m....is for moose

Each week in Kindergarten the students are taught a new phonogram. This week's phonogram was "m". Each week along with the new letter and sound we make a craft. Today it was a moose. The students always get so excited to do a craft and today was no exception. One of the students stopped a teacher in the hallway and said "GUESS WHAT WE MADE FOR CRAFT! MOOSES!"
So learning the plural forms of our crafts will come later.... :)

sledding...

Today I had the Kindergarten class over for a field trip in my own backyard. This month in our class we have been learning and talking about things to do in the snow. So to put it into practice I planned a trip to my backyard where the class went sledding on our hill. So picture for a moment 23 children and 9 adults all sledding, laughing and playing in the snow for a good solid hour and a half; and then they all enjoyed some yummy hot chocolate and baking indoors. It was one of my favourite field trips ever for a few reasons. One reason was because we could not have asked for better weather. It was cold, but not too cold; mild, but not too mild, a perfect sledding weather day. The other reason was because it was in a comfortable environment. The kindergarten class was very excited to not only be going sledding, but they were going to MRS. BARNES' HOUSE! So much anticipation, excitement and fun! I hope it was a trip they won't soon forget....I know I won't.

a Kindergarten prayer

Every day in Kindergarten I choose a child to be my pray-er for the classroom. Some students pray a simple prayer of "thank you God for today, Amen." and some students require my direction and will repeat after me to complete their prayer. Today in Kindergarten I had a child who prayed a prayer of everything from his heart. He said exactly what he was thanking God for and why and how he was feeling. The morning prayer went like this:

"Dear God,
Thank you for today. Thank you God for our house, our furniture and bugs. And thank you God for creating all the creatures. And thank you God especially for making the spiders....so they can eat all the mosquitos. Amen"

I love how children are so innocent in their prayers. They pray what is important to them no matter how "simple" because they know God is listening and they are truly thankful. I am blessed to have daily reminders of enjoying the simple things in life and also reminded to thank God for all the blessings in my life. Looking at life through the eyes of a child is an amazing view. For THAT I am truly thankful, even thankful for the spiders.

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.

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!

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 :)

crayons

Yesterday I had the SK graduation at the school. It was a time to honour each child and to thank the parents for allowing me the privilege of teaching their little treasures this past year (and for some two years). As I was preparing for the grad, I was thinking of maybe having a theme, when I saw a crayon. As I stared at the crayon it made me think of potential. Crayons have so much potential in them and can be a starting point for something huge. I am sure every famous artist that we know started drawing with a crayon. Each colour had a purpose for adding something different to the final result. I saw crayons as being symbolic to Kindergarten....a start to something more, each child adding something different to the final result. What I did for each child was wrote the meanings of their name and had a verse for each of them and then I had a colour associated for each. One child I saw as yellow, sunshine, happy, his name meant laughter and that is what he brought to the class. Another child was associated with red; energetic and loving. One child I said was the colour blue, which is the colour of peace. I had a really empowering time writing about each child and who I saw them as and who I believe God sees them as. They may be at a crayon level, with a smaller canvas; but they will graduate to more colour choices, tool choices like paints or pastels...and they will have a much bigger canvas as they grow in independence and also grow in the knowledge of their purpose. I cannot wait for the display!

100 days!

Yesterday, in the Kindergarten class, we celebrated 100 days of going to school. Every year we have a party on our 100th day. The students are told at the beginning of the year that we are counting the days of school and on our 100th day there will be a celebration. I have them every day put up a new number and we celebrate the milestones of 25 and 50 but the ultimate excitement comes at day 100. The students are so full of excitement and this year was no exception. I thoroughly enjoyed how when we got to 80 they would say we only have 20 days left! and when we got to 90 it was a constant countdown. Little did they know how much "math" they were doing in the process.
Well, on our party day each child brought in 100 yummy things to share. This year I had 10 students...and you can do the math, each shared 10 things with each student to create a mixed bag of 100. Not every year turns out so "perfect". :) Some activities we did were counting how far 100 steps were on the playground, playing our hop to 100 game...but the favourite activity every year is playing in 100 balloons. I ask the grade 5/6 class to blow up 100 balloons and they put them in bags the day before and set them in our classroom. I then with the help of the Kindergarten students count them out onto our classroom and then play music and allow them to play in them. It is probably the most talked about activity by previous classes.

the gift!

So one of my students gave me this beautiful "flower" today while we were outside. She was so excited to give it to me and insisted I bring it home and put it in some water.
As I looked at this poor flower (or whatever it is), I could feel the heart behind the giving; it was huge. Some may see the gift for what it is , a wilted flower, but in teaching children, I have the privilege to "hear" the heart behind that gift. I see it in their eyes, the excitement and joy. When that student gave me this flower and she heard the excitement in my voice and saw the gratitude in my smile, her world became brighter and she responded by skipping away with an even bigger smile on her face. Where else in my life am I able to allow someone to give and feel their heart. As I receive them, will they skip away with a smile on their face, or will they look like this wilted flower?
Where man sees but withered leaves,
God sees sweet flowers growing.
~Albert Laighton

I can change my world around me, one smile at a time!

