  Not sure yet. 

But at least the Rules are finally posted! (Required on admin's. checklist) The kids can sing them... but we are still working on actually living them. You know 4 year olds love to put their hands everywhere! 

HOMEWORK FOR 4 YEAR OLDS?!

I don't want to give homework in ETK.
I think most of my parents would agree.
But... there are those who have already told me that their child is advanced.

I know my students vary in different levels of ability and development.
That's the beauty of having a classroom.
Each child is unique.

After 9 days, I know some students are more "advanced" than others.
I knew day one.
Are they so ahead they will be bored? No.
Do they still need to work on other areas? Yes.
Will they be fine this year in our diverse class? Absolutely.

What I would like to say... (I will in different terms at Back to School Night)...

Dear Parents,
This special ETK program was specifically designed to provide high quality ECE experiences for 4 year old so that they will be kindergarten ready.  Our fully funded, free, all day, program will help build a strong foundation in learning for children that may not have opportunity to quality preschool or be at risk for not succeeding.  In other words, if your child doesn't need a play-based, oral language focused program, there is a waiting list of kids that do.

Sincerely,
ETK Teacher

So back to ETK (Preschool) homework.
This is what we are going to do this week...

• Nightly Family Reading Log (Just read to your children! It does and will make a difference!)
• Practice our song/poem of the week with your family (We are singing a Yellow song!)
• Draw something with a yellow crayon and share/tell what you drew.
• Bring something yellow to school.

Here is our song for the week:

Yellow Song

6 YEARS AGO....

Article from the past...Let Them Play!

Inspired by a visit from a director that questioned why kindergarten classrooms needed to provide students with some choice time!

9/180 FINALLY FRIDAY

Conversation from this morning that made my whole day... (and I told him that!)

ME: Nathan, why are you so hyper?

NATHAN: Because I'm ready to learn!

Photo of the Day: When your son's space helmet finds a new home in a dramatic play area in your classroom!

8/180 ONE OF "THOSE" DAYS... (Life as a single parent)

There are times when you have to be in two places at the same time.
This afternoon was one of them.

Teach all day, then...
rush home to let dogs out, before...
driving to Downtown for 2 hour NBCT teacher meeting, and...
finding my way out of downtown traffic to...
make it across town, for...
the last hour or so of your older son's Back to School Night, while...
checking in with your younger son, who...
was dropped off at home and doesn't like to be alone long.

Then home to find out that the chip that was suppose to fix your broken, 3 month old washer, did not... and not looking forward to another Friday night laundromat visit tomorrow.

On the bright side...
Corey Seager got a hit with 2 outs in the 9th and broke up a no-hitter.
Tomorrow is Friday.

And I just need to add legs to our name caterpillar and he/she will be done!

7/180 COMING UP WITH A DISCIPLINE PLAN FOR 4 YEAR OLDS...

Things that need to be present in the classroom:
Daily Schedule
Class Rules
Discipline Plan...

This year I don't have the extreme challenges I had last year, but we have a group of special friends that need guidance in following procedures and routines. The playhouse and blocks are amazing centers, but they are the centers that are a complete mess after use. I want our students to be responsible and respectful to materials and others, and there should be consequences when they are not.

Last year I tried NOT to use the color chart, but ended up needing to or thinking I needed to.
It really didn't help with my severe challenges; it just kept the majority in check.

We have shared our school rules:
Be responsible, Be safe.... Be respectful, Yay! Yay!  (which means blah blah blah when you are 4. Too abstract maybe?)

So our classrooms are more specific in describing the abstract concept:

I will follow the rules.
I will listen to my teacher.
I will be nice to everybody.
I keep my hands to myself.
I will follow directions.

But what happens when "that" kid is not following the rules? My team partner and I wanted to think of appropriate consequences for our students; and to focus on the positive rather than be punitive in our discipline plan so...

He shared a chart he used in his past sped classes. All students started on the bottom level at the beginning of the day. Students would move up when they displayed appropriate classroom behavior. They never went down. For the ones that reached the top, they were reward in some way, a sticker, first choice at centers, etc.  I really liked that idea!

