If I had a nickel for every time my students cracked me up, I'd have my own economic stimulus package. Here are two for your entertainment:
Tysen: [scratching shoulder constantly]
Miss Post: Itch, Tysen?
Tysen: Yeah, I got inzeema.
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Miss Post: I'm going to say a compound word and you tell me what two words are part of it. 'Cupcake.'
Class: Cup; cake.
Miss Post: Mmm, I love cupcakes. Who has a favorite kind of cupcake?
Class: Chocolate! Strawberry! Vanilla!
Alexa: Pumpkin pie.
20 February 2009
ValentiMe's Day
We celebrated Valentine's Day on February 13th. The kids were so excited that in the "Good News" beginning of our day, they told me it was ValentiMe's Day at least eight times. I explained that the 13th was the day we were celebrating Valentine's Day, but their declarations of "It's ValentiMe's Day!" continued. They made graphs with candy hearts for math, decorated cookies, and spelled Valentine words using the phonics knowledge they've developed over the course of the year thus far.
The spelling they are able to manage at this is quite impressive. I've often been pleasantly surprised at how much this kindergarten is more like first grade. On the one hand, it's difficult for me because the emphasis on academics is sometimes stronger than I'm comfortable with for five-year-olds, but on the other hand, I know I'm getting valuable experience that would enable me to teach first grade in the future, a prospect that before, I didn't feel I was quite ready for, since first grade is the year students typically learn to read. With varying levels of ability in both classes, it's almost like teaching a K/1st split sometimes, and I enjoy it.
During our Valentine's Day celebration, the kids also made bags in which to collect their Valentines. Then, they lined up in a train and went up and down the rows dropping Valentines in each other's creations. One of my friends didn't have Valentines, but Mrs. Grimm swooped right in and assured her that it was ok; she could still collect Valentines. We quickly decided together that I would sit and make them with her, since Amy had extra cards and I had extra candy. I sat with this little girl as she made her Valentines and I was thankful she could still be part of the celebration.
All in all, it was fun and encouraging to see our students so excited by dressing in pink and red, and Valentine cards and candy. It was a Valentine's Day that did not feel overdone or commercial, just full of the simple joys of giving and receiving little gifts.
The spelling they are able to manage at this is quite impressive. I've often been pleasantly surprised at how much this kindergarten is more like first grade. On the one hand, it's difficult for me because the emphasis on academics is sometimes stronger than I'm comfortable with for five-year-olds, but on the other hand, I know I'm getting valuable experience that would enable me to teach first grade in the future, a prospect that before, I didn't feel I was quite ready for, since first grade is the year students typically learn to read. With varying levels of ability in both classes, it's almost like teaching a K/1st split sometimes, and I enjoy it.
During our Valentine's Day celebration, the kids also made bags in which to collect their Valentines. Then, they lined up in a train and went up and down the rows dropping Valentines in each other's creations. One of my friends didn't have Valentines, but Mrs. Grimm swooped right in and assured her that it was ok; she could still collect Valentines. We quickly decided together that I would sit and make them with her, since Amy had extra cards and I had extra candy. I sat with this little girl as she made her Valentines and I was thankful she could still be part of the celebration.
All in all, it was fun and encouraging to see our students so excited by dressing in pink and red, and Valentine cards and candy. It was a Valentine's Day that did not feel overdone or commercial, just full of the simple joys of giving and receiving little gifts.
100 Day
On Monday, Februrary 9th, it was the kindergarteners' 100th day of school. We made a 100 snack, licked Tootsie Pops 100 times to see if we could get to the middle in 100 licks, made 100-piece Froot Loop necklaces, and counted items and wrote numbers to 100. I even wore a sweater I borrowed from an awesome kindergarten teacher friend with 100 bows on it. At the end of the day, we ate cupcakes with 100s on the them...which I stayed up late making Sunday night with my good friend Carly, who helped expedite the process considerably. Bless her heart for frosting all of those with me! It was a busy day, but the kids sure had fun!
16 February 2009
Meet My Kids!
They're precious! See photos at right. AM is currently posted, and I will add PM soon.
*PM now added.
*PM now added.
04 February 2009
Miss Post's First Post
Well, the original plan was to post on my very first day of student teaching, but the third day will have to suffice because it's the first opportunity I've had!
My first day at Chandler Woods was wonderful. I am student teaching AM and PM kindergarten with Mrs. Grimm at this small, National Heritage Academies school where parent involvement is high and students come mostly from supportive families. I have 21 very busy students in the morning and 16 more in the afternoon. Our morning class is talkative and energetic; the five extra students make a difference. In the afternoon, we have only six girls. When you're talking about five and six-year-olds, it makes a difference whether they're girls or boys!
On Day 1, I took the kids' pictures so I could learn their names. The girls I had down right away, but I am just getting there with the boys. I have three Madisons (all spelled the same; all go by Madison) and three Johns (all spelled the same; one goes by Johnny). I also presented each child with a bracelet I bought when I was in Mexico last month, which many of the kids promptly returned to me for un-knotting.
I had the chance to read individually with each child in my afternoon class on Day 1. We read their recent phonics book, "Ben is Ten." Here is a conversation I had with Samuel when we were reading together:
Miss Post: Have you read this book before?
Samuel: Yes.
Miss Post: Do you remember what it's called?
Samuel: Ben is Ten.
Miss Post. You're right. Do you know anyone who's ten?
Samuel: Yes.
Miss Post: Oh really? Who do you know that's ten?
Samuel: ...Ben.
This is just one of the many reasons I love kindergarten. I'm so excited to be in this classroom. I am, however, greatly concerned regarding the mountain of Calvin assignments I received last night that need to be completed on top of the actual teaching. Please keep my students, my teacher Mrs. Grimm, and me in your prayers these next few months...and follow along! More good things to come.
My first day at Chandler Woods was wonderful. I am student teaching AM and PM kindergarten with Mrs. Grimm at this small, National Heritage Academies school where parent involvement is high and students come mostly from supportive families. I have 21 very busy students in the morning and 16 more in the afternoon. Our morning class is talkative and energetic; the five extra students make a difference. In the afternoon, we have only six girls. When you're talking about five and six-year-olds, it makes a difference whether they're girls or boys!
On Day 1, I took the kids' pictures so I could learn their names. The girls I had down right away, but I am just getting there with the boys. I have three Madisons (all spelled the same; all go by Madison) and three Johns (all spelled the same; one goes by Johnny). I also presented each child with a bracelet I bought when I was in Mexico last month, which many of the kids promptly returned to me for un-knotting.
I had the chance to read individually with each child in my afternoon class on Day 1. We read their recent phonics book, "Ben is Ten." Here is a conversation I had with Samuel when we were reading together:
Miss Post: Have you read this book before?
Samuel: Yes.
Miss Post: Do you remember what it's called?
Samuel: Ben is Ten.
Miss Post. You're right. Do you know anyone who's ten?
Samuel: Yes.
Miss Post: Oh really? Who do you know that's ten?
Samuel: ...Ben.
This is just one of the many reasons I love kindergarten. I'm so excited to be in this classroom. I am, however, greatly concerned regarding the mountain of Calvin assignments I received last night that need to be completed on top of the actual teaching. Please keep my students, my teacher Mrs. Grimm, and me in your prayers these next few months...and follow along! More good things to come.
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