i just gotta say something...
http://playforaliving.org
I just gotta say something...
We have a special guest blogger!
I am thrilled to share with you a letter that was written from a brand-spanking-new kindergarten teacher to her family and friends, and I think you'll really enjoy hearing her story. Her name is Rachel Helman, and this is what she wrote last fall after the first day of school....
Hi Everyone!
First of all, I want to start off with thanking everyone for thinking of me on my first day in kindergarten and causing my mom to leave me MANY voicemails telling me that she is dyyyyyyyyying to hear how my day was. Yep, that was great.
(wink) (and for those of you that have no idea what I'm doing now, I just thought I'd give you an update!)
Anyway, for those of you who don't know, today was indeed my first day as a real person (ie. kindergarten teacher at Meadow Hall Elementary inRockville
But enough about that. You want to know about my day.
Well it all started when I woke up listening to 99.5 FM this morning, saying that they wanted any new teacher to call in, so they could chronicle their first week of school on the air. Obviously, I called in (something I am bound to be made fun of for later) and they put me on the air! I think I'll be on again tomorrow, so if you're up at 6:00-6:30...
So then I got ready and arrived at school at 7:30. (And most of you say, who is this girl? It definitely cannot be Rachel or Elissa's daughter for that matter.) I was in my classroom for all of one minute when my first student arrived with his parents!Devon had missed open house day (ten out of thirteen had come) but seemed right at home. I hurried him and his family through the classroom and sent them back down to the office. After a last minute pep talk with Andi, Susan and Peggy (my INCREDIBLE team,) the students started arriving at 8:20ish. I gradually invited them in and they played with manipulatives at their tables while I made sure I knew how they were getting home and what they wanted for lunch.
Once all the students had arrived (except for Alexis, who I guess decided to miss his first day!), we all put our backpacks back on and went back into the hall to practice the way which we will come in every day. Everyone was really very well behaved and listened carefully, as I explained how we would line up outside of our classroom and wait for the bell to ring. Then, I showed them where their backpacks and lunches are supposed to go and we sat down on the meeting rug to get ready for our room tour.
My team advised that you need to tell these kids everything. Supposedly, most of the students probably have not been to school before. I was advised to show them everything from how to flush the toilet to where the tissues were kept. Fortunately for me, it seemed as though most of the students had not only been to school before, but they also knew how to do everything! (Except Jennifer. Who also can't speak English. Poor kid.) We checked out the bathroom, the water fountain and all the centers in the room. (Jordan and Jesenia were all ready to play with the puppets!)
Next, we had our first meeting. Andi, my team leader, said that we'd NEVER have time for meeting the first day. I don't know what happened, but we did! We began by reading our plans for the day, and withDevon 's help, I pointed to each word as I read. I think Jose can read, because he was reading the plans with me! When we finished reading, Jose looked at all the things we would be doing, and exclaimed, "Mamma Mia!" (Imagine, Mario and Luigi style! And Jose is PURE El Salvadorian!) While counting all the days in August, the kids all seemed to be able to count with me 1-26, and Devon even picked out the card that said "27" (for today) without any help! I am so impressed by these kids, I can't wait to see what else they know!
At 11 we had recess and lunch followed straight after. I only had one crier (Jennifer) and one who wanted to know if it was okay if he did not like his vegetables! (Nicholas.) Right after lunch was art, so I basically got a two hour break. (Hey, I'm not complaining. And apparently it's like this four days a week!) I also found out that Grace, a child with Down's syndrome, and the only kindergartener in the LAD class, will be joining us for lunch and specials!
Out last lesson of the day was The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn. It's a cute story aboutChester
We got ready to go home and read Miss Bindergarden Gets Ready for Kindergarten by Joseph Slate as we waited for the patrols to pick up the bus kids. The students had happy smiles on their faces, and I'm pretty sure they will all come back tomorrow! (Hopefully though,Jordan will stop asking me if she can play every five minutes, and Chris will stop trying to escape into dramatic play, Rowena will talk to someone besides Lizzie, Hector will make a friend, and Nancy
I think I'll go back tomorrow.
Hi Everyone!
First of all, I want to start off with thanking everyone for thinking of me on my first day in kindergarten and causing my mom to leave me MANY voicemails telling me that she is dyyyyyyyyying to hear how my day was. Yep, that was great.
(wink) (and for those of you that have no idea what I'm doing now, I just thought I'd give you an update!)Anyway, for those of you who don't know, today was indeed my first day as a real person (ie. kindergarten teacher at Meadow Hall Elementary in
But enough about that. You want to know about my day.
