Just for a Laugh

A parent clipped this story out of a newspaper.  It just makes me laugh!  There are definitely days like this :)
Since it was cut out, I don't have the author's name...but I hope you enjoy.

A change in the weather had brought low temperatures and a threat of rain, possibly snow.  At the end of class, a kindergarten teacher was asked by a young lad if she would help him put his boots on.

It was soon evident why he asked for assistance.  Even with her pulling and him pushing, the little boots just didn't want to go on his feet.  By the time they were able to get the second boot on, she had worked up a sweat.

She was speachless when the little boy said, "Teacher, they're on the wrong feet!" 

Sure enough, they were.  It wasn't any easier getting them off than it was putting them on.  But she managed to keep her cool as they struggled to get the boots on the correct feet.

The little tyke then announced, "These aren't my boots."  Although the day had been strenuous, she bit her tongue rather than lash out, demanding "Why didn't you say so at first!?"  Without a word, she kneeled down and battled to once again remove the ill-fitting boots.

No sooner had they removed the boots when the dear child announced proudly, "They're my brother's boots--Mom made me wear 'em."

At this point, she didn't know whether to laugh, cry, or scream, but she mustered up the grace and courage to once again wrestle the boots back on.

Helping him into his coat, she asked, "Now, where are your mittens?"

He said, "Oh, Mom said to stuff them in the toes of my boots so I wouldn't lose 'em."

!!!

...Which brings me to something else:  I am SO thankful to live in California!  I can't imagine having to suit kindergartners up for the snow every day for recess, lunch, and to go home!  Thank you, Lord, for sunshine, and just enough rainy days to keep us in this glorious drought.  ;-)

Pictures :)

These the little valentines we made for our bulletin board.  They turned out really cute!  I cut the shapes out (usually, I have them do it, but there were so many little pieces...)

Aren't they cute?!?

They each wrote their names on the heart.  This little lady is excited to learn cursive :)

This is the cutest behavior chart I think I've seen!  The K teacher before me made it, and I love it :)

It's says, "Hopping Good Behavior"

"On the lilypad?  Go, Frog, go!"

"In the water?  Slow, Frog, slow!"

"On the brown log? Whoa, Frog, whoa!"

"In the fish's belly?  No, Frog, no!"

The frogs are attached with velcro, and the students move them when they misbehave.

Like I said, it's not my creation, but it's too cute not to show!

I have more pictures to blog about, but the computer here at school is giving me issues.  I'll put more up another time :)

Oops :)

Sorry about my absence last week...I got locked out of my account!  When I couldn't log in, I worried that something had happened to my account, started wondering if I would need to make another blog, fretted about falling behind...and then I realized I wasn't using the correct password to sign in!  Lol.  Duh, Mrs. B!

I took several pictures from around my classroom yesterday so that I can put them up here.  That way, you can see what we've been up to!

Our 100th Day of school was a success, and the kids had a blast counting all day.  Only in Kindergarten is that still fascinating enough to keep them interested for hours :)

The next big thing we will be getting ready for is Dr. Suess's birthday.  Does anyone have fun craft ideas?

Chinese New Year is bigger around here than Valentine's Day was!  Out of my 10 Kinders, 7 of them are Chinese.  One family brought me a gift bag on Friday with Chinese treats and a beautiful card for me detailing the importance of this holiday to them.  Another mom came in on Friday and enthralled the kids with the story of the first Chinese New Year.  She gave each of them a gorgeous red envelope with golden Chinese characters and "lucky money" inside.  She taught them how to say "gōng xǐ," meaning "congratulations, we made it another year!"  She also told them that most of them were probably born in the Year of the Sheep, so they should all be quiet like sheep in class! :)

This was my first year, and I really had no idea what an important holiday Chinese New Year around here.  Heck, I grew up in "Little Mexico," practically, and didn't even remember that the Chinese celebrate the New Year at a different time than we do!  Next year, I will plan a much bigger celebration, and focus more on the traditions of the culture for that week, including traditional food, dress, and art work.  I am thankful that the parents are so involved and were happy to come in and teach the children about their important traditions!

100th Day of School

Next Monday is our 100th Day of School.

My kindergarteners will be busy counting all day!

I've looked online for different songs, poems, dances, and activities to do, along with 100-themed books. The kids are very excited about it :)

One fun activity that we are going to try this year is to make a 100 Day Aquarium using blue Jell-O and 100 swedish fish candies. The kids will love getting to "help" make the Jell-O, and it will be a fun afternoon treat for us!

While we are waiting for the Jell-O to set, we're also going to make a paper aquarium to put up on the wall. I've printed out 10 paper fish that each child will decorate and cut out themselves (I have ten students, so it works out perfectly!). We will put our 100 paper fish on our blue paper "aquarium" and count them together.

This is my first year teaching, so I'm curious what other primary teachers are doing to celebrate the 100th day with their classes. Maybe yours has already passed, maybe it's coming up soon. How are you celebrating your 100th day of school?

What do YOU do?

Our principal shared this with us at our morning devotional today. I'm sharing it because every teacher needs to be reminded of this every once in a while :)

The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life.One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education. He argued, "What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?"To stress his point he said to another guest; "You're a teacher, Bonnie. Be honest. What do you make?"

Bonnie, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied, "You want to know what I make? (She paused for a second, then began...)"Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.I make a C+ feel like the Congressional Medal of Honor winner.

I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their parents can't make them sit for 5 without an I Pod, Game Cube or movie rental.

You want to know what I make? (She paused again and looked at each and every person at the table)I make kids wonder.I make them question.I make them apologize and mean it.I make them have respect and take responsibility for their actions.

I teach them how to write and then I make them write. Keyboarding isn't everything.I make them read, read, read.

I make them show all their work in math. They use their God-given brain, not the man-made calculator.

I make my students from other countries learn everything they need to know about English while preserving their unique cultural identity.

I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe.I make my students stand, placing their hand over their heart to say the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, One Nation Under God, because we live in the United States of America.

Finally, I make them understand that if they use the gifts they were given, work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life."

Bonnie paused one last time and then continued.

"Then, when people try to judge me by what I make, with me knowing money isn't everything, I can hold my head up high and pay no attention because they are ignorant.

You want to know what I make?

I MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

What do you make, Mr. CEO?"