When I started teaching kindergarten, I was amazed at how affectionate my sprouts were.  Some more than others, but it was rare to find a child who didn’t want to hug me at least some of the time.  As that first year progressed and we learned more, the hugs just increased.… Read full post »

This is the THIRD giveaway of the amazing, wonderful, dare I say it, brilliant, series of Stuart J. Murphy’s I See I Learn series of books.  If you missed the first two giveaways, here is another chance to score one of two amazing books.

As noted in the first giveaways, Stuart has so… Read full post »

Each year I’m amazed how many kids in my class love Star Wars.  As a child, my brother and I were totally ensconced in the Star Wars universe and I have to admit, even as an adult, I still watch the movies and have more than a few t-shirts with R2D2… Read full post »

Oh, Henry.  He’s always keeping me on my toes and lately, like just in the last couple of weeks, he’s really starting to mature.  He’s sitting still for stories and not getting into trouble out at recess.  It’s a wonderful transition to witness.

This morning, after H… Read full post »

Today, during snack time, I went to my desk to get a drink and when I looked at my computer screen, I saw an email from Mrs. T.  She’s one of the amazing first grade teachers down the hall from me.  Normally I don’t have time to read email during the… Read full post »

Today was Brian, my little charmer’s last day before our Spring Break next week.  His family is leaving a few days early and he’s been pretty excited about the trip.

Now Brian can be a little challenging… When I first found out he’d be out the last two days before vaca… Read full post »

This is our last week before Spring Break… it’s never easy when vacation looms, but this week is extra hard for me… two of my favorite ladies are going to be heading out for maternity leave. I know, I know, bringing babies into the world is serious business, but I don&… Read full post »

This year, I found an amazing new book for Earth Day (4/22/12).  Most of the books I use for Earth Day are non-fiction and those are wonderful, but it’s nice to have some fiction stories to add to the mix.  Big Bear Hug by Nicholas Oldland is the sweetest (and funniest)… Read full post »

Yesterday afternoon, with the full moon in full effect, I read my class Scaredy Squirrel.  That’s just how brave I am.

For the uninitiated, Scaredy Squirrel is a little guy who is afraid of the unknown… so petrified in fact that he staying in his nut tree for fear of wha… Read full post »

Today, after reading No More Yawning, a story about a little girl who refuses to goto bed, we all shared some of our bedtime rituals for falling asleep.  Here’s some of what was shared:

• “I just close my eyes and fall asleep!”
• “My body just goes to sleep.”
• &#8220
… Read full post »

Today, Mrs. D. and I were chatting about the many, many, MANY jobs we have as kindergarten teachers.  We had a little fun and brainstormed a list:

• Parent – Like it or not, we spend more time with some of our kids than their parents do.  We give more hugs,
… Read full post »

Last week I bumped into David, a little guy from last year, in the hallway. He was excited to see me and asked if I might pop by to hear some of his first grade writing.  Well, after coordinating a good time with his teacher, today I came for my visit.… Read full post »

Last weekend, a friend of mine (not a teacher), commented to me, “You know, everyone remembers their kindergarten teacher.”

Naturally, that got us talking about ours and me reflecting on my own kindergarten experience.  I’m not someone who remembers every detail about even… Read full post »

Today, when I dropped my class off at the gym, the P.E. teacher was still busy setting up for the activity.  I stood with my class for a few moments, reminding them to do their best listening so they could enjoy class.  As I began to make my move for the… Read full post »

For anyone working in a public school, you’ve most likely at least heard of the Common Core by now.  A national list of ‘standards’ for K-12 education the Core is defined as follows: The Common Core State Standards provide a consistent, clear understanding of what students… Read full post »

Another post from my first year.  I still adore Quiet Time.  It has become something a little more organic than all kids just sitting at their seats… shoes are tied, tears are wiped, band-aids applied, and hugs are given… lots of hugs.  All this happens in silence and Yanni stil… Read full post »

As I prepare (much too early) to attend SDE’s National I Teach K! Conference in Las Vegas, I’m trying to think about live blogging some of the events and sessions… this is new to me and so I’m going to test it out…… Read full post »

Lately I’ve been feeling very nostalgic.  I’m not sure why, perhaps it’s the weather and some of my old (I’m talking middle school old) students coming to visit and making me feel… well ancient.  For the record, I’m not, but when in my mind you were a tiny… Read full post »

I’ve written about it here and here… there is something about the platypus and this story and the ensuing plaidypus that is just magical.  I copied this pattern from another kindergarten teacher (who no doubt copied it from someone else…) so I can’t really take full cr… Read full post »

I know I’ve written about this before, but as I watched my sprouts with their Plaidypus babies today, I couldn’t help but revisit the topic… as I complimented each of them on their sewing skills, I realized, much like their teacher (who can barely sew a button on to save his… Read full post »

This week we are reading Plaidypus Lost (really, an amazing book) and making our stuffed platypus animals… so sweet, it’s really one of my favorite activities we do all year.  I burned myself with the hot glue gun a few times, but it was totally worth it… each year I&#8217… Read full post »

Today as I walked my friends to P.E. we happened upon Mrs. F., our third grade Reading Buddies teacher.  She’s expecting and due in just a few weeks.

Will, the line leader, looked up at her and asked, “That baby is still in her belly isn’t it?”

“Yup, still in the… Read full post »

After the following video was brought to my attention, I shared it with friends and colleagues.  I’ve watched it a few times and I can’t stop thinking about it… we all know that play is crucial, critical, and required for the development of our sprouts, but here there is research,… Read full post »

Today at recess, there were no kids on the swings.  A substitute teacher noticed this and commented, “It’s to bad they’re not enjoying the swings.”

“Watch this,” I said as I walked over to the swings.

I sat down and began swinging with gusto.  Withi… Read full post »

As I already admitted, I’m no nurse.  I have my own ways of dealing with ‘sick’ kids… and by ‘sick’ I mean, faking it.  I’ve grown clever at seeing through the sneaky tricks of five-year-olds wanting to get a free visit to the nurse.  Here is my sho… Read full post »