5, 4, 3, 2, 1! Kindergarten Here They Come!

Counting down to 180...

5! 

Rehearsing for a Culmination on Zoom. 

Hopefully, our last culmination on Zoom.

4!

It was different,

but the excitement of the day remains the same.

Balloons, Graduation Leis, Candy Baskets, and Teddy Bears too!

It's not a graduation,

but a celebrating of completing a year.

So happy that every child had someone show up for them,

and lots of photos of a special event in their lives and mine.

3!

If they only knew,

that I learn just as much,

if not more,

than they learn from me.

Today my teen had to leave his "game" room.

He agreed to work this summer.

He wasn't happy about it,

but he committed.

Ironically,

it's at an Early Childhood Education Center,

working with young children with special needs.

#justlikeme

He survived,

and maybe even liked it a little.

2!

When you make a chore a part of play.

End of the year cleaning and organization is no joke.

1! Last Day of 2021-2022

I thought last year was tough,

but this year was probably tougher.

Teaching from behind a mask,

weekly covid testing,

quarantine,

closed campus, 

and students performance webinars,

it was different.

But we still managed to establish routines,

laugh, sing, dance, and play everyday,

identify letters and numbers,

go on six field trips,

makes friends,

build relationships,

and find the joy in learning.

Off to Kindergarten!

My last photo collage for parents of the year

is probably my favorite.

It's a side by side from the first day to the last day.

Amazed at how they have grown!

Privileged to be a part of their lives,

honored to watch them grow.

#dowhatyoulove #lovewhatyoudo

After 6 years in ETK-PCC,

I decided to make a change.

I love teaming,

but wanted to go back to a self-contained class model

so that I could teach in a more systematic way again.

UTK offered that opportunity.

I'm excited,

and a little sad

that I won't have the best TA's to work along side me.

Change is growth.

I want to keep growing.

One of the first people I met at my current school was Gabriel.

I was pushing a carpet up the ramp and 

asked him if he could open my room.

He didn't know me,

and he was busy,

but he helped me out.

Then he told Bryce to make good choices.

Bryce still remembers him.

He will retire officially in August,

but we celebrated him today.

There are good people in the world.

He is one of them.

Today, we celebrated the end of my 35th year.

Today, we celebrated his first.

I am ready for summer!

It's been exhausting

and I need the time to 

regroup,

reorganize, 

refresh,

rethink,

repair,

and rebuild my relationship as a parent of a teen.

But first I have to finish my CUMS,

and attend CGI training next week...

#teacherslife

174: I See You

He's come a long way.

This week he went into the bathroom on his own

and wasn't afraid.

And he even flushed!

It was huge.

Yesterday, he sat with his group

and wrote/drew for 20 minutes.

It was huge.

Today, he drew a self portrait.

I don't really know for sure if it was a self portrait,

but we all agreed it looked like it was.

Had to capture it before he erased.

I'm going to miss him next year.

I might have to stop by his new school

just to check in.

I see you L.

Keep moving forward!

When you are presented with a thoughtful teacher gift,

you wear it! 

Today, we did.

Sometimes,

the drive in traffic is worth it.

Today would be one of those times.

#MilkenForum

173: Then and Now

It's hard to have writing workshop when there are small groups.

The time allotted is never enough for some,

and too much for others.

Next year, I want to go back to daily Writing Workshop.

But until then, 

I will celebrate our small successes!

Day 172: Less is More

I am a firm believer that dittos,

worksheets, practice pages, 

adult created,

close-ended,

fill in the blank sheets

don't belong in the early childhood classroom.

There.

I said it.

Here were my directions today:

*Draw 10 butterflies. Count them. Label them if you can.

Look at what happened:

I'm not saying I will never use a worksheet

or send them home for practice and homework,

I'm just saying you can get so much more information from not using one.

#nextyeargoals

Day 171: Farm Fresh Friday

When your 9th grader's last day of freshmen year 

is graduation morning for his high school,

and he's in band,

and band has a 5:30AM call time,

then your call time becomes 4:30AM.

Did I mention it was a field trip day for me too?

We are extremely lucky to have made it to 6.

Six experiences outside of our school.

Six learning opportunities that we didn't have last year.

Six amazing places that students won't soon forget.

Today it was Amy's Farm.

We got to see live farm animals,

turkeys, ducks, chickens, pigs, goats, sheep,

and pet a horse!

Each child got to milk a cow.

How cool is that?

Pretty darn cool!

Something I doubt they will forget.

We got to spend a beautiful day outdoors

in the sunshine,

taking in sights, sounds, touch,

and smells....

I got an added bonus for the day:

My former K-1 student Alexis stopped by

and gifted me fresh eggs from her chickens!

So I got to use my sense of taste as well!

It was a lovely day...

despite having an unexpected lockdown at the end of our school day.

Luckily,

our students were not too effected

but others were understandably.

It had been an emotional week

and the last thing staff, parents, and students needed was the fear of something harmful on campus.

False alarm,

but nevertheless,

not something you ever want to think about,

but we do.

Ten.... (Day 170)

Ten days left.

How can you eat healthy when people bring you treats.

You can't just NOT eat them,

it's a gift!

I'll start summer. 

One more 5 year old arrived today.

19 down, 2 to go.

And there were cupcakes.

It's probably my 15th batch.

I don't want to make anymore cupcakes for awhile!

You know what I love about assessments?

Not the ones mandated by the state,

or the ones where there are test questions on paper.

I love "Show Me, Tell Me" assessments.

Today L showed me he knew what number quantities were

by giving me the number of cubes I asked for.

He doesn't communicate verbally when requested,

but he was able to complete an action.

And today I learned that G could count to 20.

She has 1 to 1 correspondence,

and cardinality.

I was so proud of her

and know how hard she worked.

She only was able to count to 2 for the longest time,

but now,

I think she will be okay.

Tomorrow we go on our last field trip of the year.

It's been challenging,

but we will get in 6 this year.

Just received our class photo from the Skirball.

I can't tell you how many class photos I have just like this one

on the steps of the Skirball Cultural Center.

I've taken students here for over 15 years

and each time, 

just as magical.

Experiences Matter.

Day 169: Finding Joy in the Midst of Sorrow

Some questions are never going to be answered.

We began the day in such sorrow and tremendous loss,

again.

It was fitting that our day began with a school-wide, 

1K Walk 

to highlight

Mental Health Awareness Day.

May we remember to take care of ourselves,

the ones we love,

and the people around us.

It's been a tough year,

and a tough 24 hours,

but there is also joy around us too.

We just need to find it,

even in simple things...

Who would think a sorting tub of "STUFF" could bring excitement?

Apparently, old, used keys brings joy to those who discover them at the bottom.

You know what else brings joy?

Giving flowers

to those that don't expect anything

for showing kindness.

But I see them.

I appreciate them.

Joy is having someone you taught,

nearly 17 years ago,

complete their college degree.

Joy is something I know many families,

in a small town in Texas,

are not experiencing today.

I wish them strength.

I wish them peace.

I wish them love.

I wish them hope that their loss is not in vain.

We mourn too.