This Week in ETK #Year32

This has been a busy week.
More so outside of school than in.
Life at home never stops for you to take a break.
But a mid-week...professional development day off does.
You get to take a "real" lunch when you're at a district training.
They give you an hour to go out and eat.
When I got back from lunch,
I had this photo sent to me.
It's my car.
And Humberto...
who was in my very first class...
at Broadous Elementary School in Pacoima...
over 31 years ago.
It was a tough first year.
But Humberto, and some of the other gems in Room 19,
saved me from quitting the profession.
He found my car.
Next time, I will look for him and we'll have lunch.
#reasonswhyIdowhatIdo #hesoneofthem

Every year is different.

This year our kiddos need more time and space to grow.

This week a few of them got it!

Maylen and Sergio started to make connections on their own.

I love when that happens. 

It's kinda of what I live for.

And no matter how many times I am there to experience it,

the feeling is just as amazing. 

So there's a garden.

It doesn't look like much, 

but it's amazing!

The milkweed plants the Campa's donated last year

are thriving after a summer aphid infestation.

Without the aphids

we wouldn't have seen the entire life cycle of the ladybugs.

Next spring we will patiently wait for our monarch friends 

to teach us about their life cycle.

And then there's the pumpkin plant.

A few seeds from our rotted pumpkin last year must have found their way.

Now that single plant has slowly taken over.

Lots of tiny pumpkins.

Not enough space for much else.

To cut or not to cut?

That is the question. 

So every Friday I make sure I introduce an element of art.

This week we explore types of lines in my group.

 My group usually works outside.
It's crowded inside and I don't mind being outdoors.
The PALS class usually comes out near the end of my group time.
There are a few friends that come and join us.
They are younger, but just as enthusiastic.
Yvonne found her way between my ETK kids and explored lines too!

Victoria's shirt says it all.
Smart girls do Rock!
We need to listen to them.
We need to support and encourage them to speak up and out.

I need to end with my favorite question and my favorite quotes of the week.
ME (to M after he just walked passed me to get in line): M! Did you just lick me? (He smiles)

After I reminded A that he had to share the marker with L he said to me: "I don't like this school! I'm not going to come back!" ME: "That's okay, you don't have to come back. A: "Can I go play now?

Never a dull moment.