Harvest...

Wearing gloves, my little students removed seeds from the sunflower heads grown by last years Kindergarten children. Tomorrow we are using the seeds to fill our new classroom birdfeeder. My students are very excited.

As I watched my little charges work together this afternoon, I couldn't help but feel a deep sense of statisfaction. My students were doing something useful and it made them happy. I did not need to "invent" something exciting to do. A necessary job brought them genuine pleasure.

How wonderful to delight in small tasks well done. What a blessing it is to think about what we could all learn from the small ones in our lives.

Tonight and always I wish you all the kind of joy I saw today. May you be blessed.

Seasons...

This week my students will be learning about seasons and weather. Tonight as I dug out my snowman earrings, I smiled as I imagined my Kindergartner's reactions. As I snapped this picture and headed over to my computer I mused about the "seasons" in our lives.

There are times when it seems cold and dark and I feel as if whatever unpleasantness I am facing will never end. Other times remind me of the awaking of my garden in the spring. Nurturing and care is needed to make sure what I am hoping for comes to fruition. There are happy, "sunny" times and then there are times that remind me of fall.

Fall is a time of preparation. A time to get ready for winter. To tidy gardens. To begin thinking of traditions and tucking treats away for our loved ones. It is also a time when teachers work very hard at school, setting the tone for the rest of the year.

I love the falling leaves. I make wistful trips to Lowe's every couple weeks and I bring home a discounted perennial or perhaps a bag of spring bulbs. I know it won't be long until the garden center will be barren.

I am not a fan of winter. I do not like to wait for spring. I do not like icy roads. I do not like to acknowledge that I can not do as I wish. The truth is that each season brings its own blessings. Each time of our lives, lessons for us to learn. I have learned in the sunny times and in the dark ones as well.

I hope that as the seasons change, you are blessed with peace and joy in your heart. May your adventure each day be one that leaves you better in the end.

Today, as my husband and I sat talking about the coming holidays together, I was filled with an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the man I sat musing with... for the way we were brought back together... for the happiness our family now shares.

There are sunny times... there are cold times... there are times of nurturing and hope... Life is an adventure that brings us all some of each. May your heart and mine be open to the blessings this season brings.

A day in Kindergarten

Our day began in the usual way, with Circle and Centers. Later we had relay races in gym and played a game with the days of the week. Right before our Lunch, my students donned their handmade squirrel ears and picked up their stuffed acorns and water colored leaves. My favorite Kindergarten kids headed for our stage where they spread out and performed their first action poem of the year. The video was a hoot and the children were very pleased with their endeavor. Back at home, my husband suggested that I set up an unlisted YouTube account so I could upload the excitement to our classroom blog.

I am happy to say the project was a success! I wish very much I could share the video with everyone. But, sadly you'll just have to imagine the silliness. I am hoping we may even be able to perform for the PreK kids tomorrow! Have a wonderful evening! God Bless.

Step by Step...

This evening I spent some time looking over this week's lesson plans and making a few small adjustments. I also began fleshing out my plans for next week. I checked my course of study to see what I needed to cover and looked over some of my supplemental materials. I also spent some time typing up my mid quarter assessments to share with my parents.

It is amazing how much progress my students have made in just about five weeks time. With each game, each journal entry... each flashcard contest, my students are making significant gains. I hope that by Halloween my students will all be able to identify all their upper and lower case letters and that by Christmas we'll have a good handle on our letters sounds. While we are still a ways off from these goals, I know that my students and I are on a journey. One day at a time we will work together, we will stay the course... we will accomplish what we need to do!

leaves...

We dropped leaves to see how they fell compared to other objects. We used water color paints to create our own colorful leaves. We tasted edible leaves (salad) and then used some "real" ones to make leaf rubbings. We even learned a new song called "Autumn Leaves are Falling Down!" complete with hand motions!

Of course we did phonics worksheets, practiced making numbers and read books together too. Kindergarten is a good place to be.

Exploring paint...

We've painted with markers and water. We've painted with cotton swabs. We've used spray bottles, sponge rollers and spatter brushes. Today we painted with our feet! Sigh... yes I love teaching. How about some spin art next week and perhaps a stuffed squirrel out of newspaper?

Singing together...

My two "Song Helpers" worked together to help their classmates sing our Spanish family song. One held the poster while the other used our pointer to indicate what their friends should sing. I smiled as I took the photo you see. I am so proud of my students; they are good helpers. It is a delight to watch them step up and become part of the educational process.

The wind was blowing...

The wind was blowing and the sun shining as I pulled my bus into the pick up line at the K-1 Building. I looked out my window, content with the world, happy. I smiled and reached down for my phone to capture a picture. Sitting and waiting, my eyes had focused on the tippy tops of the trees. The colors of fall are just beginning to dapple their farthest reaches. Beautiful... simply beautiful.

I planted daffodils tonight and I smiled again. Their blossoms will be so welcome after winter. As our nights turn cooler and our days shorter, I feel the seasons turning.

I must say, I'm pleased. I hope that you are as delighted as I am. I wish you blessings. I bid you peace.

Silly...

Nah... the love of silly hats doesn't run in the family...

Alright... Maybe it does... If you have a yen for goofiness perhaps you have your own silly hat someplace. I must confess, I have a whole bin full! I love inventing "holidays" at school and home so I can wear them. As for our turkey hats, I don't even have to invent a reason to wear them. (I suppose though, I probably should wait until Thanksgiving.)

Leaves fall...

At work on Friday,
I sighed when I rounded the building.

Laid out before me,
in all their invitingly crunchy glory,
were the first sprinkling of leaves.

It seems,
that fall,
is almost here.

Graphing names... working together... having fun...

Using letter cards, my students created a graph to find out who had the longest name and who had the shortest. Looking through baggies full of mixed alphabet cards was no easy feat. I smiled as I encouraged them to help each other and watched their cooperation. I sincerely have a lovely group of students this year.

Tomorrow is our Grandparents' Day celebration and I am happy to say my children know their song, have made a book, decorated a lovely card and even made yummy cupcakes. I'm off to write our weekly newsletter, turn painted coffee filters into flowers and other such fun... Tonight and always know that you are a gift from God to this world. You are a blessing. I wish you good things.. I wish you peace...

A smile at the end of the day...

As my bus pulled into the circle at the K-1 building, I spied my two happy charges. They stood with wide grins and waved at me. Once on the bus we exchanged pleasantries and the little dear whose smile you see above plopped down behind me. I didn't even bother to resist the urge to snap a picture before we eased out of the driveway.

What a delight it is to love each other. This small child was overjoyed to see me... to see the end of her day of "big kid" school... to be heading back to our center where she'd see her little brother... In short... my former student was simply brimming with joy. I hope that whatever your day brings you that you are able to share innocent affection whenever it is offered.