Its a Sign!

 She has given me a gifts several times a week.  Her presents are always homemade and lovingly painted or colored and often glued. This girl loves to craft.  Today she came in late, before she put anything away she delivered the gift.

As the class looked on she presented me with a wooden item.   I looked carefully, but I had no idea what it was.  I could see the outline of letters, but I didn’t know what it said.  As I complemented the gift I noted the painting and commented on the beautiful colors she’d used.  Stalling I asked if she had used paint like we had in school or a different kind of paint.  I continued to admire it, “tell me about how you made this,” I admit I was fishing for clues. 

 “My dad has a friend, his name is Bernie.” Now I understand!  The item is the chunk of wood the letters were cut from.  The letters were cut as all one piece; I was holding the negative space.  Thanking her again I asked where we should display the piece.  She chose above the Morning Message and skipped off to hang up her backpack.

Spring

The calendar listed  the first day of Spring weeks ago.
Someone saw the first Robin.
Spring break started last Friday.
Easter was Sunday.
Today Spring really arrived.
The Cone Corral is open!

I Wish You More

Today  a package from Amazon was delivered.  Blame it on the Slice of Life.
Stacy wrote about books she'd read with her daughter, they sounded wonderful so I bought them for my classroom.
They are wonderful!  I Wish You More by Rosenthal and Lichtenheld is now on the way as a Easter gift to my grand kids.  As for the other three, maybe Grandma can just keep them at home to read to Lucy, Michael and Gordon

Not what I Planned...

Tomorrow I need to be out of my classroom for about 45 minutes for a meeting at our administration office.  The schedule isn’t firm, but the time will probably fall at the end of my kid’s special class.  The time could reach into the time when we have writing and then my kids go into intervention time. 

My principal is going to cover for me.  First year principal a former Middle School Math teacher principal.  One of the Instructional Aides is going to be gone, so I need to accommodate two very different levels of kids. 

The time is before lunch, does that need to rule out the jelly bean graphing lesson?  Sugar before lunch?  Probably not a great idea. 

Sometimes You Just NEED to Show off

School dismissed at noon on Thursday.  The staff had professional development, Mali had big plans!  She was excited because she was going to her cousin’s house for the afternoon.  The last time she went there she came in the next day with her hair straightened.  She didn’t know what they were going to do but she was sure it would be amazing.

Friday morning arrived and I realized later that Mali was so excited to show off she had skipped her usual stop in the cafeteria for breakfast.  “Look!” she called out.  “My toenails are all sparkly and purple!”  She’d removed her right shoe and sock to show off her pedicure.  Each time a new student came in the room Mali would run over to them, and quickly removed one shoe and sock. 

We settled into our morning routine, in the business of the morning Mali was focused on our activities.  As the children returned from lunch and recess once again Mali was proudly showing off her nails.  

 At the end of the day we share our 3:00 Thankfuls. Before we head out the door at 3:07   I call on several children to share what they are thankful for today.   I write the Thankful Statement on a post-it.  Without thinking I called on Mali.  Off came her shoe…

Too Precious to Share

I struggle with sharing.  Books. Yes, I have a book rack in my classroom.  This year it is filled mostly with board books, class books, they still love the one we made at Halloween!  And Scholastic books,   you know the ones I can buy with points or not much cash.  But the books I love most and look forward to sharing, (ok reading to them,) I don't put out.
I teach four and five year olds.  Yes I've modeled how to treat books, I've set up structure on where to sit, and how to look  at a book with a friend.  But time after time books that are now out of print get torn.  This year's group is especially hard on books.  I have several extremely impulsive students.  
I've rationalized that by keeping them away the books will survive to be shared many more times.  I still feel guilty. If a child requests a book I cheerfully  reread it. I often sit beside a child to share the pictures.  But this year, if it's a book I treasure, it's not going to be freely available.  Unless I can't handle the guilt.

Maybe

I can’t wait until the baby is born.  Maybe. 

Until January he was settled and he worked hard.

Since January he’s been a perpetual motion machine.

Distracted.

Mom’s expecting a new baby in April.  Maybe once the baby comes he will settle down again. 

Arms stop swinging.  Legs stop kicking. 

Maybe