Well it all started when I woke up listening to 99.5 FM this morning, saying that they wanted any new teacher to call in, so they could chronicle their first week of school on the air. Obviously, I called in (something I am bound to be made fun of for later) and they put me on the air! I think I'll be on again tomorrow, so if you're up at 6:00-6:30...
So then I got ready and arrived at school at 7:30. (And most of you say, who is this girl? It definitely cannot be Rachel or Elissa's daughter for that matter.) I was in my classroom for all of one minute when my first student arrived with his parents!
Once all the students had arrived (except for Alexis, who I guess decided to miss his first day!), we all put our backpacks back on and went back into the hall to practice the way which we will come in every day. Everyone was really very well behaved and listened carefully, as I explained how we would line up outside of our classroom and wait for the bell to ring. Then, I showed them where their backpacks and lunches are supposed to go and we sat down on the meeting rug to get ready for our room tour.
My team advised that you need to tell these kids everything. Supposedly, most of the students probably have not been to school before. I was advised to show them everything from how to flush the toilet to where the tissues were kept. Fortunately for me, it seemed as though most of the students had not only been to school before, but they also knew how to do everything! (Except Jennifer. Who also can't speak English. Poor kid.) We checked out the bathroom, the water fountain and all the centers in the room. (Jordan and Jesenia were all ready to play with the puppets!)
Next, we had our first meeting. Andi, my team leader, said that we'd NEVER have time for meeting the first day. I don't know what happened, but we did! We began by reading our plans for the day, and with
At 11 we had recess and lunch followed straight after. I only had one crier (Jennifer) and one who wanted to know if it was okay if he did not like his vegetables! (Nicholas.) Right after lunch was art, so I basically got a two hour break. (Hey, I'm not complaining. And apparently it's like this four days a week!) I also found out that Grace, a child with Down's syndrome, and the only kindergartener in the LAD class, will be joining us for lunch and specials!
Out last lesson of the day was The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn. It's a cute story about
We got ready to go home and read Miss Bindergarden Gets Ready for Kindergarten by Joseph Slate as we waited for the patrols to pick up the bus kids. The students had happy smiles on their faces, and I'm pretty sure they will all come back tomorrow! (Hopefully though,
I think I'll go back tomorrow.
We've hit 16! Wow!
What do you know? 16 subscribers and more coming in every day. Life is good!
I want to share with you something great that happened yesterday. I teach a small part of the "we are about to become parents" class several times a year. Last night I had 10 sets of new parents. Usually I just share brain delevopment stuff. However, for some reason I was feeling a bit cocky. You might say I was on a roll. I made jokes, played around with them, and then decided to go for the big guns.
Here we are, talking about brain development, and how the first 5 years are the most critical for social and emotional growth. I assure them that the teachers in our system understand the importance of developmentally apporpriate learning, but just in case, "if you ever go into a school and the director/teacher tells you that they teach reading and do worksheets in the 4's room, then you just turn around and run out of there and never look back!"
Well, I have to tell you....these parents were hooked! I watched as they took notes reminding them to read and sing to their children, to severly limit tv and videos, and to promise to help each other when one of them falls into the trap of "pushing the academics too early." I even heard one dad say to his wife as left the room, "well, we'll just turn around and not look back!"
10 families educated, 8 million to go. Get me on Oprah!
I want to share with you something great that happened yesterday. I teach a small part of the "we are about to become parents" class several times a year. Last night I had 10 sets of new parents. Usually I just share brain delevopment stuff. However, for some reason I was feeling a bit cocky. You might say I was on a roll. I made jokes, played around with them, and then decided to go for the big guns.
Here we are, talking about brain development, and how the first 5 years are the most critical for social and emotional growth. I assure them that the teachers in our system understand the importance of developmentally apporpriate learning, but just in case, "if you ever go into a school and the director/teacher tells you that they teach reading and do worksheets in the 4's room, then you just turn around and run out of there and never look back!"
Well, I have to tell you....these parents were hooked! I watched as they took notes reminding them to read and sing to their children, to severly limit tv and videos, and to promise to help each other when one of them falls into the trap of "pushing the academics too early." I even heard one dad say to his wife as left the room, "well, we'll just turn around and not look back!"
10 families educated, 8 million to go. Get me on Oprah!
Why I Love this Business Reason #1
First of all, let me remind you that you can write comments to this blog. I look forward to hearing your feedback...don't be shy!
My morning with a 2 year old....
