I can READ!

I think the only thing more challenging this year than teaching my tots to read, was convincing them that they were readers. It didn't matter how many times we discussed the different ways of reading (searching for sight words, telling a story with the pictures, sounding out words, etc.), or how much praise was poured upon them for doing the things that good readers do (make pictures inside their heads, use sound clues to figure out a word, etc.), the majority were convinced that they were not readers because they could not read like big brother&sister/mom&dad/grandma&grandpa/Ms.S.

But then there was Seuss.

We celebrated Dr. Seuss' birthday by having an all Seuss day (because of snow days, we didn't have the time to do an all Seuss week, like we usually do). We rhymed, we danced, we created, and most of all we read. And read and read and read. And then read some more. Like every child I've ever encountered in my life, my dear tots fell madly in love with Dr. Seuss books. We read all of my books, and then they would go home and read more Dr.Seuss. A few tots brought in their books the next day to share with the class. We even created and read our own version of Green Eggs and Ham.

The change was subtle, but I could see it throughout the day, and the rest of the week. Through the magic of Dr. Seuss, my not-so-tiny tots have come to seem themselves as readers.

Thank you, Dr. Seuss.

I Love My Job.

Terrific Thursday

Today was "Theodore Thursday" and we had green eggs and ham! Our creative art teacher even created some Seussian verses ala Green Eggs and Ham using the names of each kindergarten teacher. My sprouts thought it was the coolest.

Of course, we read the book and discussed how the main character thinks green eggs and ham are gross but finds that they are very yummy. I then served the green eggs and ham scramble I made in the morning to my kids. Their reactions were what I expected: "Ummm, are these really eggs?" "This looks gross!" Their reactions after eating them, however, I was not expecting: " These are delicious! Can I have some more? It is soooo good!"

If you have ever seen green scrambled eggs with chopped up lunch meat ham in it, you know it doesn't look good and (to me) smells/ tastes even worse. Besides a little butter, salt, and pepper it was straight eggs and ham (instead of the delicious breakfast casserole I was supposed to make). But they loved, and even more exciting, they loved writing about it. We did a shared writing in the morning after announcements, an invitation to the principals to join us for green eggs and ham. My little writers also shared their opinion about green eggs and ham, which will soon adorn our bulletin board.

It was thrilling to watch my sprouts try something new, form their very own opinions, and then share them. It made me realize how much they've grown in the short time I've had them. Before I know it, they will be first graders.

Wacky Wednesday

Yesterday was "Wacky Wednesday" in our Dr. Seuss Week. We wore silly socks and read Wacky Wednesday and a few other Dr. Seuss books. By wore silly socks, I mean that we got to walk around in our classroom with no shoes on. My little buddies were delighted. "You mean we are going to do Morning Math in our socks?! That's wacky!!!" In fact, I think wacky has become the hottest word in kindergarten. "Ms. S , look at the bus! It has two steering wheels, that is soooooo wacky!"

Word to the wise: If you ever read Wacky Wednesday to young children, there is a bathroom scene with partial nudity. Consider yourself warned.

Tophat Tuesday...

aka Terrible Tuesday! We continued our Dr.Seuss week today, focusing on the Cat in the Hat. During Bell Work, students colored, cut, and assembled their Cat in the Hat hats. We all had our hats finished/mostly finished by the time it was time to go to our "special assembly." Now, I am all for school plays, and for showing of all of the hard work the wonderful 2nd graders have done, however, this was the worst week ever (for kindergarten) to have a play. My little ones were already excited about Dr.Seuss week and all that it entails, but disrupting our morning routine and not having enough time to even do calendar makes us certifiably INSANE. Not to mention that today was the first class rotation for Dr. Seuss week (instead of all of us coming up with numerous Seussian activities, my team decided we would choose one activity and rotate our classes in the afternoon). And that our special was combined with 1st & 2nd grade today.

By center time, my kids had transformed into little ping pong balls; they were bouncing off the walls. Thankfully, we were able to reign it in a bit with a never-been-read-or-heard-before Dr.Seuss book, and then outside recess. Then we went home.

Thank goodness for Spring Break! I don't know how much more of this Spring fever we can take!

Mixed Up Monday

Today was the first day of our Dr. Seuss Week, a week filled with wonderfully wacky themes and literature. Today was Mixed-Up Monday, for which we got to wear our pajamas to school It was a wonderful day of reading and literacy games/activities. We spent our morning reading block with Dr. Seuss' ABC and played Alphabet Bingo. I gave prizes (bubbles) out to the winners, which added an element of excitement, and afforded me an opportunity to talk about graceful losing and playing for fun.

Side note: I know a lot of teachers who try and make everything fair/equal for their students, especially in the lower grades. I've never been a fan of that philosophy; I think it is setting children up for even bigger disappointment later in life. In my opinion, it's better to learn how to deal with it in smaller situations (bingo), so that bigger situations (losing a national competition) are not as shocking/damaging to a child's self-esteem.

In the afternoon, we read Hop on Pop and Fox in Socks, and had all kinds of fun with rhymes, not to mention some much needed practice. This year, we have found rhyming to be a very difficult skill to master. We topped off our afternoon with a Dr.Seuss Rhyme Match game, which everyone enjoyed thoroughly. Of course, it made it so much better that we were in our pajamas. Seriously, who else gets the privilege of going to work in pajamas?

I love my job!