Saturday Sayings

Guess what? No, not chicken butt! I had a student say that to me this week. It was really hard not to laugh hilariously. I had to tell him that some things are funny at home and some things are funny at school. I even told him that has been one of my favorite jokes since I was a kid. My little sister even has it on a T-shirt. Anyway, he apologized and I haven't heard it again.

Guess what? When I walk through the door Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday it isn't about me. It is about the owlets in my nest. Period. They think I'm beautiful. When I don't wear make-up, I'm still beautiful. When I wear socks with holes they don't care.  Their smiles, hugs, laughter and learning are what matter to me when I get to school. Any problem that may have reared its ugly head at home is forgotten. I must give my whole heart to these learners, so they  in turn can trust me to do what is right for them.

Some of our students may not have had breakfast. They may have to listen to parents fighting night after night or listen to worries about how they're going to make the money stretch a little further. Do they really need to hear about my bad day? Do they really need to be quiet because I'm going through a rough time? Nope! They need to know that I'm going to be the same today, yesterday and tomorrow. They need to trust that when I greet them at the door they are walking into a room where they are loved and valued.

I heard a speaker at the beginning of the year who gave some great advice. When a teacher starts to complain about a particular student, say, " I love that kid!"
Honestly, you probably do love that kid. If he's having a hard time at school, he needs you to love him. Even if he isn't in your class, you can change his world by loving him. You know the sad looking kid walking down the hall avoiding any and all eye contact. Make a point of seeking him out each day and watch his countenance change. Show him the love in your heart...He probably needs to see it. That's why I chose this Carole King song as my Saturday Saying...

I love this Carole King song. I wake up singing it many mornings! Don't say, "Oh! It's easy for her to say!" It isn't always that easy. I battle depression. I've had my share of sadness. I've had struggles.  Life is full of disappointment. The things that have been the hardest things for me to live through are also the things I've grown most from. Hardships can solidify our character either good or bad. Choose today to become more loving, more empathetic and more approachable! Be the teacher that shows love to EVERY student.

Head over to Forever in First to see some more Saturday Sayings!

Too bad the kid hadn't said, "Guess what?  OWL butt!" I may have to allow that one!

Saturday Sayings: Routine

I love routine. I follow the same routine every day. Coffee. Granola Bar. Check e-mail. My Saturday morning routine is pretty much the same, but more fun because it extends longer into the morning in my pajamas. If something happens to change my morning routine I just feel off all day. 

Routine is a wonderful way of organizing learning. Have you ever skipped or forgotten a part of your daily routine? Who notices first? It is always the same student in my room who pipes up with, "but we didn't do calendar today." Routine reduces stress and brings comfort and assurance to children. In a world of constant change and sometimes even turmoil children need the comfort of routine in their lives. 

Busy parents may find it difficult to establish routine at home but the benefit to their children is worth the effort. I have seen the effects that routines have had on students who struggle with learning disabilities or with ADHD first hand. Though it is difficult to be consistent with routine for a parent who may also struggle with undiagnosed ADHD, it can benefit the long term relationship of the parent and child, as together they are able to build a firm educational foundation to carry them into the future. 

Back in the classroom, routine is the rhythm of the classroom music that students look forward to each day. We get to be the composer of a world of learning. What kind of music are you composing? Is it a lullaby or a jig? Hopefully it is a little of both or something in between! 

Until last year, I never posted my daily schedule. I have found writing it on my white board and erasing each activity helps students anticipate what comes next and gives them a sense of time. My owlets are becoming expert clock readers. They know 10:00 because of snack and 11:30 because that's lunch time! 

How would environment show a child they are valued? The time and thought you put into each piece in your classroom are a reflection of your thinking towards them. As you carefully place anchor charts, posters, students work and learning tools into place they say that you care about your students just as creating an inviting Family Room show your family you care about them!

My classroom sometimes looks a little chaotic to outsiders. My students know where all their "tools" are. I encourage them to use the Word Wall, the number chart, the calendar, math manipulatives, and of course books! My goal will always be to try to be more organized, but I accept my desk as it is a little like my brain sometimes cluttered to overflowing, sometimes messy, sometimes even neat and tidy!

I love Saturday Sayings. Thank you, Tammy for allowing me to join you this month! I can't wait to come to your place to find out what you are saying today!

Saturday Sayings: Community

Saturday...A day by any other name doesn't smell as sweet! Who can resist the smell of coffee and bacon wafting through the house? Who doesn't love to stay in their pjs at least an hour or two longer than usual? If you are like me, Saturday is a chance to catch up on some of my favorite blogs and check out some new ones, too! I look forward each week to Saturday Sayings for some food for  thought for the week to come. I am so excited to be sharing my
own...

Thank you, Tammy for inviting me and others to join you! I'm honored to be in your company! Click HERE to go see Tammy's Saturday Saying!

Sometimes I think more learning takes place at my community gathering time than any other time of the day. As my owlets gather together in our nest to sing, play and discuss the day that lays before us important things happen. We learn to be kind and considerate of others feelings. My students ask questions in a place where they feel completely safe and loved.

How do you build community?  I believe that without a strong tight bond between community members children do not learn as well or as deeply as they could. Community allows children to take risks with out fearing failure. It allows students the ability to ask questions that no one will laugh at. It gives each child purpose, meaning and comfort without anxiety or nervousness. I build classroom community the following ways:

Classroom celebrations:  We celebrate new learning in different ways. This week we celebrated twice. Monday we celebrated the New Year with a New Year's Eve party that ended with the ball(s) dropping to the floor and counting how many times they bounced.  We celebrated learning antonyms this week with a bubble bursting game you can watch below!

Spontaneous Silliness:  I find taking a break from the normal in surprising ways to be very important. We have had a very horrible, terrible, very bad winter so far. No snow. Yesterday we had a snowball fight. All morning I warned my owlets it was coming. They tried to guess what we would use for snow. They didn't guess correctly and were so happy when I pulled out a bag of material labeled  "SNOW"! It was the most fun I've had all year! I wish I had pictures of our "fight", but I was so busy playing that I didn't even think about snapping any pictures!

Classroom rituals:  Singing the National Anthem, saying the Pledge of Allegiance, and praying together have all been rituals that children insist on doing together every day. I have a couple of students who are late most days. I am always happy when they get there and we always wait to do our song/pledge/prayer/sticker together.  Saying, "ding dong" when someone knocks on the door, and our daily Lego mini-figure sticker book are some of the things that keep kids coming back for more! 

Expect Respect: I expect students to treat one another with kindness and respect. It's a learning process. Relationships take work and being packed into a classroom for hours at a time can sometimes be difficult! Learning how to work through difficulties one problem at a time Real world problem solving is an important life skill.  

Hello/Goodbye:  Each day I greet my students as they come through the door. I want them to know how happy I am to see them. At the end of the day they choose...A hug a highfive or a handshake. It is usually a hug, but some of them like all three.

So, my friend, I'm glad that we are in the same community! I love learning about your classroom celebrations and rituals. I love your spontaneous silliness and the warmth of each comment. Please leave me with ...