So, I go into a class room of 2 year olds and am introduced to the class by the teacher who says, 'This is my friend, Miss DJ, and she is very nice." I walk next to Bobby, who immediately looks at me, smiles and says, "Did I poop my pants?" He says it the same way you might ask yourself, "Did I leave the coffee pot on?" You know, not too worried, but a bit contemplative. I look at this 2 1/2 foot foot tall little man and say " Well, gee, I don't know, do you want me to check?" Without a beat, he says "Sure", and stands up and puts his tush in front of my face. I very seriously take a sniff. (Of course, only praying that he didn't indeed poop his pants, or that sniff could have made me very uncomfortable!) With relief I announce "Nope, your good to go." He says, "good', and we high five. OK, this little guy is now my best friend. We sit down next to each other along with the others for a brief circle time, and we hear the teacher tell a story. As she speaks, I get a case of the giggles. Yes me, getting the giggles. I know that I am supposed to be there observing another child, but for some reason, this little guy's attitude tickled me and I just could stop giggling. I look over at him and he smiles. Then the funniest thing happend. He starts laughing. Not giggling, laughing. Loud. He starts to slap his legs and hold his belly as he roars with laughter. I cannot contain myself any longer and start to laugh so hard that I begin to cry. I actually had to get up and leave the area in order to contain myself.
I love this business!
Tell me your stories. Let's share.
DJ
My morning with a 2 year old....
So, I go into a class room of 2 year olds and am introduced to the class by the teacher who says, 'This is my friend, Miss DJ, and she is very nice." I walk next to Bobby, who immediately looks at me, smiles and says, "Did I poop my pants?" He says it the same way you might ask yourself, "Did I leave the coffee pot on?" You know, not too worried, but a bit contemplative. I look at this 2 1/2 foot foot tall little man and say " Well, gee, I don't know, do you want me to check?" Without a beat, he says "Sure", and stands up and puts his tush in front of my face. I very seriously take a sniff. (Of course, only praying that he didn't indeed poop his pants, or that sniff could have made me very uncomfortable!) With relief I announce "Nope, your good to go." He says, "good', and we high five. OK, this little guy is now my best friend. We sit down next to each other along with the others for a brief circle time, and we hear the teacher tell a story. As she speaks, I get a case of the giggles. Yes me, getting the giggles. I know that I am supposed to be there observing another child, but for some reason, this little guy's attitude tickled me and I just could stop giggling. I look over at him and he smiles. Then the funniest thing happend. He starts laughing. Not giggling, laughing. Loud. He starts to slap his legs and hold his belly as he roars with laughter. I cannot contain myself any longer and start to laugh so hard that I begin to cry. I actually had to get up and leave the area in order to contain myself.
I love this business!
Tell me your stories. Let's share.
DJ
In Celebration of 10
Whoo hoo! We officially have 10 subscribers! 10 people actually have faith that we can get to the Oprah show and tell parents all they need to know about choosing and supporting early childhood education. 10 people took time out of their evenings to find this blog site (which, by the way, is not so shabby, huh?) and then they subscribed! Yay! 10 down, 34990 to go!
In honor of 10, I thought I'd give you a 10 of my own. Here are 10 things I learned this year:
10. A dog is a blessing wrapped in layers of hair.
9. Walking isn't such scary exercise.
8. Young children need to be included in the design of your classroom.
7. If you ever lose track of your goals, take a break and start again.
6. If you tye dye in your washing machine, be prepared for several loads of pink clothing afterwards.
5. A toddler is capable of dancing well into the night, long after the grown ups are exhausted.
4. When making peanut brittle, following the directions EXACTLY or suffer the consequence.
3. The tags on your clothing contain useful information; read them before washing sweaters.
2. You don't really need to know EVERYTHING that your teenager does.
1. If you fall asleep every time you read, maybe you just needed to sleep.
Happy New Year! May the best of 2007 be the worst of 2008.
In honor of 10, I thought I'd give you a 10 of my own. Here are 10 things I learned this year:
10. A dog is a blessing wrapped in layers of hair.
9. Walking isn't such scary exercise.
8. Young children need to be included in the design of your classroom.
7. If you ever lose track of your goals, take a break and start again.
6. If you tye dye in your washing machine, be prepared for several loads of pink clothing afterwards.
5. A toddler is capable of dancing well into the night, long after the grown ups are exhausted.
4. When making peanut brittle, following the directions EXACTLY or suffer the consequence.
3. The tags on your clothing contain useful information; read them before washing sweaters.
2. You don't really need to know EVERYTHING that your teenager does.
1. If you fall asleep every time you read, maybe you just needed to sleep.
Happy New Year! May the best of 2007 be the worst of 2008.
