Everything I needed to know I learned in Kindergarten

(I can post no pictures of students until I get permission)

I spent the entire day with my daughter and her kindergarten class. The fact that I made it the full day must have shocked the principal who said I would be running out of there at 9:30 when I arrived at 8:20.

I had four different outfits I could wear and three different pair of shoes. I had my pink shoes and pink pullover for in the pink Monday. I had my amazing living color scientist lab coat. I would wear it when I did the alka rockets. Under my coat and tie and dress slacks I had my super B shirt and tights and my orange tennis shoes and flashing wand to surprise them with the super hero after lunch.
Instead of dazzling them, they dazzled me. I never got out of my first outfit.

I had several activities planned. All kinds of things with numbers - I spent an hour the night before punching circles in four different colors. I brought a leaf blower with which I could unroll a tissue roll over them. Then they would have to collect as many squares as was their class number. Then they would add numbers together and then decompose them. I had ooblek they could mix and squeeze in their hands. I had alka rockets they could cut out and construct. By the end of the day I only got to the alka rockets. They and Mary kept me busy doing other things.

I had my management plan. I had students pass out three stars (from my star maker hole punch). They were to keep them and others they earned until the end of the day. If they did not follow procedure a star would be taken. If two were taken they had to sit out that activity. If all stars were taken they would go to the principal's office. It was a great idea but the little hands could not keep up with the little stars.

In short very little I had planned worked or even got a chance to work. Some would see that as a dismal failure. Some would say her class was horrible and did not let the teacher(s) teach.  Au contraire.

In only one day I learned the names and personalities of twenty-one students. Yes they moved around a lot. Yes they were squirmy in their seats. Yes they were a little too talkative at times. Yes they did not hang on every word of hers or mine. Yes they did not follow every instruction the first time.

But they were basically very concerned about learning and trying to do what they needed to be successful. They did not hit each other. They did not throw things. They did not try to destroy property. All that was on the floor at the end of day was some paper and a few crayons - no blood.

During the day, they listened to a story from Ms. Banks; they wrote in their journals to the prompt I am thank you for ________. They worked in centers with four ipads (three that my mom, Pat Banks, gave in dad's memory and with her love, one from my brother, David Banks, and ipad covers from Dr. Scott Nelson in Cleveland, MS where Mary grew up). They worked on work puzzles and stories in all kinds of learning centers around the room.

I asked students to draw what they thought a rocket looked like.

And to top it off we launched alka rockets at the end of the day. They chanted pour, pour, pour as I put in the water, drop, drop, drop as I put in the half alka seltzer tablet, seal, seal, seal, as I snapped on the film canister lid, and count, count, count as they counted off the time to launch.


Mary will learn how to be an even more effective classroom teacher and classroom manager. Some of this she will learn from seasoned veterans. Most of this she will learn from her 21 (started with 24) students who need someone to show them they care about them as people and as learners. I will forever have those little faces and big hearts on my mind.

Thank you, Ms. Banks and class, for letting me spend a day in kindergarten.





 

Undercover Giants

This is my friend. She is one of the janitors at school and is one of the few people greet my Happy Mondays with a smile. When I miss a day for a professional development, she is the first to tell me that she missed me. She is one of the undercover giants in my life. Quietly and meekly she does her job with pride and no complaint and helps make my day with her glad to be her attitude. She told me that she listened outside my classroom and wished I was her teacher. 

                                                   Here are some other undercover giants.

These guys quickly volunteered to bring the fish tank (with 10 fish swimming around in it) to my classroom world. Methodically and carefully without loosing a drop of water they walked in synchronicity across the parking lot up a small rise through three sets of doors and placed it at its happy home.

Another giant who helped me organize my supply closet, offered prayers of caring during a very difficult school year last year, and replies to my day Happy Day with enthusiasm.

Gandalf the wizard lizard, named by my students after a nomination and vote process. He greets me each day and fits in well with my diverse classroom community.

Two students last year who drop by to help me find my desktop and who share a smile.

Two of the first students of 100 to finish the drawing and folding of a DNA polymer.

One of my undercover giants who quietly helps another student with their work after she finished first.

If your were on offense on the opposing team, these are the two outside linebackers you would face. I taught both of them and they recruited their teammates to help unload my truck from two MSTA presentations. This was after football practice at 5:00!

 And just yesterday this student came in my last block and gave a complete makeover to my desktop and drawers.

And this former student who brought her dad's van der graff last year brought it again this year (on three hours notice) so the new classes could enjoy.

Each day I wonder how I might also be an undercover giant for my students. They set the bar high.