Time flies!

The school year has ended and the chairs have been put up for the last time.  
The shelves are clear, bulletin boards have been stripped, names have been scraped off of the coat hooks, school supplies have been returned and portfolios have been sent home.
Now I have three months to prepare for the next group of eager, nervous, excited five year olds.  
Three months to wonder...

"will they like me, will they find my classroom fun and interesting, will they enjoy all the things we do in Kindergarten, will I love them as much as I have loved my past classes?"

Three months before I get to hatch baby chickens!  Three months before I get to wear pajamas to work, eat snack at 11:00, finger paint with pudding, fish for crawdads, make a volcano, graph M&M's, read a story, sing a song, do "The Chicken Dance", get an icy sponge, hold a rat, play with play dough, feed a tarantula, hold a snake, release a butterfly and make a prediction.  Three months to wait before I meet my new class.  Three months before I get hugged by precious little arms.  Three months to plan, dream, create, anticipate and wonder what the next year has in store for me!  I can hardly wait!

End Of Our Journey

The end of the school year is four days away and as I sit and reflect on this past year I am filled with emotion.  I have been teaching for 21 years and I can honestly say this past year has been the most rewarding experience of my career.  What made it so special?  Well, I renewed my commitment to making every moment count and to find clarity in what I think a Kindergarten child needs to have a successful experience in my class.  I love my job and even though it is tremendously exhausting at 50 years old...I can't imagine doing anything else.
Did every child master every skill?  No!  Did every child learn how to read?  No!  Did every child leave my class feeling good about themselves, capable, responsible, helpful, accountable, loved and well cared for?  I really hope so!   Kindergarten should be a time of celebration.  A time of wonder and hope for a bright future ahead.  It is the beginning of a lifetime of learning and we should honor every child's gifts and unique abilities.  Each child is different!  Each child is incredibly special!  I get the privilege of spending my days exploring what it means to be five or six!  Thank you Kindies for reminding me about what life is really all about!

A Pirate's Life For Me!

This was one of the clues for our treasure hunt.

The literacy center was set up with jewels, eye patches, pirate books, 

a flannel board, puppets, coins and necklaces.   

We celebrated the last week of school with Pirate Day.  The children were invited to dress up like pirates and when they arrived I had an eye patch hanging on their coat hooks.  We went on a treasure hunt, made these fabulous pirates, sang pirate songs and read the book,  How I Became A Pirate.