Back To School Night

Back to School Night is the night where all the parents are invited to come to the classroom after their children have been in school for a few weeks so that they can see how things are done. Most teachers dread the night because they have been in school all day and then they have to put in extra hours to make presentations and things for parents to take home. I, on the other hand, love this night. I use it as an opportunity to schmooze with the parents. I love to schmooze! I love to talk with parents, connect with them and get to know them as people, not just signatures on a page. I wish everyone looked at it that way, I think we'd have a lot more fun at these events. :) So teachers out there: have fun, put on a smile and get your schmooze on! And for you parents out there: have fun, put on a smile and make your teacher laugh!!

Out and About in DC

I think this is the building for the Environmental Protection Agency. I just really liked the building. It was raining, so you can't quite see the glory of the building, but I hope you can see the beauty of it.

This is the front entrance of the National Museum of American History in the Smithsonian. It is a beautiful building.

The memorial. We walked clear across the Mall to see it. Lyndsay knew just where to go to get this good shot. Hopefully another time, I'll go and see it closer up. I loved being in DC and can't wait to go again.

Another part of the Smithsonian. I believe it was one of the art museums. We didn't go inside this one, I am saving it for another time.

The red castle as it is called. Again, another part of the Smithsonian. There were so many buildings!! I think I'll have to go back several times to see all that I want to see.

The memorial from further back.

The red castle.


A carousel just by the red castle. It made me think of my childhood. I am so glad for things like carousels because children enjoy them still and make memories just as I did as a child. See, even though everything changes, some things remain the same and connect us together.

National Book Festival in Washington, DC

This is a picture of Judy Blume just before she signed my book. I was so excited to meet her. I waited for over an hour to have her sign my copy of her book Iggie's House. It's my favourite of her books as it addresses civil rights and the development of cross cultural and interracial friendships. It speaks of tolerance and I love that. Meeting her was such a thrill and worth the wait.

The book fair sign. I was just so excited to be there.

Not that you can really read all of this but it is a list of the authors that were there. I really only stood in Judy Blume's line but there were plenty that I wanted to meet... Nicholas Sparks, Paula Deen, David Shannon, Jodi Picoult, and more! What a great event but there are thousands and thousands of people present.

The tents where the authors sat to meet and greet their fans. There were 18 of these tents and then several tents where authors were making presentations to the public. There was a book selling tent as well and I believe there may have been a food tent. PBS also had a tent that was full of activities for kids and they even had book characters dressed up for kids to take photos with. Amazing... I don't think I'd do it again, but it was a blast to go just the once. The whole thing takes place on the mall in Washington, DC. It was a wonderful setting. Too bad it rained that day.

Voices and Back To School Night!

This past week has been an interesting one for me. I feel like my students are finally catching on to most of what we have to do each day. They are getting into the routine of our schedule and I am figuring them out and what it is that they need. It's a good feeling for the third week of school! Next week should be even more interesting. We have a Back To School Night on Tuesday for the parents. I am excited for them to come into the room, to see what the kids have been doing and to see some of the improvements and growth in the students already. The only problem is that on Friday I woke up with no voice. I have a little bit of a sore throat and cough, but other than that and the lost voice, I really don't feel like anything is wrong with me. I feel good, in fact. Hopefully I will have my voice back for Tuesday because otherwise, I don't know how I will speak to the parents of my 18 students after having taught for a full day! Make it part of your prayers, people!!

From the Mouths of Babes

You know how people always tell you that kids say the funniest things? Well, they do! Today I heard one of my little kindy girls tell a little boy in another class that she couldn't marry him, she'd found someone else. Poor kid... dumped in the bus line by a fickle female. hahaha

School or Wild?

So this didn't happen in my class or with my students or even when I was out on the playground, but it is worth writing about. Apparently a kindergarten student in one of the other 5 classes at my school decided that he could not wait to go inside to use the restroom. So he dropped trou. and headed to squat on the mulch in the playground. It was time for a number 2 I guess. As another teacher tried to get this child to pull up his pants a little something slipped out of his tush.... hahaha. So glad this wasn't my student... I'd be mortified having to pull up his pants, clean poop off the playground, keep other students from teasing the child in question and then having to tell the parents of that child so they can hopefully reinforce social norms. :)

Silver lining to the dark cloud of my class is that it wasn't this class!!

Day 3... when will Day 180 get here?!

Is it too early to begin the countdown to the end?! I think so, but I am really struggling this year. I like the kids as people but as students... well, it is killing me. I've never had a group with so few skills and understanding. And when I say skills, I mean speaking in full words, sentences and intelligible type stuff. Walking, that's a skill that some seem to lack as well. *sigh* I might be exaggerating a little but I've never struggled like this. So if you are one who prays, get started... if you are not, start or send me lots of positive thoughts. So far, not only am I counting down to the end of this year, but to the end of my classroom time. I've never thought so seriously about it as I have in the last day or two...
I know it will get better, it has to!

First Day!!

Today was the first day of the 2009/10 school year for me. And it was a LONG day. I have the majority of the ESL students in Kindergarten (and one of them speaks no English at all) and a lot of kids that have had no school experience at all. So asking them to write their name on a paper or to color nicely was a huge challenge. But they are SUPER sweet and SUPER cute! I am exhausted after this first day but I am excited for what is to come. Stay tuned readers!

Open House

So today was the day to meet my little angels. It was a blast. They all came except one and they were so cute and sweet. I am really looking forward to next week when I get a chance to really talk with them and see what they are really capable of doing in the classroom. Days like today help me to be excited for the coming year. So the pictures here are of my classroom with our "Blasting Into Learning!" theme for this year. I think it's going to be a great year. :)