But instead of a chart, I wanted something more visual, so we have a tree (to keep with the Very Hungry Caterpillar theme this year), although I thought a mountain would be good too... climb to the top of the mountain made more sense! The students pictures will be on leaves and they will all start at the roots and see how many can climb to the top! I hope it works! If not, we'll try and try again!

We discussed what we thought would be appropriate when student are really having a difficult time following rules or display extreme behavior. The benefit of having another teacher in the classroom with you... is that there is another teacher in the classroom with you! So here's our "plan" for discipline. After 1. redirecting  2. reminding , we will ask our friend to visit the library corner for some thinking time, but he/she will not be alone. An adult will go and help him/her understand what happened and come up with an action plan. (Probably done in about 60 seconds, if that long).  Of course parents will get progress reports to keep them informed and also to ask for their support too!
Still working on the forms for that one. Will post when I am done.

*My alphabet frieze went up today! I'll talk about that in another entry. So exciting!

6/180 BLOOD, VOMIT, AND WATER PLAY...

Things that happened before 9:30am...
Bloodied upper lip.
Coughing so hard that his breakfast was left on bike and yard.
The triplets (yes, triplets!) were fighting with each other again - "that's what we do at home!"
Spilled milk and mystery empanadas too...

Then I took out the water table.
The same brand new water table we had been using for tinker toys because we couldn't find a hose.
I used a bucket.

It was time.
Time to get this whole thing started.

Exploring with water! 

I was the popular station today!

Acquiring English naturally, through conversations...

*On a side note, you know my class rules song? Well now we have to add a school rule song!

School Rules Song...

5/180 THEY ARE NOT JUST PLAYING...

Well technically they are, but they are doing so much more!
We are not using the Common Core State Standards in ETK, but we DO have objectives and benchmarks we are using, foundational skills that our students need to be successful in meeting the CCSS when they are ready.

So what may look like 3-4 year olds playing is more much more than that...

Social-Emotional Development (SELF) 5.0

Enjoys learning and are confident in their abilities to make new discoveries.

Language & Literacy (Language Use & Conventions 1.4)

Use language to construct short narratives that are real or fictional.

Language & Literacy (Reading) 1.2

Recognize print as something that can be read.

Physical Development (Balance) 1.2

Maintains balance while in motion when moving from one position  to another

*Social-Emotional Development (Interactions with Peers) 2.1

Interacts easily with peers in shared activities that occasionally become cooperative efforts.

I love this last one because my class consists of 16 gen ed (general education) and 7 sped (with special needs) students. Learning to interact and work with peers cooperatively is key at this age. This is where children begin to learn to work together towards a goal and see themselves as part of a team. The great thing is that most of it comes from the students. They do this naturally if you set it up right and allow it to happen on it's own. Such a simple skill, but means so much more when you are teaching children on the spectrum. 

My goal is to create a learning environment where all students thrive... and a class where you won't be able to instantly recognize the student with a label. That means a lot to me as a parent of a child with a label.

One last share... (our objectives/standards board)-

This is NOT a board for the students. It's a board for the adults that work with the students (to remind us of what we are focusing on for the week), and it's a board to educate those that walk in and just think they are watching students play... they are playing, but they are doing so much more.

I'LL SING A SONG AND YOU'LL SING A SONG...

And we'll sing a song together... (Ella Jenkins)

I have such fond memories of Ella Jenkins songs.
She was one of my favorite ECE (Early Childhood Education) singer/educator back in the day when I was the lead teacher in the 2-3 year old room at San Diego State. I know the songs are older, (I had the album), but they are just as wonderful now as they were then.

Music and song is a powerful learning tool for young children, and old children too! I remember a class full of English Learners at the beginning of the year. Through music, song, poetry, chant, and movement, those same children are able to access the curriculum, grasp key concepts, hear, use, and comprehend new vocabulary.

I remember Paola could recite and sing every word from the Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast before she was reclassified as fluent in English Proficiency!

Last week we learned a hello and goodbye song.
This week we get down to the tough stuff.... RULES!
Here's a favorite song of mine for rules.
(Warning: It's catchy! But not as catchy as the tattletale one!)

Our Rules Song

I sing in ETK, we sing in ETK, we sing all day (or at least I do) in ETK.
My voice is tired. But my heart is full!