Why is my mommy not here?
It's a wonder I ever became an ECE professional. What I really wanted was to become a spy. In college I took foreign language classes, read Kafka, wore sunglasses inside...the whole nine yards. I just thought that maybe someone at the CIA would decide that a chubbie, giggly, talkative operative would be just what they needed! I waited and waited for that mysterious tap on my shoulder to indicate that I had been selected. Nope, never happened. What's a girl to do? I changed my mind. I'll become an interpreter! I talk so fast in English, imagine how efficient I would be with other languages. Oh...I could see it now, me....a high powered interpreter. I saw myself working at the UN, wearing suits with high heels, carrying a briefcase and talking to world leaders in French and Russian. (This fantasy was so rich that I would try on suits at the mall, just so that I was prepared, in case the UN couldn't wait and wanted me to start while I was still in college!)
I will never forget the day that my mom changed my life. I had come home one weekend, and she took me out to lunch. She told me that being an interpreter for the UN was a very important career and that she was proud of me for pursuing something, however, maybe I should be taking Education classes so that I would have something to fall back on. Huh? Education classes? Me? On campus we called Education courses Mickey Mouse classes because they were so easy and trivial. I might as well take basket weaving..... But, one never argued with my mom. Actually, I'ver heard of people who did, but I am not sure they lived to tell about it....
My first class was multi-cultural understanding, and when my professor told us that children are a product of not just their family but of the environment they learn in, I was hooked. Something clicked and I never looked back.
Thank G-d and mom.
Now, onto my comment for today.
This Sunday at 2am is when we set the clocks forward. It will get darker earlier on Monday. Jimmy's mom usually picks up Jimmy at 4:30, and Jimmy knows this because at that same time every day, the sky has a certain color. Now, at 3:30, the sky is going to have that same color and mom is not going to be there to pick up Jimmy. This is not good if you are Jimmy. But you, fair teacher, are aware! Being aware of this is half the battle. Make sure on Monday you discuss the time change with the children, (not in an overwhelmingly boring circle time, but in small groups.) If your children tend to rely upon looking out the window for their folks, be sensitive to their plight. Re-remind them about the sky getting darker earlier around 3:00 so they are prepared. You are such a great teacher!
I will never forget the day that my mom changed my life. I had come home one weekend, and she took me out to lunch. She told me that being an interpreter for the UN was a very important career and that she was proud of me for pursuing something, however, maybe I should be taking Education classes so that I would have something to fall back on. Huh? Education classes? Me? On campus we called Education courses Mickey Mouse classes because they were so easy and trivial. I might as well take basket weaving..... But, one never argued with my mom. Actually, I'ver heard of people who did, but I am not sure they lived to tell about it....
My first class was multi-cultural understanding, and when my professor told us that children are a product of not just their family but of the environment they learn in, I was hooked. Something clicked and I never looked back.
Thank G-d and mom.
Now, onto my comment for today.
This Sunday at 2am is when we set the clocks forward. It will get darker earlier on Monday. Jimmy's mom usually picks up Jimmy at 4:30, and Jimmy knows this because at that same time every day, the sky has a certain color. Now, at 3:30, the sky is going to have that same color and mom is not going to be there to pick up Jimmy. This is not good if you are Jimmy. But you, fair teacher, are aware! Being aware of this is half the battle. Make sure on Monday you discuss the time change with the children, (not in an overwhelmingly boring circle time, but in small groups.) If your children tend to rely upon looking out the window for their folks, be sensitive to their plight. Re-remind them about the sky getting darker earlier around 3:00 so they are prepared. You are such a great teacher!
I think I may be on to something
So, I was speaking at a conference of early childhood teachers and directors in Rockville today, and this idea popped into my head. You know how we are always trying to figure out how to explain to parents the value of play in the classroom? Well, one of the teachers mentioned that maybe we should explain that by allowing the children to learn through play, we are giving the children life skills.
Then it hit me.
Go with me on this.....I might be onto something. You know how people go on these quickie "liquid diet/grapefruit diet/eat whatever you want but take this pill" diets? They lose all this weight quickly, but then what happens? They gain it right back! (Actually, they usually gain it back and then some!) Why do you think this is? Because the diet they were on NEVER TAUGHT THEM HOW TO EAT CORRECTLY! They never learned the basics and couldn't do it on their own.
So.......isn't there some type of connection between this story and the "teach my child to read" scenario? What these people are looking for is the quick literacy fix for their child without realizing all the of things that make the foundation. I wonder if we can use this train of thought to help make parents understand.
What do you think?
Then it hit me.
