66/180 Monday, Monday...

 I don't know why they changed our PD days this year.

We use to meet on Tuesdays,

but this year Monday is the day.

We hold Monday Morning assemblies,

we start classes later,

we end classes later,

I don't usually get to eat lunch before our 1:20PM meeting.

Mondays are also therapy days,

School Site Council meeting days,

Title One meeting days,

and district parent advisory council days...

then I get to pick up Daniel from work at 8:00pm.

It's a long day.

But Mondays are also literacy small group days.

We usually work on letters, sounds, and now high frequency words day.

I decided that we would try to make a book each Monday.

If we were at school, 

we would make a simple predictable book every week.

So why not have them make them at home?

Today we created art kits (thank you donors!)

for students to create kinetic creatures next week.

So excited to conduct a STEAM activity.

Thank you Skirball!

Now I just have to remember how to guide students and families

into creating something wonderful!

Today I rushed home to sign into my Zoom PD meeting.

Today I got a glimpse of what is to come.

65/180 Gratitude Week Challenge Day 5

Day 5 of Gratitude Week Challenge:

 I am not sure when I learned the skill of teaching,

but I am happy I found it.

I wish everyone could find a skill they love.

I didn't quite love it in 1986 when I began teaching.

It was not a skill I was good at.

But with lots of practice and learning with others...

I got better.

So thankful this year for the support of the families who are using their skills to teach with me...

And I am especially thankful for the kiddos that teach themselves when no one is around...

#luckyteacher #proudeducator

64/180 Gratitude Week Challenge Day 4

Name a place you are grateful for.

I am grateful for beautiful spaces outdoors.
I am grateful they are there for us to enjoy.

I am grateful for my home.
That I have one.
That it's mine.

I'm grateful for Dodger Stadium 

and all the happy memories I have there.

I am grateful for Disneyland

and family memories of 

happy times spent there.

I am grateful for the classroom

where I found my place in the world

where I learned that I can make

a difference in the lives of others

where I laugh on days I wanted to cry

where everyday is different

where every child touches my heart

where I learn as much as a teach.

Where I get to watch young scientist make discoveries...

Where I watch parents become my partners in education this year...

It is home.

63/180 Gratitude Week Challenge Day 3

I wasn't lead teacher today

so I wasn't prepared to answer

the Gratitude Challenge for today:

Name a memory you are grateful for.

So I quickly scrolled through the 47,965 photos

on my camera roll and found this one.

50th Birthday trip to NYC with Susan.

A gift from my siblings.

Last morning in the city.

We wanted one more adventure.

Hopped on a crazy boat for a quick ride around Ellis Island.

It was one crazy, fast-wind blowing hair in face kinda ride.

A good memory.

Things I can't do:

Have a sensory tub for students to play and make discoveries at school.

Things I can do:

Send the sensory materials home for students to play and make discoveries.

Today, D got to play and discover at home, 

and school too.

It was the last day for 1 to 1 tutoring.

Three more days till Thanksgiving Break.

Two more ukulele classes.

And a blood donation left this week.

I am exhausted.

I am "teaching" live less,

but work at least 3x more.

And there's no Zumba,

but there is a guava tea.

62/180 Gratitude Week Challenge Day 2

Gratitude Week Challenge Day 2:

Name something you are grateful for.

In class I shared something I was grateful for, Donorschoose.

I have been so blessed to have friends, strangers, and corporate sponsors 

provide funds and materials so that my students could continue to learn at home

and I could continue to teach at school.

I am grateful for Zoom and wifi so that I can still teach every week and 

connect with my students and families.

I am grateful for the parents, siblings, grandmas, tios, and tias who sign their child into class each and every morning, work with them, and conference with me after hours to work as partners to their child's education.

I am grateful for technology, Zoom, Facebook, IG, and WhatsApp so that I can stay connected to my sisters, nephew, nieces, and brother in laws, who I won't get to see this entire year, 

and miss terribly. 

I am grateful for friends that have daughters and dogs

that are willing to meet up to force a teen outdoors.

I am grateful for hardworking, honest, and creative people that fix mistakes

and create a new spaces to make life a little easier. 

I am so grateful for government programs,

Job Coaches,

and businesses

that provide opportunities for all kinds of learners.

