9/180

I think I have a routine now.

I think I have the hang of teaching over Zoom.

I think there will be no end to technology learning.

Maybe next week I'll figure out how to connect the monitor.

The stuff is ready.

The release forms, family surveys, access codes, class schedule, 

welcome letter, homework folders, book bags, tiles, 

rhythm sticks, and sidewalk chalk too!

They need stuff.

We need them to have stuff to teach.

They need to still have experiences using stuff.

Learning tubs (with lids) to put their stuff.

Then you go home to work on more learning.

Weekend goal #screencastify

• 

I can't think of a better way to start a weekend 

than an hour FaceTime conversation, 

with a former preschooler, 

who lets you know she is now ready for kindergarten, then...

tells you butt jokes, shares her latest "novel," shows you a disco ball,

and then breaks your heart by saying she is Team Glitter (Edward),

and not Team Muscle (Jacob). I love her anyway.

8/180

I brought the extra monitor to school today.
Apparently, HDMI cables are rare at school these days.

When you put dying milkweed in water, 

there's a chance it might come back to life!
#monarchbutterflies2021

When you're out searching for HDMI cables, 
you never know what you might discover...

It's OPEN!  

PS: I don't know why I thought it would last until tomorrow...
#ImissedSeesCandies

After not 1, not 2, not 3...

After 4 stores,

SCORED!

$3.00

Thursday is Zoom Check-In with my favorite people.
I've known these ladies since they were young pups.
Sometimes you just need to preach to the choir.
We all sing with the same voice.

They are my village.

 

7/180 Gratitude

Another day, another new kiddo.

Welcome A!

Today was a day for gratitude.

Grateful for institutions that are adapting to this new normal in education 

and provide free virtual field trips experiences for students. 

Even in a pandemic,

Art Matters!

Grateful for dear high school friends and their offspring, (Joy & Jess!)

Who gifts you with tools that will enable you to make learning just that much more fun for your students,

Even remotely.

Grateful for a Student Son (Raul!) that always comes through with technology,

and happens to have an extra monitor laying around the house.

Now I can see all my students even when I'm dancing with them!  

Grateful for donors and extremely generous former student donors (Rosie, Renee, Sally!)

for giving all my students a set of PE equipment so that I can keep them

moving, throwing, jumping, bouncing, catching, laughing, and learning!

The hardest part of this school year is not teaching preschoolers virtually.

It's different, but I love it just the same.

The hardest part of this school year is parenting a 13 year old,

who lacks motivation, and responsibility,

and who'd rather be in front of a screen for 12 hours 

than get fresh air or leave the house.

This is not good for anyone, 

but especially those kids that need connections with others...

and their mommies.

Parenting goals...

6/180

When you teach early childhood education you need stuff.

Kids need to touch, play, explore, discover...

So we are creating tubs of stuff.

We are looking for more stuff to include.

Today P finally joined our Zoom Class.

Today we got another student.

E is a ray of sunshine with a big smile!

Today, I was referred to as mother

instead of mom or mommy.

5/180

Today we went over 90 minutes synchronous!

It's not an appropriate goal for 4 year olds,

But in a pandemic year,

it was pretty impressive.

So proud of my kiddos and their families!

We are going to do the best we can... that's all we can do.

On Thursday I saw N waiting for her Chromebook after school.

She had just met me in our Zoom meeting but recognized me, 

even with my mask on.

ME: Did you get the tub with all your supplies? You have new crayons and glue, and...

N: Yes, but I have crayons. I need markers. Where are the markers?

Dear N,

I found your markers.

They were on sale at Target last night.

You may pick them up next week.

Love, 

Your Teacher.

PD today...

Social Emotional Learning.

It matters.

Always, but especially now.

I had meetings today. 1:20 - 2:20, 4:00 - 4:50, 5:00 - 6:30, 6:45 - 8:19.

During my last meeting I was able to multitask.

I finished and posted my Brain Break Room... 

Click and check it out!

Brain Breaks!

I'll get to SeeSaw tomorrow.

4/180 Present Meets Past

Today 12/15 of our students were able to join us for Zoom class.

I was the supporting teacher today so I got to interact more.

I am in love already. 

Most seem happy to be there and it was fun. A different kind of fun,

But it is what it is and I am going to make it the best and most fun despite COVID.

My students deserve that. They are 4.

After class, I made a pitstop to meet my newest student.

Grabbed her some lunch and asked her to take a photo for our class.

Welcome to Room 27! 

D is my newest preschooler.

After school, I went to hang out with some of my older preschoolers.

Was honored to be included in a small group of people invited to witness Shirley Jean's wedding to Edgar.

She and Kathleen were my preschoolers once.

Now they are grown women.

I was there 3 years ago to witness Kathleen say her vows to Jake (they are both teachers!)

And today I was there to witness Shirley Jean marry her Edgar.

As a TeacherMom, you always hope your StudentKids marry someone worthy of them. 

Someone kind, caring, understanding, and genuine. 

