Ask your Kindergartener about the new game we played in PE. This game was the result of a round table discussion with K and 1st grade teachers at Teacher's Convention. I honestly get the most stuff I can use in the classroom from this sectional. There are about 15-20 teachers in the room and we basically talk about anything and everything; disciplining, teaching letters and sounds, new technology, PE games, art projects, etc. Well, the minute I heard about this game, I couldn't wait to teach the kids and play it. Ask them- we laughed the entire time:) So much fun!
As the kids came in from recess today they were talking to each other- as they often do- and I find their conversations fascinating. They started talking about Santa Claus and they all agreed that they don't believe in Santa Claus, and one student piped up, "We don't believe in Santa Claus, we believe in God." They then started talking about Halloween and how many of the costumes they see are "freaky" and they do NOT like them at all. And.... people actually come to your door and ask for candy! Another student then stated emphatically that if you don't give them candy, they might come back to your house and play tricks on you. All the kids were properly horrified by that. They then talked about Barack Obama for a bit. Their conversations often show such an understanding with a childlike faith. Love these kids!
We love art! We "handpainted" today and one student very seriously told me that he had fingerpainted before, but never handpainted. Since our hands were already covered in paint, I decided we should make a fall tree using the kids' handprints. Being a little leery with paint everywhere, 3 HS girls were kind enough to come over and help. All in all, it was a success- and I didn't get any paint on my clothes:) We are well into our 3rd week of school, however, it is our 1st full week. It never ceases to amaze me how much they learn those first few days. So much new information and so many new routines. I sometimes feel as if I am taking out their "home habits" and putting in "school habits". At home they may use the bathroom whenever they want, at school we try to go at set times- together. At home they may talk whenever they have something to say, now they have to raise their hand and wait to be called on. (That can be excruciatingly hard). But everyone is getting better at it:) At home they may walk in and out of rooms at will; at school they have to ask me first to leave the room - lest I panic and wonder what happened to them. After recess and before we go anywhere, we have to line up- I seriously doubt if anyone does that at home. They also have to clean up after themselves at snack time and lunch time- amazing to see- they are really good at it! And if they forget I just tell them "I am a mom, but not your mom," and they hustle off to clean up.
I do explain the 3 "emergencies" where they may run without raising their hand and asking me- ask your Kindergartner if they remember them:) It can all be overwhelming to these little people and somewhat difficult for a while- missing mom, the unstructured schedule at home, and just so much newness. We covet your prayers as we adjust to our routine at school and get to know each other. Our field trip to the zoo was a great success. A special thank you to our room moms and our bus driver and his wife! We couldn't have done it without you.
We left school at about 8:45 AM after devotions. For some it was their first bus trip but it was exciting for all of us. We arrived at the Zoo at about 10:00 AM after a very small traffic jam right at the river. We had plenty to look at so the delay didn't upset us! We all sat on the grass for a snack and a drink and then we started to wander around the zoo. We were divided into 2 groups with 11 kids in each group and 2 adults for each group. There were other groups there, but we very rarely saw them. Some of us saw a brand new baby black rhino, an endangered species. We saw the polar bear swimming in the water and walking around on the rocks. The lions and tigers were very sleepy- the kids thought that maybe they had just eaten and were "resting" like we do. We saw 2 mother gorillas walking around with their babies on their backs. The father gorilla was huge and played with the babies by swatting them with a leafy branch. Very entertaining. We all met for lunch at the picnic area and then continued throughout the zoo. We saw a snake eat a mouse ( I thought that was horrible, but the kids loved it) - its tail gradually disappearing down the snakes throat. We saw bats, crocodiles, a wallaby, mice, cockroaches and caimans all in the same building- not my favorite building. We saw a seal who swam right up to us and stuck his head out of the water as if curiously looking at us as we looked at him. As I remember more that we saw and did I will add to this post. One phrase that I heard many times was; " Can we go to the next one now?" Long before I was finished gazing at the creatures, the kids were ready to go on to the next one. We never stopped moving and I never stopped counting; kids, that is :) Wow! We are already into our 2nd week of school; granted, they are 2 day weeks, but it still counts:) It never ceases to amaze me how much information the kids are able to take in that 1st day of school and remember! The 2nd day runs more smoothly and the third day even smoother and after that, they need minimal reminders. Let me give you an example of how much they have to remember before we even "start our school day".
They come off the bus or out of their car and have to find their way to our room. They find their locker, take off their sweatshirt or jacket and hang it up. Then, take out their lunchbox and pick out a snack for recess and lay it in their locker. Put their lunchbox next to their snack. Take out their going-home folder. hang up their backpack and shut their locker. Take their going-home folder into the room. Say good-morning to Mrs. Maatman and Mrs. Swan :). Put their folder in their slot. Use the bathroom if they have to and get a drink. Then they may play in the room using their "playstation cards" until it's time to start. They know it is time to start when I turn the lights off and on. They are fantastic at cleaning up after themselves! And they all told me they always help their mom clean up at home:). And those are just some of the things to remember before school starts! I attended a sectional in October, 2012 at the PR Teacher's Convention on starting up a blog, given by Joyce Holstege. She actually helped this very technologically challenged mom and teacher set up a website. Prior to beginning, however, I asked for Board approval and while waiting for that approval promptly forgot almost all that she had taught me. (Sorry, Joyce). While this gives me renewed sympathy for the kids who occasionally forget their letter names and sounds, it doesn't help me in my endeavors in front of the computer. In trying to enlist the help of my very tech savvy children, they have to first get over their convulsions of laughter when I told them I was setting up a blog---doubters.
My goals are many. So many parents and grandparents have expressed their wish to be a "fly on the wall" in the K room to watch and listen. I want this website to be your little "fly on the wall". I hope to share pictures and stories with you of our classroom, our activities, and our daily life at school. So many times I have wished that I could share things that happen in the classroom and there isn't room on the parent letter. I want to share with you the things we talk about and things the kids say; sometimes so funny I laugh till I cry and sometimes so insightful about Bible stories and our lives as Christians I fight back tears of another kind. I will include the parent letter on this site, so if your child is sick or the note misplaced, you can easily keep up with the class. I hope to have a Kindergarten wishlist- things we need for the class for art, activities, or in our room; things like old cd's, laundry caps, brown paper grocery bags, etc. etc. I will keep you posted on upcoming events, including the field trip, Christmas program, Beginner's Day, and the Kindergarten program to name a few. As a newbie to this blog business, I welcome your feedback, ideas, and suggestions to make this better. |
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Mrs. Rebecca Maatman Kindergarten Teacher and secret keeper:) Archives
November 2019
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