I'm grateful for Perla's drawing.

Where she shows me that she is learning

despite this crazy pandemic.

There's always something to be grateful for.

I need to remind myself that daily.

61/180 Focus on the Positive...

My day ended very sadly.

I realized that I lost something very special to me.

Not sure if I can ever replace it, 

but it was my fault and now it's gone.

So I'm going to focus on the positives of today.

Had the first of many Zoom Parent Conferences today.

It went well.

I have some very special parents this year 

that are committed to their child's education

despite all the challenges.

We are in this together and I am glad they are my partners

and I love their children.

It was Day 1 of Gratitude Week. 

First question: Name someone you are grateful for.

I don't have one.

I have many and

I have two I am especially thankful for these days.

The two wonderful women/friend/confidant/assistants/partners 

that work with me each week.

They get things that need to be done, done.

They lend a supportive ear when I need to vent

as I struggle to be a good teacher and sane single parent.

They make it possible for me to go home when I need to

because they are my education partners,

who work just as hard, 

care just as much, 

and are flexible

and willing to learn.

The wonderful thing about being an early childhood teacher

is being there when magical things happen.

We decided to make a book today

not in small group

but with the entire class.

Focusing on the simple word A.

Magic happens when you keep it simple.

I wanted everyone to be successful 

so simple works best,

and it did.

60/180 Field Trip with Friends Friday

Today we went to the Petersen Automotive Museum.

Well, sort of.

Such a cool place to take my kiddos

and there's a wonderful art installation 

across the street as well.

Not this year.

But still important to take our kiddos into the "community."

#fieldtripsmatter

#experiencesmatter

#teachinginapandemic

The most wonderful thing about teaching early childhood education:

Being able to witness when a child begins to read.

Never gets old.

Never.

#earlyliteracy   #conceptsofprint. #makingbooks. #derekreads

Material pick up day 

included pick your own books too!

Trying to clear out stuff

and provide some home literacy materials.

Don't worry,

I have more in the garage...

lots more!

Friday use to be my -I can take a break now day-

then I remember I have 3 hours on Saturday too.

It's actually not so bad...

small group instruction with sweet boys

(No girls have shown up yet)

I have an eye on a prize at the end...

59/180 Just Stuff

 Getting ready for another material pick up tomorrow.

I bought the jumbo pompoms for Halloween, 

but they arrived late.

We will think of another use for them.

Turkey project and guitar picks...

Science bag, and

Magic sand too!

Report cards and parent conferences coming up.

#Weekendgoals

58/180 Hands, Fingers, and Wrists!

 It was a fun day in ETK!

First Stop: Live Stream Field Trip at the Aquarium of the Pacific!

Topic: Penguins!

Let's draw some penguins!

OT with Miss T! Lets feed the turkey!

Science Time! Let's make playdough!

I love it when I get messages like this. 
It confirms that what we are doing matters!

I knew that already, 

but it always feels good to get it confirmed.

Taking the day off to drop off STUFF at my sister's Gladys' house.

Since we are not allowed to use STUFF,

at least the STUFF will be used.

57/180 Hi Ho... Hi Ho... It's off to Zoom We Go!

Some Mondays are a bit over the top...

Zoom #1: Monday Morning Assembly (9:00AM)

Zoom #2: My favorite Zoom of the Day! Let's make shapes! (9:30 - 11:20AM)

Zoom #3: I know what an Edulastic assessment looks like now! Glad I don't have to give them. (1:20 - 2:30PM)

Zoom #4: Go back to zoom and learn about our school experience (2:30PM)

Quick break to JoAnn's for some Turkey Fine Motor Skills Project Material.. and a therapy session too!

Zoom #5: SSC Co-Chairperson when the Chairperson has been MIA the last two meetings. 5:00PM

Zoom #6: DAC (District Advisory Committee) Lets talk Parent Engagement and school reopening plans for future. 6:45PM - 

Zoom #7: Quick zoom change to mobile app when you have to pick up your boy-man from work by 8:00 and the meeting isn't over. Top Priorities: Safety, Social Emotional Well Being, Quality Instruction... in that order. I agree.

Their dinner.

Sometimes you just gotta.

Hello Tuesday...