Update from Kindergarten, Room 1

Enthusiasm, wide-eyed wonder, giggles galore and pure happiness surround my day as a Kindergarten teacher.

I am greeted with hugs, sloppy kisses, and random "I Love You's." No matter how my day has started it becomes one of delight as I look into these eyes filled with promise, hope and love.

Monday - My class moves toward the front of the room over to our circle area. I see E out of the corner of my eye. She is standing in front of the board, where our schedule for the day is hanging. I turn and watch curiously as she stands still, her mouth moving but no sound coming out.

Suddenly jumping she turns to me and shouts, "I did it!" "Did what?" I ask returning her incredibly big smile. "I just read the word 'music'!" She replies. She skips over to the circle, the smile forcing twinkles into her beautiful blue eyes. She turns to her neighbor and says, "I did it! I read the word 'music.' I can read!"

Her neighbor, "G", hugs her and they turn their attention to me both smiling. I continue with my lesson filled with pride that I really am doing my job. Tuesday-"C" is one of those boys who cannot walk. Imagine a grasshopper, small, filled with an energy I wish I could bottle. From one point in our large room to another he hops, skips and runs. He understands why I ask him to slow down but I believe now that this is the way he walks.

Today I realize I have to let go of this battle and accept his slowed-down form of bouncing along. This forces me to loosen up in my own rigid teacher ways. So, today as we walk the hall to Music with him as my line leader we all bounce a bit more. It isn't a perfect straight or quiet line but we got to Music okay. As I leave my class I bounce back to my room for my short planning break. But I bounce back and I smile and I plan with a song on my lips.