Summer

This is totally how I feel most summers. But this summer is different.

This summer I have not read teacher books (except the one I skimmed the week after school was out, that doesn't count any more). Have not spent hours and hours, days and days reading blogs, taking notes, planning like a crazy woman. 

The last time I really took the summer off was 2010, and that was before I went back into teaching.

I've filled my time with sewing, coffee dates with my friends, grad school classes (very different form of learning from previous summers), and general hanging around my family with no agenda other than to be near each other.

I hear some teachers talking about how quickly the summer is going. I can honestly say that I do not feel the same. It has been a glorious mix of days. And we still have ALL (except one day) of July left, and some of August. So much time!

Teacher friends--hope your summer is as wonderful as mine.

I'm Sorry

I said those words to my husband last night.

"I'm sorry for how I've behaved the past 7 weeks, and for how I most likely will act in the next 11 months."

Starting a Master of Education in Teaching and Learning program sounded great. It still does. But it also is reminding me of how I am as a student.

It's a roller coaster event!

When things are going well, assignments are clicking along, everything makes sense, then the sun is shining. 

When I hit a technological snag, or have difficulty with an assignment, then the storm is fierce.

Perhaps I do not need to change this roller coaster, but let my family freely ride it with me (they kinda already are). 

My hope is that my sons can watch me struggle. Watch me win. Watch me question. Watch me celebrate. And in this roller coaster event, they can learn about the resilience we all have inside of us. The power and drive to tackle every challenge and figure out a way to the other side. 

Relationships

Summer = Homework!

I'm two weeks into my coursework and some is fun and some is less fun. ;-)

I think I've watch Rita Pierson's TEDtalk 4 times in the past couple of years. And today she inspired me to improve and be the difference I was born to make.

If you have never watched it, or if you want to watch it again, check it out!

Now that you've been refreshed with her message...

There are a couple of kids last year that I did not do my best with making a connection. I need to do better. The kids deserve my best. 

As I look to the future I ask my community: What do you do to build a human connection with your students? How do you build relationships? 

My go tos:

--hugs and smiles

--playing at recess (not often enough)

--telling stories about me as a kid, or my own kids, to make connections with their lives

--accepting and encouraging different ways to learn

I'm sure there are more. Would you please leave me a comment with what you do to build relationships with your students? I want to learn from YOU!!!

Thanks

The Last Day

It was a great year. A magnificent year.

I'm tired and the kids are tired, because we have learned and grown so much. We have put a lot of energy into learning.

And now it is summer vacation.

It started about 1:00 today. I was feeling angry and had to somehow stuff it down and make it to the end of the day. To dismissal.

After school I was irritated, but didn't really know why. And angry. Still trying to be a grown up and manage my upset. 

At dinner (eating pizza with my family) it dawned on me. My sadness of the year ending was showing in the form of irritation, anger and general upset.

168 days together means something. To me and to the littles. The routine and rituals we created together are gone. What is next? Who are we if we are not together?

When I think about how this end affects me (and supposedly I am a grown up and can handle these strong feelings) I can start to understand why my class was a complete MESS today.

Now, will I be able to remember this next year and create a classroom where there is ROOM for all of the feelings of the year ending?

No Big Deal

But it IS a big deal. To me, to the parents, to the people who monitor "data."

Background information:

First semester of kindergarten was full of letters-names, sounds, words.

Second semester was full of review, review, review. And practice, practice, practice. (Review and practice of reading and spelling.)

Today:

Two kinder friends asked to play CandyLand with me during reading intervention. (Do not worry, I altered the cards. ;-) I wrote nonsense words on them--cvc, ccvc, ccvcc, cvcc)

These two kids were reading and playing with ease. Almost made me cry. When they would read a word, they would say, hey--that is the beginning of ... Just add ___ and then it is a real word.

Here is the example that has stuck with me:

Student 1 reads muff and says, that is the beginning of muffin.

Student 2 says, just add 'in' and you would have muffin.

Teacher (me) says, how did you know to add 'in'?

Student 2 says "I listened to the sounds." (He was a bit perplexed that I asked him--why would I not know this??? This was NOT a big deal to the student, just another day in kindergarten.)

The Big Deal:

These kids are leaving me tomorrow and they are confident that they can listen for the sounds to read and spell. These kids do not need me to spell anything for them. If they get stuck, all I have to do is "unblend" the word WITH them, and then they do the rest. 

Did I mention that they are 5 an 6 years old?

I am one happy teacher! 

Currently

Farley has retired the Currently linky, but I feel like writing a Currently tonight.

Listening to the Royals baseball game.

Thinking about my ELA block for next year (what went well--systematic, direct instruction in letters/names/sounds/and how to read; what needs to be improved--more kid talk time/Kagan/centers)

Loving my school buddies near and far. Also loving the progress of my wonderful Kinder Kids.

Wishing for a light table and a sensory table for my classroom.

Thankful for a job that I love.

What would be in your Currently?

The Good Kind of Surprises

I had two good kind of surprises today that I want to remember.

1. Students were drawing/writing to go along with our story during our chapter book read aloud. (I find that it keeps their attention and allows the ones who want to be creative the space for it.) A cutie held this up for me to see.

I was surprised at how easily I could read it, so I asked--who helped you write that? The answer, "no one, I said the sounds." And a look of "duh!" But not disrespectful at all.

What I see every day is a group of 5 and 6 year olds who are not afraid to write a sentence (or a story). They compose the sentence, think about the sounds and go for it. And, by golly, I can read it!!! If they get stumped, some will ask me, and I say: say the word, say the sounds. And at about that time, they turn around and go write it. 

I love that writing is in their backpack, not mine. It is not up to me to tell them how to spell anything!

2. I am finishing up Aimsweb testing this week. Today I worked with one who I thought would struggle. Nope. Crushed it! We may need to party tomorrow...

So I want to remember today when the next difficult day comes around and surely it will come.