these are a few of my favourite things......

Yesterday was my birthday and I LOVE MY BIRTHDAY!!! I become like a Kindergarten student as it is just a day of fun! As a teacher, I often times receive gifts or cards from parents and students which warm my heart. This morning when I walked into the classroom, I found something on my desk that made me stop and then it made me giggle. It was a basket of some of my favourite things. It was from a parent who is an incredible listener and who must be very observant. This parent knows what I like and decided to honour me on my special day with a basket full of goodies. To some people it may not seem like that big of a deal, but to me it was HUGE! It is a basket that teaches a lesson and has taught ME three things which led to three questions to ask myself:
1. I am loved and appreciated; so who do I show love and appreciate to in my life?
2. Someone knows me well enough to know what I love; The friends in my life...do I know them well enough? What would I put in their "basket"?
3. I was thrilled with little things and it showed she was listening to the things I would talk about that I loved; When have I missed listening to someone when they were talking aboutin the little things in life that make them smile and then acting on them?

So I am encouraged now to find out from people in my life what really thrills them, makes their life happy...then act on it.

1-2-3 What will I be?

Friday Show and Tell has come and gone and six more students told the class what their mommy does for a job.

Question: What does your mommy do for a job?

Answer:

- she puts makeup on people for weddings
- she's a doctor for babies
- she works at Divine, she makes my meals and takes care of me.
- she helps the baby
- she helps daddy on the computer when he tells her what to do.
- she is a nurse, she protects people from falling and bugs and stuff.
- she teaches people about Jesus.
"What kinds of things?" I ask. I can't say, she says too many words!

I want all you mother's to know that you have children who love you dearly. They may not know EVERYTHING you do every hour of the day or what your "job" is, but they do understand and remember your actions towards them....caring and loving in every meal made, hurt kissed, dish washed, book read and heart touched.

The mother's heart is the child's school-room. ~Henry Ward Beecher

show and Tell continues....

So today there was another round of "what does your mom do for a job." And again there were some priceless answers I just HAD to share :)

Question: What does YOUR mom do for a job?

Answer:

- she uses a calendar (uh, you mean calculator) oh yeah, a calculator and figures out numbers.
- she bakes cupcakes....that's it.
- she lets me play with my toys and she lets me play Donkey Kong on Tuesdays. ("wow, that's a GREAT job" I said. he followed with "I KNOW"
- she holds a baby in her tummy. (that is definitely a job!)
- she kisses me (is that all she does? yup, that's it)
- she makes me lunch, takes care of me, reads me stories, works on her ipod. (he would have kept going but we ran out of time)
And probably one of my favourites....
- she teaches university students how to read!

Needless to say I never go through a show and Tell without a chuckle.

One last thing. I need to print a retraction....Today I was told from a child who did their show and Tell on Monday that she was wrong...her mom does not work on a blackberry, she uses an iphone. Got it :)

what does your mom do for a job....

Well, it is that time of year again in the Kindergarten classroom where we discuss what our moms do for a job. It never ceases to amaze me the outlook that children have of their moms and what jobs they do. Below are some of the answers I got today during show and tell.

Question: What does your mom do for a job?

Answers:

- she types on her blackberry. (anything else, I ask?....nope, nothing else, that's it)
- she takes care of ME! (that entails more then they know! )
- I sweep for my mommy cause she has a baby
- when my clothes get dirty my mommy puts them in the dryer for me
- my mommy works so I can go to Disneyland!


well, those are the ones so far from todays show and tells. Stay tuned for Wednesday and Friday's show and tells as I am sure there will be some great ones :)

what is in a name?

What is in a name? When my husband and I were expecting each of our sons, it was a big deal choosing what name we were going to be calling our child. The meaning of the name was extremely important as it is spoken over them daily.
I am called a lot of names in Kindergarten. I have many names as a teacher....Every day I am called the following at least once; teacher, Mrs. Barnes, Mrs. Barneses, MR Barnes, on one occasion one child yelled "Hey Barnes!", and one of my favourites I get called is "mommy" (not only from my own son, but the students will call me not even thinking and then quickly switch when they realize) Thankfully they have all been good names:) Yes I have been yelled at in my face, kicked by a child and more; but I have also been a shoulder to cry on, arms for an embrace and a kiss for a sore finger, just to name a few. I may be called a lot of different names and I believe my names have a meaning..."to make a difference". Nobody can do everything, but everyone can do something. ~Author Unknown
Kindergarten is my something.

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!