Jack Hartman

Everyday since the first day of school, I have a little boy who always says to me, "Ms.M, I miss my mommy."  I always told him he'd be okay and that we had fun things to do. Well, last night at conference night, I was happy to let his mom know he was doing better at this.

Today was a special day. We had Jack Hartman (all of you teacher KNOW who he is), come to our school and have a concert for our kids. It was the most amazing day of my teaching career. It was like seeing a superstar for me. When he played Tooty Ta, I jumped up and down and danced with the kids myself (I know, geek). 


The concert ended and we were walking back to the classroom. I look down my line and see my little one about to burst out into tears. I hear, "Ms. M,"


Me: Yes.
Student: I miss.... Jack Hartman
Me: My heart melting.. "I know, we had a good time. Don't worry, we're going to play his CD all day today and have a great rest of the day."

Such a HUGE smile appeared on his face.


What a great day we had. :)

Eyelashes

Each year we have a book called, All About Me. We put our handprints, feet print, a picture of ourselves, our families, etc. I had assigned them a the page of their family. I asked them to draw a picture of themselves and their parents. As I walked around the classroom, I see one of my students' pictures. I stop and ask her who was in her picture.
Student: Me
Me: Why are your eyelashes so big?
Student: Those aren't eyelashes, that's me crying. I miss my mommy.
Poor thing. I wanted to tell her things would get better, but she wouldn't understand right now. :)

I should have never bought that book

Last week our school had it's Book Fair. Our Media Specialist did a wonderful job in creating a "Jungle" theme in our Media Center. It was amazing.


During the week, teachers can make our slips for parents to buy books if they would like to purchase them for our classroom. I usually don't ask for things. If parents want to buy a book, I'm very grateful. However, at our last Book Fair, many parents were upset with me for not choosing books, that this time, I went in and selected a few. I have wonderful and generous parents and all the books were donated to our classroom.


There was one particular book I thought was very cute and it goes along with one of our themes in our Reading Units. I really didn't have time to read them over before selecting. I figured it was Scholastic so it couldn't be that bad.  I chose a book that had to do with fish. I can't recall the title off the top of my head right now. I can post it later.


Today, we had some free time, so I asked my intern if she would like to read a book to our class. I told my students that this book was donated to us from the Book Fair from one of the students in our classroom. Everyone was VERY excited and could hardly wait to hear it. 


The story is about a hungry cat who wants to have dinner. She sees some fish and selects them. When she finds the first fish (male), she named it Lunch and put it into a fishbowl.  She selects a second fish (female) and decides to call this one Dinner. 


The story continues with the Cat telling the fish they were going to be eaten. However, at the end of the story, the two fish fall in love in the fish bowl and make a giant heart out of their bubbles.


Student who selected the book: I can't believe I bought this one! This is disgusting.


I could not stop laughing that they really understood the concept of falling in love. My little one was so disgusted, he made our whole class laugh.


It's amazing what I experience throughout my day as a Kindergarten teacher. Their innosense brings me such joy and laughter on a day to day basis. I really wish I had my laptop with me to captivate all their expressions and small quotes they share with me each day. They have really changed my life for the better. 

Ms. M gets BUSTED!

Behind my rainbow table (I call it that since it's like a shape of a rainbow and it's easy for the kids to understand what table I want things), I have a playdough play center. The kids can just make and do what they want during this time. It's fun for me, because this is the only time during our day when I can actually listen to my students be 5. 


We have this black thing on the top of our classroom. Since we opened our school, we have told our students that this is a camera that our principal can see what we are doing in our classroom. (I'm really not sure what it is, but a camera it is not, I teach at a public school).


Well, the boys were arguing about something and I usually have them work it out during this time. Play centers is a time to be social and problem solve.  I hear, "I'm not your friend anymore."  "That's fine, I'm not either." 


Curious as to what they are talking about, I turn around and ask, "What is going on? You are always friends in this classroom, no matter what. We are family and we must like each other."