Someone that will match their intelligence, be patient, encourage, and support them.

Someone not afraid of letting them follow their dreams and being there when needed.

Someone that gets their sense of humor, silly quirks, and strange requests.

One can only hope. 

I don't need to hope anymore. 

My girls found their perfect matches.

They married well.

I can tell by the way they treat their wives,

By they way they respect their mothers,

And by they way they are patient and kind with Daniel.

Yup, my StudentDaughters did well.

They found their matches.

I'm a happy TeacherMom.

3/180 So the Adventure Continues...

After some technical difficulties

And parent texting while you are doing your best to get them a working Zoom ID number...

Things went pretty well.

We read, we danced, we shared, we sang, we listened, we drew, we got to know each other a little bit.

I won the lottery in Teaching Assistants.

They are more like teaching partners rather than TAs.

We taught, we laughed, we reflected, we revised, we planned, we learned every kids' name, and we left knowing that what we left on the shelves and tables will still be in the same place tomorrow. #firsttime

Books we will not be reading this week, but maybe later in the year...

Ready to do this again tomorrow!

Pitstop to A's house to take his picture because every kid needs a First Day of ETK photo!

I don't drink... but I do boba!

#Oolalawithboba

2/180

Second Day of School Highlights...

Three Zooms to start the day.

Teacher Quotes made the district's Teacher Handbook

My students picked up their materials and I got to meet them.

I was thrilled to have a chance to meet each student that came.

I was also heartbroken that they won't have the experience they deserve to have in a. year of ETK.

Figured out how to connect doc reader with my laptop. CHECK

Surprise Find of the Day:

Another student from my very first class found me on Facebook! 

Maria is the one on the right of my 23 year old self holding on to me. 

Such a wonderful gift for today!

 Exhausted. Until tomorrow.

First Day of School 1/180

Today was the first day of school.

I didn't welcome little people to my class.

I didn't read my favorite books.

I didn't comfort a weeping child.

I didn't dance and sing.

I didn't learn every child's name (always a goal).

I didn't say, "See, I told you she'd be back." at pick up gate.

I did set up a teaching space in my classroom.

I did set out my materials with confidence that they wouldn't be scattered, torn, licked, or eaten.

I did find out that my MacBook will be able to capture more than a blue wall at home.

I did get some hellos and photos from my new class that made me smile.

I didn't get to pass out treats or custom made First Day of School cookies today.

But...

I will get to pass out treats, materials, and bubble wands tomorrow.

I hope to sneak in a First Day of School picture and a smile behind a mask tomorrow.

Three years ago I wore a plum dress with pockets on the first day of school.

Last year I wore the same plum dress with pockets on the first day of school. 

Guess what I wore today?

Pupil Free Day

PFD: Pupil Free Day (A Day without Pupils)

Today is our first PFD of the 2020-2021 school year. It's the first official day teachers report to work after the summer break. Only this year, it really hasn't been a break for many of us. 

We have been working countless hours training, zooming, researching, learning, sharing, and practicing each and every online tool we could find to make learning more engaging and accessible for our students. 
Not a normal summer to refresh and reflect, but that's just what we do. We are teachers.

Pupil Free Day makes me think of my pupils.

My first class of students 34 years ago.

Every time I see or hear from one of my pupils, 

I can't help but beam with joy and an enormous sense of pride.

That first year of teaching was intense, emotional, and challenging.

I was ready to quit after the first week,

But didn't.

These faces made me glad I stayed the course...

Maybe my next bucket list item should be to get my doctorate and graduate with Humberto? He can't seem to stop going to school and adding to his diploma case. He also likes to surprise his 3rd-grade teacher by crashing pancake breakfasts and makes beautiful sunflower bouquets. 

Every time I see Nancy in her scrubs it makes me cry (but in a good way). She has come such a long way from being a role model in my very first reading group to playing on her high school boys football team to becoming a frontline health care provider. I am so proud of the amazing woman she has become and is always inspired by her spirit and resilience. 

Seven years ago Sandra found me on Facebook. Kids can change a lot after 27 years, but her smile and warmth did not. I still smile thinking about my 3rd-grade darlings that year. I would hang out with my girls at recess and they provided my 23-year-old self with a nice balance to the challenging 10-year-old boys in Room 19. She also confirmed to me that the postcards I sent to students during vacations meant something to the children that received them. I cried when I saw that she kept the one I sent her.

The day before the first day of my 34th year, I received a donation to my Donorschoose Project from an unlikely source. I had been wondering what happened to my sweet Edwin and just like that, there he was. He's going to be a doctor someday... and a writer. I told him doctors can write too. 

When you get random texts during the summer from a recent college graduate on his way to graduate school and he makes you cry with his kind and thoughtful words... you know you are just where you need to be. 

So on this Pupil Free Day, I celebrate all my pupils. From the ones in that class 34 years ago to the ones I am going to meet Wednesday and teach online. You fill my heart with joy. Keep shining and know that someone here believes in you.

*Just for fun, match the pupil from 1986 to present?