Friday, September 24, 2010

Today I had a student ask me a very cute question. The conversation went like this:

girl: Mrs Barnes?
me: yes?
girl: do teacher's live in houses?
me: yes they do, why, where do YOU think they live?
girl: I didn't know where...

On the first day of school I specifically read a book titled "my teacher lives at school". It is a cute story about how some students thought their teacher lived at school and how the teacher surprised them with a field trip to her home to show she has a family and a home, too.
There are days I feel like I live in my classroom...and it doesn't surprise me to have the children question it as well. I am there when they get to school and they generally do not see me leave. But in the time I spend in my classroom I am creating not only a space that the students are excited to come to each day, but also a space that I am excited to come into every day as well.
A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops. ~Henry Adams
It is part of the concept of "creating a place to belong to". A place to give and receive love and acceptance, a place to create, a place to even make mistakes and know that we are still loved. The details are important...no matter how small. I may not live at school, but I do want to make it a space that is warm and inviting that any child may feel welcome.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

a lighthouse


I read this quote this past week that said "Lighthouses don’t go running all over an island looking for boats to save; they just stand there shining." ~ Anne Lamott. When I shared this quote it got my sister giggling and then I started as well as I began thinking literally...(it WOULD make a great short film showing a lighthouse hopping around insisting on saving boats!)...however....I loved the quote so much and it got me thinking. As a teacher I can use this concept as well. I, as a Kindergarten teacher, am called to the class I am teaching. I do not go around to other schools attempting to teach any 4 or 5 year old child in sight what they should know, I teach at KCA and I have special and unique students each year. The class I have is given to me for a purpose; the parents chose the school for a reason. And as I stand in my purpose and shine my beacon of light I am able to touch these children with the love of God and the knowledge of knowing that they are learning from me and often times looking to me for answers. I take my job very seriously and will continue to guide all Kindergarten children that walk into my classroom...That is a purpose worth shining for!

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

the day before the first day of Kindergarten...

Today I had a Kindergarten orientation where I met my students and their parents before our first day tomorrow. The word that came to me was EXPECTATION! I have 19 students this year and each one of them had different forms of showing their "expectation" to school. One student was excited as she is returning after being here last year, so in a way, she knows what to expect. A couple students were very shy and clung to their parents as they were not sure WHAT to expect. Some students were already testing the waters to find out what I "expected" out of them regarding sitting still and staying quiet during the opening assembly. A couple students stood in front of me "expecting" a greeting, a hug and a smile. And me? What did I expect? I received exactly what I expected. A room full of potential, a room full of anticipation and a knowing that this is my passion. Many little hearts are excited and expecting to have fun in school....and that is exactly what they will receive :)