Go with me on this.....I might be onto something. You know how people go on these quickie "liquid diet/grapefruit diet/eat whatever you want but take this pill" diets? They lose all this weight quickly, but then what happens? They gain it right back! (Actually, they usually gain it back and then some!) Why do you think this is? Because the diet they were on NEVER TAUGHT THEM HOW TO EAT CORRECTLY! They never learned the basics and couldn't do it on their own.
So.......isn't there some type of connection between this story and the "teach my child to read" scenario? What these people are looking for is the quick literacy fix for their child without realizing all the of things that make the foundation. I wonder if we can use this train of thought to help make parents understand.
What do you think?
I want to be on Oprah!
It's time, people.....time to work. I have a goal and I need your help. I want to be the first early childhood blog that has so many members (or whatever they call it), that we draw the attention of the Oprah show.
I can see it now. I get a call from one of her producers. They are working on a segment regarding quality early childhood education, and "well, DJ, your name keeps popping up." We talk about who else could be on the segment with me. I suggest a few people - Bonnie from Childcare Information Exchange (Sorry Bonnie I can never spell your last name... Neugebauer? Neubauer?) Of course, I am online right now and could easily look it up if I really wanted to.
Then the producer suggests we have celebrity parents there. People with young children. I know, Brad Pitt! WITHOUT Angelina. (Not because I don't like Angelina, it's just that if shes not there, and we all take a coffee break, Brad might pull me aside for a few questions, and then it would be just me and Brad, chatting it up over a couple of decaf mocha lattes...) Of course, if Angie comes, I know we'd become fast friends and she will beg me to come over and role model some of my techniques with her kids, and then I would get to go over to their house, and have a bite to eat, hang out, maybe scrapbook a bit with her and Brad...OK, bring Angie too!
OK, back to reality. The truth is, someone needs to be on that show and tell the parents to back off of the preschools so the teachers can do what they know is best for learning. Someone needs to talk about early literacy and the emotional connections children have with learning. There needs to be a representative from the real world to tell these folks to stop harassing the schools to teach their 3 and a half year old son to read, when what that parent really needs to be doing is helping little Bobby learn to enter social situations with ease. Someone who is not afraid to say it like it is....someone who wants 4 year olds to spend time studying bugs instead of being forced to sit quietly in circle time. People, I am your gal! Let me at 'em!
So, what you need to do is forward this blog to everyone you know who loves to be around and work with young children. Parents, grandparents, teachers, family day care providers, your nail lady who has great stories to tell about her three nephews, your vet (people who love animals usually love kids, you know - it's worth a shot!) In return for their subscription to this blog, they will recieve stories that are sometimes funny, sometimes thought provoking, sometimes controversial, but always about kids.
I can see it now. I get a call from one of her producers. They are working on a segment regarding quality early childhood education, and "well, DJ, your name keeps popping up." We talk about who else could be on the segment with me. I suggest a few people - Bonnie from Childcare Information Exchange (Sorry Bonnie I can never spell your last name... Neugebauer? Neubauer?) Of course, I am online right now and could easily look it up if I really wanted to.
Then the producer suggests we have celebrity parents there. People with young children. I know, Brad Pitt! WITHOUT Angelina. (Not because I don't like Angelina, it's just that if shes not there, and we all take a coffee break, Brad might pull me aside for a few questions, and then it would be just me and Brad, chatting it up over a couple of decaf mocha lattes...) Of course, if Angie comes, I know we'd become fast friends and she will beg me to come over and role model some of my techniques with her kids, and then I would get to go over to their house, and have a bite to eat, hang out, maybe scrapbook a bit with her and Brad...OK, bring Angie too!
OK, back to reality. The truth is, someone needs to be on that show and tell the parents to back off of the preschools so the teachers can do what they know is best for learning. Someone needs to talk about early literacy and the emotional connections children have with learning. There needs to be a representative from the real world to tell these folks to stop harassing the schools to teach their 3 and a half year old son to read, when what that parent really needs to be doing is helping little Bobby learn to enter social situations with ease. Someone who is not afraid to say it like it is....someone who wants 4 year olds to spend time studying bugs instead of being forced to sit quietly in circle time. People, I am your gal! Let me at 'em!
So, what you need to do is forward this blog to everyone you know who loves to be around and work with young children. Parents, grandparents, teachers, family day care providers, your nail lady who has great stories to tell about her three nephews, your vet (people who love animals usually love kids, you know - it's worth a shot!) In return for their subscription to this blog, they will recieve stories that are sometimes funny, sometimes thought provoking, sometimes controversial, but always about kids.