Don't worry Mrs! I'm sick too!!

It's been awhile since I've posted--I am battling the worst part of being a first year teacher--SICKNESS! I have been sick for about 2 weeks and don't see any end in sight. In the last 2 weeks, though, I've taken 1 day off. It's more work than it's worth to take a day. My husband keeps asking me if I'm worried that I'll get the kids sick. My response? They gave it to me!! No really, I have been sanitizing my room every morning and afternoon. I've given lessons on how to cough into your elbow, drink lots of water and wash your hands a lot. Here's to hoping for wellness. I had a sub last Monday when I had the stomach flu. When I picked up my kids on Tuesday morning, they all started to cheer. "I missed you so much, Mrs." I heard all day. "Don't be sick again, ok?" And people wonder why I don't like to call in sick :). The sub did leave a note that she loved my class and had a great day. Thank GOODNESS!!

*I usually hold my kids' hands in the hallway while we walk to specials, lunch, etc. This week I didn't hold hands. "Friends, I am still a little sick, so I'm not going to hold your hands. I don't want to get you sick, too!" One student looking very concerned: "Don't worry Mrs! I'm sick too-you can hold my hand!!" How can you refuse that? :)

*We had conferences last week--I am probably the only teacher in the world who loves conferences. I love my families and their affirmation of me as a teacher was really appreciated. One comment: "Any chance you gonna teach 1st grade next year, Mrs?!" :) I was able to show parents how much their child had improved--I showed writing samples from 3 months ago, and compared them to now. I had the kid read one of their small group reading books to their parents--we talked about what they need to work on, etc...but at the end of every conference, I got to tell the parent why I love having that student in class. It was a fun day. And those parents that didn't show? I've been hounding them ever since. :) haha

*"Mrs..this kindergarten thang is gettin pretty easy--I think I'm ready for 1st grade."

*"Mrs--2012 is a pretty good year. But you know what my favorite year was?! 2008! That was a REAL good year." Lol...um?!

*"Man, Mrs.--it seems like school is gettin harder every day. You just keep teachin us more and more and more." Me--That's because you are getting so much smarter. I am trying to fill that brain up with everything I can.  Student-"Yea..."

*When I started teaching Kinder....I had no IDEA how much we are expecting out of 5 year olds now...this week I started teaching addition. That's right. ADDITION--my students were working at their math centers making their designs with tile blocks and then writing out 2+6=8....(just an example). I am floored.

**My kids took a state test on the computer this week. A 57 question multiple choice test. I kid you not. Before we went into the test, I told them it was super important--that their parents, me, and the principal was going to see their score, so I wanted them to turn their brains on. (They all did--click!!) "You are so smart, I know you will do great. I'm proud of you already!!" After the test "Mrs...I know I turned my brain on cuz I did real good on that test."

*"Mrs...for that heart day--me and my mom are going to make some candies for my friends." I'm so excited for Valentine's Day! It was one of my favorite things about elementary school!!!

**Some of my parents confided some horrible things to me at conferences. It continues to break my heart to hear about the situations that people are forced to live in...Feeling inspired to do something more.....

*We have been working on counting by 10s, 5s and 2s...so I found a little kid rap video to help us practice--you should have SEEN how excited my kids were. It was hilarious. :)

*My FAVORITE thing about my class was the way they all watched out for each other--they were so sweet to each other and they didn't seem to notice differences in skin, clothes, hair, etc. I am sad, because I already see them growing up--I see them losing some of that innocence...this week some of them have started to say MEAN things to each other--I have come down hard on them--we've had apologies and tears...lots of lessons on being a good friend. It just stinks to watch them lose some of that genuine friendship. :(

*I have invited our teacher leader to spend more time in my classroom--she LOVES my kids so has started to come in everyday during writing. One day last week...she said "Can I come watch them in centers, too?" I love for them to have another adult who adores them!

*I volunteered to test a computer program that reads books to the kids. They have had SO much fun listening to books at the computer center during centers...They say one of the best ways to build fluency is to have someone read to you--a lot of my kids parents either aren't reading to them or can't read English--so this is a great alternative....and they LOVE it.

*Walking down the hallway...."Mrs...will you PLEASE read us a story when we get back to the room!?" :) When I told another teacher how much they ask to be read to, she said: Are they trying to get out of something? ...Are you kidding? They would stay after school to hear a story! :) Singing and reading....their 2 favorite things.

For those of you who have seen "David at the Dentist" on Youtube...one of my students was late coming to school because he was at the dentist. He came up to me while the other students were in the bathroom with a dazed look on his face: "Mrs...my teeth feel funnnnnnnnny." I had to leave laughing. He was so confused. :)

:)