brain talk

I look over to see a student intently staring at me.

Student: "I'm saying something to you in my brain right now. I'm telling you that you're beautiful."

Too cute :)

Engineering is Elementary

I had a wonderful experience last week - I travelled to Boston for work to attend the "Engineering is Elementary" workshop at the Boston Museum of Science. Since traveling is definitely *not* typical in my job, I was absolutely thrilled to go! I learned so much during the workshop and was in great company. The three women I traveled with made the whole trip memorable and exciting.

It is not often that I get excited about curriculum materials... but EiE is truly a refreshing and novel concept for elementary classrooms. Besides incorporating rigorous engineering challenges into the classroom (fun!), students are introduced to the engineering design process -- ask questions, imagine, plan, create, and improve. Talk about authentic and meaningful experiences! Of the 20 units, some of my favorite challenges included building walls with a plethora of earth materials (and of course knocking them down), toying with a play-doh recipe (balancing liquids and solids), and designing a fan-propelled windmill. You wouldn't be surprised to hear how engaged and involved we were in the challenges, as adults!

As if EiE was not already after my heart, each unit begins with a multiculturally-based storybook presenting an engineering problem (I'm such a sucker for a good story...) Best of all, the main characters in the book are children, illustrating a powerful core value of the program - anyone can be an engineer. 

I think the most valuable thing I came home with was inspiration. The whole concept of integrating engineering in the classroom - even a kindergarten classroom - was invigorating and exciting to me! My "wheels began to spin" as I realized all the ways my students are already engineers - on the playground, at the blocks station, and in life. They are naturally curious problem-solvers, and now I feel more prepared to guide and foster these natural characteristics within the engineering design process.

Too much?

Something happened today that really made me reflect -- really made me stand back and consider some important factors.

I pride myself in being a rigorous teacher. My classroom expectations are high -- and usually, my students rise to them. People who do not work with kindergartners on a daily basis are always amazed by what they can do!  As I always tell my students' parents, most of the time, if you expect a lot of children, and provide them the support they need, they will rise to your expectations! 

My district is well-known for high standards in academics. Our "kindergarten" is truly like first grade in some places! By the end of the year, my students are readers and writers -- they are problem-solvers -- they are self-motivated for learning. I am so proud of my students everyday. They're daily achievements are milestones in my eyes.

But, today, I had an eye-opening reflection... and it's got me thinking.

I have a challenging class this year. But I love them dearly! I know that this year, they will make me a better teacher with more strategies up my sleeve, and as I always say, "I'll take them how they are!" I accept each of my students for the little people they are, and we "work with what we got!" Each one of them start at a different point, and will progress to a different point. We are all learning, growing, and changing. But, my little ones are a challenge this year. :)

I've had to pull out every trick up my sleeve this year -- every tool in my toolbox. At the end of the day, I am exhausted... to say the least! I love my job and extract endless joy from my career, but it definitely isn't easy.
Well, today, we had a special drill planned for the afternoon. Instead of our intense writing, math, and social studies routine after lunch, our schedule was altered. We would be walking to a nearby park -- and with this being planned for right after lunch, I was a little worried about getting everyone to the bathroom. So, we watched a "story" (animated storybook) right after lunch while everyone had a quick bathroom break. With our remaining 15 minutes before the drill, I read a book and the students decorated folders for their parents to bring home papers from this week's conferences. 

As I was helping a student write her name on her folder, I took quick look around the room. Every single one of my students was concentrated on their folder. Some drew dinosaurs, some drew butterflies, some even wrote "mom," "dad," or "my folder." But, the true surprise was that every one of my students was in their seat, working hard -- and it was nearly effortless. I saw students using their letter knowledge in meaningful and authentic ways. 

It made me think... is this the problem? Are we pushing them too hard? Are we trying to fit too much into one day? We added 30 minutes to the school day this year... how much of that is playing into this challenging year? 

I have no intention of "lowering my standards" or expecting less from my students. Rigor is the foundation to a successful, engaging classroom. We will still be readers, we will still be writers. But, this moment today makes me sit back and think of some ways I can give my kids breaks. Alongside academics... in what ways can I encourage my kids to just be kids? What can I do to help my students be more successful with this exhausting day? If I am exhausted at the end of the day... how are my five-year-olds feeling? And most importantly... sometimes I just need to stop and look around. And reflect.