SATURDAY STUDENT MEMORIES #1

Since Saturdays are not counting days, I am going to dedicate them to fond students memories from the past 29 years... And since this young MAN is turning 18 today, I'll start with him....

"Kaylen, Kaylen, Kaylen..." -words I muttered often to this very capable, creative, 6 year old daydreamer. Energetic and always with something to say... usually coming up with excuses or defending his position in class. 

A kid like that can drive a teacher crazy! Or he can make you fall in love with his spirit and sense of humor. He did both for me. Even in his most challenging moments, he made me laugh. When I think of the 6 year old today, he still makes me laugh... and shake my head too!

When he left Room 7, I would run into him at school and our "conversations aka...lectures from my 1st grade teacher, would always start the  same, "Are you doing your best? Are you listening to your teacher? Are you following directions?" 

I am sure when you are 7, 8, 9, and 10 the last thing you want to do is run into your first grade teacher and have her grill and drill you about your class performance every time you cross paths. I am sure he did a lot of head shaking too. But yup, I think that is pretty much how it went each time. Maybe I should have said, "Hi, how are you doing?" Hindsight. 

What I was really trying to say to him was... Kaylen, I believe in your abilities and expect you to live up to them because I don't want you to waste your talents when you have so much to offer.

Fast forward to spring of 2014, when an unexpected tall, handsome, young man walked through my door after school. His mom was with him and didn't think I would recognize him, but the first thing I said to myself was that's Kaylen! Same face. Same smile. Did I mention how tall he was?

I was also very happy to see his mother with him. When you are a teacher, you don't just work with students, you get to know families. And if you are really lucky, those families also touch your life, like many of mine have touched mine. I remember Krystal not because she was raising this young man and working hard to get her schooling to become a nurse, which she did... what I remember most was her reaction when I told her at Kaylen's parent conference that I would be taking some time off because I was adopting a child. Instead of concern that her child would have a sub, she express shear joy for me, for us, and that will be a reaction I will never forget. It really assured a terrified parent to be that it would be okay.

Fast forward to spring of 2016 when I was privilege enough to be one of a few ticket holders to the graduation of that very capable, creative, dreamer. He is living up to his potential and talents... and this fall he starts at my alma mater SDSU. How cool is that? I'm a lucky teacher!

I can't wait to fast forward again...

4/180 FIRST FRIDAY

We learn through play and stay all day... WE ARE ETK!

So ends the first week of school. I am exhausted, have no working washer, a crying kid at home, an angry teen that wants more and more, and my Dodgers couldn't hold first place for more than 2 days... but I had a great week!

Notes to Self: 

Must keep throat in working condition. Maybe tea, honey, and lemon? When you sing all day long, and I mean all day long... your voice gets a little strained. 

Keep everything short and sweet. Circle time ("formal teaching time") is about 4-5 minutes long right now, although I am amazed by how my 3-4 year olds can sit and listen to a No David book. 

Focusing on social-emotional needs is key when you are still trying to figure out how you fit in the world.  Helping kids learn that not having anymore tater tots left on your tray will not mean the end of the world, really it won't!

You can get things done and leave work in time to pick up your 10th grader from school. If only he'd remember what happened to his binder! How do you lose your binder... the one with notes form all your classes? 

I know it's going to be a good year. No criers after breakfast. Happy faces eager to learn, and all wanting to be heard and loved. Some classes take longer to "love," but this one, I've loved from the start.  

***Bring a special treat to my awesome custodians... ETK's are adorable... but their actions may not be so sweet. #bothclogged  #doyoureallyneedthatmuchtoiletpaper #SorryIcannothelpUwiththat #ParentNoteHome 

Our schedule so far... 

Writing Assessment! The kind I love!

3/180 SCRIBBLES...

Food for thought: the first thing a child reads is his/her own writing. Here are some wonderful writing from my students. They were able to "read" what they wrote, and in time, they will be able to connect letters and sounds to that writing. Scribbles are the foundation of writing and literacy development. I can't wait to see where it leads 177 days from now!

2/180 WHAT I LEARN BY NOT TEACHING: aka The power of observation...

After a free for all (aka free choice centers) yesterday, we were more organized today. Still plenty of choice and play-based, but the kids were in groups and got to go to each center to explore while an adult was there to support them and model how we clean up.

