Ms. Fashion

I have a cute little kindergartener, Ms. Fashion.  The other day I was walking her to the bus and she was excited to comment on my clothes.

Ms. Fashion: Mrs. Z!  I know why you're wearing those shoes!
Me:  Oh really?  Why?
Ms. Fashion:  Because they're brown!  Like your sweater!
Me:  That's right!
Ms. Fashion:  You match!  This part in your sweater matches your pants too.

Wow, glad I wasn't clashing!  Who knows what she'd tell me!  The next day I picked her up again and it was all about my hair.

Ms. Fashion:  Can I touch your hair?
Me: Umm, ok. . .
Ms. Fashion:  It feels so soft and fluffy!
Me: Thanks!
Ms. Fashion:  It's soft like this.  (She points to the fleece lining on her jacket)
Me: Really?  Wow!

She has also noticed when I've worn a lot of black and said I matched again.  I think we have a future fashion designer or hair stylist!

New School, Part 1 - My Box, I Mean Classroom

I've been meaning write about our new school and just haven't had the energy!  We moved over Christmas break.  No, we weren't given time to do it, paid, or anything.  It was crazy.  My room was not ready the several times I came up to work, so it wasn't ready to go when school started.  I had boxes everywhere.  I moved from a large portable to a tiny office.  Still have to pull my kids in here.  I have one bookshelf that holds my curriculum and I stole a small shelf to put books on for my kiddos.  No other storage!  My husband had to clean out the garage to make room for everything I brought home!  There are some bigger empty rooms that I would love to have, but they're being saved in case we need them.  I also didn't get a document camera, projector, or notepad like the other teachers did.  We couldn't bring overheads with us so I have no way to project anything.  I had to trade tables with another teacher just to get enough table space for my classes.  My principal though I could fit 9 kids around a table made for 3 or 4 students.  I had to steal another table to hold my computers.  When my students are in my room, it is almost impossible to move around the room.  Good thing I'm small!  I'll add some pictures, you'll understand!



My path to my teaching table!  This is the only way back here.

 

Standing in the corner - I walk through here to get to my teaching table.

Standing at the door to come in my room.



All my curriculum is on that beige shelf.  Not much room to get there!  Sorry this is so blurry!



A kindergartener walking in my room.  He just squeezes through!  I did ask to get rid of the teacher desk, but am now using it for storage space.

When kids are on the computer you can't get through!



I can't open the filing cabinet all the way!



Uno, Dos

The end of last year and beginning of this year have been a wild ride! I'll write more about our move to our new campus later and all the fun that brought over Christmas break. I have a sweet story to share though and don't want to forget it!

We had a new student start last week in first grade. She spoke no English and had just arrived from Mexico. Poor girl was scared - no one spoke her language and she didn't know what was going on! I found out she cried for 6 hours one day! The little girl who sat next to her (and is black) wanted to help. She was rubbing her back and talking to her. The teacher asked what she was saying and she responded, "If you talk to her in Spanish, she stops!" And she did. The teacher was surprised and told the little girl she didn't know she could speak Spanish! Sweet girl said "I can count and say colors!" That's all it took though! Made my heart melt!

PS - We have now moved the new girl to a different school for bilingual. :)

Wonderful Speaker

This weekend I had the opportunity to go hear a phenomenal speaker with several schools. It was a Saturday morning - hard to get teachers motivated on a Saturday just before Christmas break. We were all blown away. If you ever get the chance to hear Dr. Adolph Brown - GO!!! You will love it. There are video clips on his website. I bought one of his books to read and can't wait. I know my description will never be close to seeing him in person, but I promise he is worth the time. One thing that stands out is that if you can't picture all your students graduating college, then find a new job.

Our Christmas Wishes

Our school has a door decorating contest. I really don't care for them because it usually is what teacher spends the most time decorating, not showing off the what the students do. I came across this idea for a bulletin board at Caffeinated Teacher and decided to adapt it for our door. I had my K-2 students tell me what they wished they could give or do for someone else for Christmas. We had a discussion about people less fortunate than us, so most of them caught on. We made a small letter to Santa that folded into an envelope from here. Then my 3rd-5th graders wrote a longer wish explaining why they wished that. We put their stories inside a gift box to open and read. I thought it came out cute!

tag to encourage people to read our wishes

inside a letter

a box opened

Field Trip

Yesterday I went with kindergarten on a field trip to see Babes in Toyland. It was a pretty good trip and somehow I ended up with the most talkative kid ever as my seatmate on the bus! I'm not kidding, he talked or sang the entire way there and back! I heard about his dad's truck, his uncle's car, how his sister is white, but his other sister and him are white and black, last year they took food on a field trip, I've been there, I live there, and he sang the green, red, and blue songs for me! He also got very excited about a building and thought that should be our field trip. I turned to see, expecting a fire station or something but it was . . . a uniform cleaning building! Got to love the mind of a 5 year old!

Thanksgiving

Oh I love teaching about Thanksgiving - being thankful, pilgrims, Native Americans, and food! Some of my kids give interesting answers when we discuss what we learned. Did you know that the Pigwams came over on the Flower? Love it. Oh and the things we're thankful for! Here are a few from my older kids - helping anyone in help (need, maybe?), my frinds (exact spelling), my family for coming to my house, having the best parents, and my mom because she brought me to life (aww!). My younger ones had lots of ideas too - food, toys, no not my brother, trees, school, my dog, my bunny rabbit that we had to give away to someone that doesn't have any pets, not my baby sister, my hampster, grandma, my friends, my teacher, my fish, learning, my dog and my sister (in that order) and my favorite - Jesus. Happy Thanksgiving!