Grandparent's Day

Today was Grandparent's day at the school. It is probably one of my favourite "special" days as it is such a wonderful time of honouring. The students put on an assembly which is mixed with songs, poems and speeches honouring their grandparents. Each year is unique and this year was no exception. I sat in my classroom with one grandfather who shared with me his memories of Kindergarten. He said he hadn't really thought about it until that moment when he was watching the students engaged in their activities. He said it brought back good memories of the time when he was that age, 55+ years ago! Another grandfather shared with me how he is enrolling in Kindergarten in September because he thinks the class is so much fun! I also had a conversation with a grandfather who told me how important it is that children learn how to "be" with other children in a classroom. He shared with me how he grew up alone and how he wouldn't wish that on any child.
I know I have said it many times, but I love my job. I have many opportunities to share experiences with people, but I also have the privilege to see into their hearts. It is amazing how real people become in a Kindergarten setting. It is a space where people can be open, honest and most importantly just be themselves.

So today was Show and Tell and it was time for the infamous "what does your dad do for a job" question. The following were some clues and descriptions some of the children gave. Enjoy, I know I did!

• clue: something that makes my dad rich.
• answer: he makes money for a job
• Another child answered this with "all dad's do that!"

• clue: it starts with "b"
  
• answer: he makes buckets for a craft (he makes buckets for loaders and tractors)

• clue: starts with a B and ends with an R
• answer: he works at B & R (company's name)
• description of what dad does: he crushes filters into oil and then makes them into cars!
  

I also asked the students to think about what they may want to be when they grow up. One child said he wants to be an astronaut then proceeded to tell his friends that when he is an astronaut he will fly a rocket; and a rocket protects you from the moon.

Yup, I love my job!

Today I had another dad of one of the students come into the classroom to talk about his job. He is a Toronto firefighter and he talked to the students about fire safety. It went really well and the students learned a lot. At the end of the presentation the students had a chance to try on the firefighter coat and helmet. I also took a turn and it amazed me how heavy the items were. There were a lot of layers to the uniform and each layer served a purpose of protection. In looking at it and asking questions I began to realize how if one layer was not functioning like it should it could cause serious damage to "whom" it is protecting. God has a plan and I also have a job to do. When I walk in my purpose and function as I should everyone I come in contact with can feel safe. It makes me thankful that I am a layer in God's plan. When I choose not to walk in my purpose and disregard anything God has called me to do, my layer develops holes and becomes thin and ineffective. It can be repaired, but it will take a choice. How strong is my layer? What am I bringing to God's plan? Protection or harm? I choose to be strong and BE the best "layer" I can BE for everyone around me and ultimately for God!

Easter egg hunt...

So today I did an Easter egg hunt with the Kindergarten class. I had it all prepared by stuffing the plastic eggs with "mini eggs" and stickers. We went outside for our gym time and I had the students sit on the log outside with their eyes closed while I hid 50 eggs on the playground. The excitement was apparent as they were not just sitting on the log they were bouncing up and down in anticipation for the hunt. When I finished "hiding" the eggs, or more specifically placing them in different areas of the playground, I gave them each a bag with their name on it and gave them three rules. Rule one: When you find an egg, put it in the bag, do not open them. Rule 3: find five eggs, each a different colour; blue, green, yellow, purple and pink. Rule 2: When you are finished finding all your eggs, come back and sit on the log until everyone is finished. Everything started off well as the children ran to find all their five eggs. It started to fall apart when I realized I made a mistake....yes, teachers make mistakes, too...I realized there were no PINK EGGS! I realized it after a couple students came to me saying they had four eggs and couldn't find the last egg, and the missing link? A pink one which I too couldn't seem to find. This is when I was thankful that children are quick to forgive and quick to make a change. I proceeded to say "OOPS Mrs. Barnes made a mistake, you can find five eggs...doesn't matter what colour. After that, things went smoothly, all the eggs were found and everyone was very excited to have a bag of plastic eggs. Lesson learned in Kindergarten today? Everyone makes mistakes and it's ok. Making mistakes simply means you are learning faster. ~Weston H. Agor It is a good thing I am in Kindergarten because apparently I am not too good with colours!

contagious excitement

Yesterday at school I had one of the student's dad come in to talk about his job. We met him in the back parking lot and he proceeded to show us the big loader that he drives. The tires were bigger then the students! The student's dad then took them each for a ride around the parking lot as I took pictures. The children LOVED it , they had such a great time. I love the fact that this dad was so proud of his job and wanted to share it with his child's class. The children's energy was so full of excitement and awe, it was really contagious. It drew a little crowd around the doors of other people in the building (including the principal who was giving a tour of the school) from hearing all the excitement. And I have to admit, I really loved looking at the loader too, it WAS pretty cool!