I got to go to the dramatic play area. What did I do there? Played with my students as they guided me into what they wanted me to do and who they wanted me to be.

NASA astronaut playing house...

Lets see, I was a patient and had to get a shot. A doctor/chef took my temperature and listened to my heart. James made me breakfast and Abigail charged me 25 cents for dinner. When I told Damian that I did not eat whole fish, he looked for a "knife" and cut it for me. Oh, and I got a back to school haircut too courtesy of Nathan.

Other than letting my students know when it was time to clean up, I did not formally teach anything at that center. I had the opportunity to play with and learn from every single one of my students in the play area. The time I spent watching, listening, interacting and playing with my students produced insight into their level of development than DIBELS and CELDT ever did! What a treat.  I had the chance to just sit and just watch and listen.  And if you listen close enough, your students will tell you who they are and what they need from you and it doesn't come from a test packet from the State...

1/180: WHO NEEDS REST TIME? "ME!"

First Day of School Observations...

• It's interesting having 3 other adults in the room when you teach.
• My three criers all stopped once their parents left the room.
• Damien really wanted that berry juice that was meant for Julian. (Note to self, bring some berry juice for Damien tomorrow).
• Rest and Nap Time is overrated in the 3-4 year old world.
• 6 hours is a LOOOOOOOONG time for young bodies.
• If you sing, they will listen (or at least for the first several verses)
• James can share.
• Victoria can write the letters in her name.
• Nadia drew a picture of me.
• Yaretzi can't write her name yet, but she has a killer pincer grip!
• Having triplets will be interesting, but fun.
• Kids in Room 27 don't like the cheese enchilada special, but loved the beans ate... and had seconds!
• We need hand soap.
• Hand towel will work better than all the paper towels on the floor.
• Play is the work of children.
• You see far more when you just sit and watch.
• How can you not fall in love with the faces of 3 and 4 year olds? I did.

Tired... but know it's going to be a good year!

FILLING BUCKETS...

Pupil Free Day take away of the day...

"When you fill someone's bucket, your bucket gets filled too!"- I'm going to try to fill a lot of buckets this year.

BROADWAY BABIES...

I get easily distracted.
Yes, it's true.

The dangerous thing about trying to sort and organize your garage is that after nearly 30 years, there are a lot of things in there that can distract you. Take today for instance...

Alexander Hamilton and our founding fathers are rapping in my ear and I find a box. Not just any box, a box of memories. I find lots of boxes and memories in the garage. So for today I am just going to post photos of one of my obsessions... Broadway Musicals. That's it. Simple.

 

I discovered 1/2 price tickets and Broadway visiting my sister Lisa when she moved to live in New York City. When she went to work, I went to explore. Found myself in the balcony of a beautiful theater on Broadway listening to Marius and Cossette profess their love. I was hooked. It was Les Mis. Several years later, I went back to Broadway and the rest is history.

 Of course I had to share my love of Broadway with any student that would listen. I was Paola's after school caretaker for a year. We listened, sang, and went to see Phantom and Les Mis. When Joseph was heading to Broadway, it made a stop in LA and of course we went. The cast was signing the soundtrack at Virgin Records.  It was her birthday.  Michael Damien gave her a kiss. Fond memories for me.

Sometimes a musical can become an obsession. I saw Scarlett Pimpernel on Broadway by chance and feel in love with the story and music. So when it came to LA, I "needed" to experience it as much as I could. It had a long run. I saw it many times, with different students, and my sister... who also became a little obsessed as well. I took Shirley Jean to stage door to meet the star, Douglas Sills. I would also take her to see Jekyll and Hyde when it came to LA. It wasn't too appropriate for a child, but I had told her so much about it that she felt she had seen it already! 

Some other memories of Broadway I found in the garage... Hairspray with Shirley all grown up.

Lion King with family, friends, and students.

Meeting Aladdin on Broadway with the boys because Spiderman had closed.

Bryce and Matilda... 

There are many more shows in between these... Wicked, Mary Poppins, Beauty and the Beast, Little Mermaid, In the Heights, Miss Saigon, and on and on...

Oh how I love Broadway.

Oh, how I want tickets to Hamilton!