Student 1: "Well, he pushed me."
Student 2: "No I didn't."
Me: "Well, I didn't see anything but I'm sure that if someone did do something the other one is sorry. Let's just let this one go and tomorrow is a new day."
Student 1: "Wait, Ms. M, that thing up there. It's a camera right?"
Me: "Yes"
Student 1: "Well, you can go to the principals office and replay the tape and see, he really did push me."
Me: Speechless.......(remember, there is NO camera and I couldn't believe he remembered it....I haven't mentioned this since November!!!)
Student 1: "Yeah, she's gonna see the tape (looking at his friend) and she's going to know you weren't telling the truth....."
Me: Looking at student 2: "Do you need to tell me something before I look at the tape?"
Student 2: "Um, I'm sorry?"
Me: "Thank you, now go tell your friend and we will go home."
Student 2 to Student 1: "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for pushing and I'm sorry for not telling the truth."
Student 1: "Well, I'm gonna go with Ms. M and still see the tape!"
Me:  **Frustrated** "I don't have time to see the tape  today.. I have to drive to Tampa. He just said he was sorry so we're done here....


I just could NOT believe that they remembered the "camera".  I almost busted myself....he was really going to follow me to the office to see it. 

Please Loose My Clips

In our classroom, I have a behavior management where the kids have to move their clips to various monkey colors. I have "bad" clip moves and "good" clip moves. If I catch a child doing well, they move their clip to blue. At the end of the day I will give them a monkey sticker to take home and it's a big deal.


There is always a flip side. If a rule is broken the child must  move down to yellow and they of course are not happy about it. If a clip is moved once they have a 5 minute time out at recess and if it gets moved again, they loose their play center time at the end of the day. IT does not stop there. They also have to call their parents and tell them why they lost play centers. Not the happiest of all moments in our class but "tough love" as I call it has to happen.


The other night, I had a parent e mail me.  Her son layed himself down to sleep and began to pray with his mom:

"And Lord, I pray for Ms M. for her to loose her clips so she can't make me change it when she gets mad....amen..."


He then opened his eyes and giggled.


 I don't know why this made me laugh as much as it has.  They are so cute at this age and pretty soon they will forget my name. I hope they read this someday and see how cute they are at this age and how much I do love them as their teacher. 

What do your parents do for work?

Our Social Studies Unit today was about work. Different kinds of jobs. For a little background knowledge, I asked my little monkeys what were some jobs grown ups do? I get the following answers, Doctors, Lawyers, Teachers... all the basics. I had not done this yet this year, so I went around the class and asked each child what their parents did. Many of my students dad's work as "Computer Fixers". I also got, "My mommy helps kids".

My twins... I asked one of them what did their daddy do?

"He kinda has two jobs." His brother is shaking his head aimlessly!

"NOOOOOO.....he's a preacher."  While the first twin in continuing on... "Daddy mows the lawn and picks up dog poop."

Meanwhile, I'm trying to contain my laughter. Because, in some ways twin 1 is correct. So, I take a deep breathe and blow my giggles out and reply....

"You are correct in some way and so is your brother. Daddy's job is being a Preacher. But mommy also gives daddy other jobs. (I'm laughing so hard just writing this post that I know it's not all coming out the right way. I may need to repost later).

"Yeah, you're right Ms. M... I told you, daddy has two jobs."

Meanwhile, I see the boys parents after school and literally RUN to them to tell them the story. I have such great parents that they laughed as hard as I did.

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss, I mean Bon Jovi....

On March 2nd we try to teach the children how it is Dr. Seuss' Birthday. They love reading all of his books at this age. I had mentioned to my kids the day before, that we will have a special day and we will have some activities to do. 


As the kids come in and do their daily routines, my one little dude comes in to remind me  it was Dr. Seuss' Birthday. 


"Oh, Ms. M, it's not only HIS birthday.....It's Bon Jovi's Birthday too (in his loudest voice jumping up and down)!"


For a split second I asked myself how does he know this. Reminder: SPLIT SECOND....


Right away I remembered how his mom LOVES Mr. Jovi (she's very excited to be going to his concert). So, Mom comes into my room and tells me about the party in the mini van her and her son had on their way to school in the morning. 


I love how my kids tell me things that they would also tell their parents. It's times like this, that remind me, I am doing a great job. If my students can tell me things that they are telling their parents, not only am I teaching them, but, I am impacting them as a "friend" for later on in life. To me, this is why I chose this profession. 


Thank you little dude for reminding me of why I am here. :)