And that is the best part about being a teacher -- constantly reflecting, changing, and adapting to be the best I can be!

A letter

I found this letter on my desk over lunch, and it made my heart smile. It is from a first grader -- one of my students from last year. So sweet... I had to share.



I love my glasses -- and my super long arms! :)

A trip to fire station

We had an eventful morning in kindergarten -- with a walk to the local fire station! In honor of the 10th anniversary of 9/11, every student in our school wrote a thank-you note to our neighborhood firefighters. And with some donated cookies from Hy-Vee, we were off to salute our community heroes. As an added perk, our "book of the week" was Miss Bindergarten Takes a Field Trip with Kindergarten, so everything fell together perfectly.

It was such a fun trip and a beautiful day for the walk. But this evening, as I sat down to relax, I began to reflect on what a special morning it was. My students were simply joyful, entranced, and excited to be at the fire station, and as always, I soaked up every second of "sitting back and watching."

It all began on the walk to the station. Nearly every one of my students lives within one block of our 15 minute walk this morning, but you would never know it. Every house, every pretty flower, every crack in the sidewalk was a new adventure... and they had a comment for it all. "Look at that dog, Mrs. Anderson!" -- "Mrs. Anderson, look! I jumped over that big bump!" Sometimes we forget as adults how wonderful the world is through the eyes of a five-year-old. 

I spent my walk holding the hand of one of my little darlings. He's extra special to me because I just "get him." He might not have an ounce of self-control and he might blurt out at every opportunity, but he has a heart of gold, he's naturally curious and bright, and I just love him. But, to be honest, I held his hand not only because I wanted to, but also because if I didn't, he'd probably be in someone's backyard chasing a butterfly in less than a minute.

His commentary was honest and innocent -- and simply cracked me up. I'll give you my favorite quotes of the walk... and yes, they were really this random.

"This is a big hill. You should not roller-skate down this."
"That's an electrical box. Don't touch it."
"My aunt and uncle live close to here."
"I have fast shoes on. But, they can go slow too."
"Tell me if you see my aunt and uncle's house."
"I'm afraid of spider webs. And cactuses."
"There's the fire station! I see a flag pole. That's President Obama's flag. I saw it on t.v."
"I go to Morton Elementary School. I'm going to go to a big kid school one day, and all we're going to do is play with math toys."
"Mrs. Anderson, did you miss us last year when we didn't come to Morton?"

Oh, it was quite the walk. I loved every minute of it because it reminded me of the natural joy within a five-year-old. It made me literally ache for the simplicity of it.

So, we arrived at the fire station - rang the bell - and out come the stars of the show! If you know me... you know why I loved this field trip. :) They were a handsome bunch, and absolutely wonderful with the kids. With a mix of dramatic action, fancy fireman tools, a gushing water hose, a fire truck to crawl through, and a few tools from the ambulance, they had every student's full-on attention.

My main reflection of the day -- everything is bigger, shinier, more colorful, and better through a child's eyes.
We should all take a hint from our pint-size counterparts and everyday, remember to simply look around and say "wow."

Kinder quote of the day

Student (as he pushes a friend on the tire swing): Look, Mrs. Anderson! I'm pushing him like he's in a tomato storm!

Mrs. Anderson: A tomato storm? Yummy, I love tomatoes! But, he will be all red, won't he?

Student (stomping his foot): No! A tomato storm. You know... like those things that go around and around?!

Happy birthday, Mrs. Anderson!

With the beginning of the school year, I have been very busy -- but I promise to update my blog more soon! I have a wonderful class of 24 little learners... and I can already tell this year is going to be a fun one! For some reason, my kiddos this year have turned me into a "big softie." I've always loved my students, but all of a sudden this year, I'm pushing little ones on the swings, giving more hugs than usual, and playing an occasional game of tag on the playground. I think my class has me wrapped around their fingers...

Today, we celebrated my birthday -- and Mr. Anderson brought us cookies! Every year on my birthday, I ask the students to guess how old I am. I love recording their answers because it demonstrates their lack of understanding of age (which is a blessing!) Here are the guesses (in order!):

14 - 20 - 16 - 15 - 17 - 81 - 18 - 84 - 86 - 87 - 14 - 17 - 11 - 4 - 16 - 17 - 16 - 17 - 18 - 13 - 88 - 19
Too funny!

P.S. -- I'm 25... tomorrow!