I just finished up my last Parent-Teacher interviews for this school year and I have to say as nervous as I get before they happen is nothing compared to the energy I feel once they are complete. The energy isn't from me being finished them, the energy is from how awesome the parents are and how "for" the school they are. The school is a private Christian school and the parents pay tuition for their children to be taught by teachers like myself. I feel energized as the parents come one after another and inform me how much their children love school and love me as a teacher. They also tell me how they see such a change in their child from the beginning of the year to now and then they conclude it with "thank you". All I have to say is "thank YOU!". I thank the parents for sending their child to the school and allowing me the privilege of teaching them. They are handing me their treasure to take care of, to guide, to teach. That is a high calling and I do not take it lightly. It feels very empowering to know that parents trust me enough to drop off their child three days a week so I can impart Godly truths in a creative environment where they have no other choice but to learn and grow. I feel blessed in my purpose and I feel energized in the path I am walking in.

Every Monday afternoon I take the Senior Kindergartens to the school computer lab where they are able to each have their own computer and play educational games. At each computer there are headsets that they wear so as not to disturb the highschool French class going on at the same time. Well, I have realized that the headphones do very little to keep the room quiet. The students will call my name or go to talk to the classmate beside them, and their voice is always extremely loud, even shouting at times. AND they are oblivious to the fact that they are that loud. It made me wonder how often I do that in life. I, at times, say something out loud thinking I am saying it correctly and in the right tone when I am just making a lot of noise. When I am able to hear feedback from those around me and adjust my level I create a much quieter environment!

Another favourite part of being a Kindergarten teacher is when I get to decorate the classroom to go with the season or theme. I love the changes in the room and how it can look so different just by switching the pictures on the windows or bulletin boards. I have one bulletin board that has a large tree on it. As the seasons outside the classroom changes so does my tree inside the room. In the fall it is covered with colourful leaves and apples, winter time the leaves "fall off" (and I decorate it with candy canes and lights at Christmas), then snow goes on the ground at the bottom of the tree. In spring I put up blossoms and gradually add green leaves as the trees outside change. The students love the changes that happen in the classroom and I enjoy the looks of "awe" when something is different. Changing bulletin boards may not sound fun to a lot of people, but it has always been something I have looked forward to when being a Kindergarten teacher. Anything that makes a child smile, I enjoy doing...again, it's in my job description!

even Elmo!

It is coming up to Easter weekend and next week I will be doing a craft with the students that I have done every year in Kindergarten. I give them a paper and a cut out cross and at the top of the paper it says "Jesus died for...". I then give them a magazine and some scissors and tell them to cut out pictures of people. Before the craft I talk to them about how Easter is about remembering and celebrating the fact that Jesus died and rose again for everybody and how amazing His love is for us. I ask them "did Jesus die for people who do really bad things?" I go on to explain that Jesus dies for ALL people no matter who they are or what they have done. Every year, and I mean EVERY, there is always a few students who cut out pictures of toys, Disney characters and puppies. I explain to them that I asked them to cut out pictures of people because Jesus died for people. A couple years ago, when I approached one student and reminded her what she should be cutting out, she said "Jesus died for Elmo, too!" To children it is just that simple! Jesus died for all, even Elmo :)

Every Friday afternoon in Kindergarten I have reading buddies. This is a time where the grade 3/4 class comes into our classroom and reads to the Kindergarten students. I find this such an important time for all of them. The grade 3/4s have an opportunity to be a reading role model as well as practice their reading skills and the kindergartens get the chance to be read to and by students that they look up to. It is a time that each one involved looks forward to. I love all programs where it brings older and younger students together. I have had grade 3/4 students come to me and say that they remember being read to in Kindergarten during reading buddies and now they think it is neat how they get to be the ones to read. One day these Kindergarten students will be the ones blessing the younger students with stories, that is pretty cool!

body language

One of my centres in the classroom is the listening centre. At the listening centre there are headphones and a CD/tape player and a book that goes with the story being played. This centre is my quietest centre. As the children put the headphones on, they are thoroughly engrossed in the story being played. I received these books recently from a parent that each came with a CD. They are so well done that the students want to hear them over and over again. As I was sitting at another centre helping out some students I looked over and one of the students was pointing at the story and the words, showing the other student where they were in the story. There were no words exchanged, just motion with the fingers, eye contact and facial expressions. It was so great to watch and it reminded me again of how powerful my body language is. There have been times during the school year where I cannot speak out loud to a child, for instance during our chapel. All the students have learned about me in the first few weeks of school was my body language. I will look over, snap my fingers, just look at them and then I end off with a wink and a reassuring smile that they made a good shift. Body language is extremely important in all areas of my teaching. It often communicates more than words do. It is just like the game Simon Says; children will often imitate what I DO not always what I SAY.