I think we have the makings of a kindergarten track team

Today I had recess duty, the most tolerable of all "extra" duties. I love having the opportunity to get outside any chance I can, and it's a great way to get to know the kids outside my class as well.

One little fellow, we'll call him Marlon, that I've gotten to know well (from behavior, as well as recess) has an affinity for the trikes that are available to ride during recess. This kid would ride them all day, every day if he could. This however, creates a problem, for he is not the only kindergartner who enjoys a trike ride. It is usually a battle to get this kid of the bike, which almost always ends in a pouting session on his end, and a very unhappy person on my end. But today, I tried a different approach. This is how our conversation went.

Marlon: " Hey Ms. S, watch how fast I can go!"

Me: (Watches him ride at a break neck speed) " Wow, Marlon, that was awesome! You are really fast on that bike. Are you fast on your feet too?"

Marlon: (Looking uncertain) "Yeah"

Me: "Really? Show me how fast you can go."

Marlon: (Takes of in a dead sprint, along with 7 other kindergartners who heard me issue the challenge and now want me to watch them as well.) " Told ya I was fast."

He then proceeds to spend the rest of recess proving to me how fast he is, racing with all the other little runners back and forth on the playground. He's off the bike, other kids are getting a turn, and now I'm thinking about a kindergarten track team. Good golly  those kids are fast!

Growth

And so it begins. My little dears are becoming less and less little. It was definitely noticeable today, I only had to repeat myself 95 times, instead of my usual 100. We took care of business today; remembered procedures, followed directions, listened and focused on learning. I think we have officially made it through the "first days of school."  Now the real work begins!

Smartboard Saturday: Sorry

I have been fighting sickness all week to make it through Parent Teacher Conferences. And I have succumbed to the illness today. Sorry, I will post two next week, but for now...SLEEP!

Parents

It's been a long week filled with even longer days. Parent-Teacher Conference Week. Our district only requires us to stay late on Thursday night, with a half day on Friday (no school for kids), but most teachers, myself included, offer parents any time after school for the first four days of the work week or Friday morning. After all, the goal is 100% attendance.

Sidebar: It is  a complete and utter joke to expect 100% attendance when we have absolutely no influence over whether or not a parent shows up. Just thought I'd put that out there.

Although it means long hours, I do really enjoy conference time. It gives me a chance to assure parents that we are all on the same team, and no matter what preconceived notions they might have, I am here for the best interest of their child.

And of course, the kids love it too. They get to show the people most important to them what they have accomplished in the 28 days that we've been in school. It's a hoot watching them give a tour of a our little world, making sure little brother and/or sister follow all of our classroom rules (even if they didn't during the day!)

Smartboard Saturday: ABCya

Today's post is on the website ABCya.com.

This website was introduced to me by a colleague who used it as a tutoring tool on her interactive white board. After observing her and the student work on it together, I was totally hooked. The activities provided would be great for center time, both on the computer and on the Smartboard. Check it out, and bookmark it as a favorite.

Have a great Saturday!

Dorothy

 This little girl is the newest of our bunch, and is known throughout the school for the sparkly ruby red shoes she wears everyday. However, the shoes are about the only thing this little miss had in common with the kind, gentle character portrayed by Judy Garland.  This little girl is a rebel without a cause, prone to throwing fits and ignoring directions.

But today, I meet the sweet child I knew was buried underneath. After an almost meltdown this morning over a paper, she was sweet as peaches and cream the rest of the day, even helping and sharing with the other kids at her table! Best part of the day: As we are getting ready to switch centers, she asks for a hug. She gives me a fierce hug, and sneaks in a peck on the cheek too.

I know we will probably butt heads everyday for the rest of the year. But this little girl knows she is loved and safe in my class. What an awesome reminder of why I teach.

I love my job!!!

If you don't laugh, you'll cry....

Today was one of those days that I'm pretty sure the entire cosmos was against us getting anything done. We started the day in our regular fashion: Turn attendance cards, turn in folders and agendas, start morning work. We even got through morning work without a hitch. However, in the middle of morning meeting, an unexpected fire drill.

Now most fire drills teachers know are coming, even though we aren't "supposed" to. I think it's a good thing to give us a heads up, that way we can prepare our little ones, who tend to be very excitable/terrified when something like this occurs. However, we did exceptionally well, barring the field of mud we had to trudge through.

Coming in from the fire drill, I decided was the perfect time for a restroom break. It gave us the opportunity to refocus, regroup, and de-mudify. Just as we were settling into our reading lesson, my class was called for eye and ear screening. Now, don't get me wrong, I love, LOVE, love that we offer this service for our kids, many whom have never been to a doctor, however, the timing could not have been worse. It took up the rest of our morning, leaving us just enough time to grab lunchboxes and head to the cafeteria.

BLEH...Frustrating to say the least. The prime teaching time ripped out of my day. But the great thing about kindergarten is that my students have a way of making it all a joy.

For instance, today we were reading , a favorite in our class. Just as a let out a "HOLY GUCAMOLE! What stinks?" in my very best Skippyjon Jones voice, my dear sweet little friend, who has earned the nickname Dennis (as in Dennis the Menace), lets a huge one rip. And of course, the class catches a huge case of the giggles. Being the somber adult in the room, I got us back on track and finished the book. But on the inside, I was rolling! Let's face it....farts are funny. And nothing fixes a frustrating day like a good laugh.

Smartboard Saturday: Morning Math

Unfortunately for my class (and myself!), this year the classroom we are in does not have a Smart Board. According to the powers that be, we are priority #1 when it comes to budgeting, and we should be receiving the aforementioned piece if technology before the year's end. Here's to hoping!

The lack of a Smart Board, however, will not stop me from finding and collecting amazing resources and lessons to be shared! Smart Board Saturday has returned!

Morning Math is the foundation of almost every kindergarten day. Also know as Circle Time, Calendar Time, and a plethora of cutesy names, it starts the day with critical routines that are built upon for the rest of the day/year/educational career. The Smart Board is a great tool to integrate into this morning ritual. I stress integrate for a reason. There are many classrooms that rely solely on the Smart Board for morning routines, which is great if the classroom teacher can guarantee that she/he will be there everyday, and that the technology will work every single day. In the event that the teacher is not available, or the technology goes down for whatever reason, it can make for a very, VERY stressful start to the day. Those who teach, especially the lower grades, know that the morning routines are imperative to how the rest of the day will go.

How can I integrate the Smart Board into our morning routine, you ask? Fantastic question! There are several templates floating around cyberspace that can easily be found using your favorite search engine. I do have a particular template that I am partial to, and would be very willing to share to any who ask for it. Most templates are in the SMART Notebook software, so if you don't have it, get it!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!