Happy New Start

A friend of mine said to me "Happy New Start" instead of the traditional Happy New Year.  It gave me pause.  When I think about it, we get to have Happy New Starts every time we choose to.  Every moment is a chance to start again, whether it's how you are thinking or something you would rather be doing, each day, hour, minute is a chance to begin again, the way you would want it to be.  Or not, if that's your choice.

This week the students came back to school.  They were excited and anxious to be back in their routines.  They were ready for their Happy New Start.  Sometime teachers do not seem quite as ready for a new beginning.  Ruminating over how we are going to have to deal with this student or what to do about that parent, etc.  Everyday we get to choose how we will react and how we will take on challenges.  I forget that often.  I forget that I have that choice and can get bogged down in what was or what may be instead of what is, right this minute.

I hope you are able to have a Happy New Start this year.

The week before Christmas!

T'was the week before Christmas and all through the house there were boxes a-plenty which were annoying my spouse.  Well not really (at least it rhymed), but if you are like I am, many boxes have come to your door via on-line Christmas shopping!  I love the ease of shopping on-line, but what to do with all those boxes.  In case you were curious, making robots is a great way to use up many of them.  Here are just a few of the amazing family creations we have received here at the center, just in time for the Holidays.  We are doing our study starter on boxes.  Enjoy the pictures.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!!

Beautiful

I find that this time of year brings out the best/worst in all of us.  I had a wonderful random act of kindness happen to me this weekend.  Where I work, I feel like a rock star! My kids think I'm great and they are so excited to see me whenever I go into a class or walk down the hall at "the big school".  I get smiles and hugs from children I may or may not remember from year to year.  They change so much from when they are three.  That being said, this weekend I was in our local Walmart, just browsing and using up time before I had to go to a meeting.  All of a sudden I heard "Ma'am, Ma'am."  I thought it might be a student or former student's parent.  When I turned around there was a charming little girl looking at my glittery red sweater.  Her mom said ,"Go ahead, tell her."  This was not one of my students, but she looked up at me and said "You're beautiful!"  I was so touched.  I thanked her and asked if I could give her a hug.  We hugged and I told her (and mom and dad) how much I appreciated her compliment and that she had made my week!

I don't know about you, but it's not often that someone stops me and tells me I'm beautiful.  I had such a warm, fuzzy feeling when I left the store for my meeting.  That feeling has remained and I continue to say thank you for that small child and her parents.  What a great way to feel when everything else around me is chaotic and hectic.  Just a kind word can make all the difference.  I hope that you find a way to feel "beautiful" this season.  Enjoy the warmth and the joy all around you.  Take some time to shut out the noise and relax, at least for a few minutes.

21 Days? Oh my...

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!  Actually, it has looked a lot like Christmas in some places since September.  Now, however, it looks like that almost everywhere.  With that look comes the anticipation.  When my kids were little I thought it was great because I could use it as a "bargaining chip" of sorts.  "Better be good, Santa is watching."  Nowadays, not so much.

Here at Head Start my babies are excited about Christmas, but they are also passing around a large number of diseases.  Anything from colds to stomach viruses are spreading at an alarming rate. Considering the weather, it's not a big surprise. I haven't had a voice since Friday.  It is always challenging to read a story with little to no voice.  I find that the normal "voices" I am able to do, don't quite come out the way I want them to.  A gobble ends up like a squawk.  Oh well, I think they get the idea, it just makes it a little more challenging for me.

I find that even when I don't feel well, I still have to be on top of things.  This kiddos are ready for their story, ready for their routines, and most of all, ready for me to be my animated self.  So no matter what, "the show must go on," (unless of course, there is a fever involved)! We try to keep things as normal as possible during this time of year.  Actually, we try to keep things as normal as possible all year.  It is so beneficial for the children to have a routine and structure.  I call it "flexible" structure.

So I think I'm the one who is concerned about only 21 more days until Christmas and as long as I stay in my routines, just like the students, we will all do just fine!!

Choices

Back from a wonderful break and the children are in full swing.  They have lots of energy and are so happy to be back at school.  I find this time of year to be especially challenging for teachers and students.  It's kind of a "limbo" if you will.  We had a long week off and only four weeks until another long break.  It's difficult to keep the students in routine sometimes once they've gotten out of routine.  I find that using choices is most effective for me.  Giving the students real choices helps them to feel empowered.

I love this time of year, but the weather is constantly changing, children are really sick (a lot), and there is excitement everywhere.  Remembering to give my students choices helps them to feel in control and take ownership of their actions.  They are responsible for the choices they make.  As always, there are consequences, both good and not so good, but I think they realize that it's their choice that determines those consequences, not mine.  Even at this young age, choices are helpful.  I have to keep reminding myself that we still have school for these four weeks and routines are essential to thrive..

Thankful

This post is long overdue.  I kept waiting for some Community Helper pictures, but everyone is very busy.  I will post those when I get them.  What I did want to say is how Thankful I am for everyone here.  This is an amazing place to work.  From the Administration at Webb to the teachers and students at Head Start, I am ever so grateful each day.  The precious children at the center, our babies, are a joy in my life.  If I am ever feeling down all I have to do is go and talk with one of them.  Their joy and excitement are contagious.
This Thanksgiving I will be giving thanks for all the people in my life those who are my blood relatives and those who are my chosen family.  Thanksgiving marks the beginning of a very hectic time of year, but also a time of wonder and happiness.  I'm looking forward to spending these next few weeks appreciating all the happy energy around me.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.

Routines

I read 4 different books, 1 each week,  for 4 weeks in each class.  In other words, we do a book a week and I rotate the books so that at the end of the 4 weeks each class has heard all 4 books.  I tell other stories as well, but I usually have a central "theme" that I use for the 4 weeks.  This time is one of my favorites: monsters.  Well, not really monsters, Jack & the Beanstalk, Abiyoyo, Go Away Big, Green Monster and The Very Busy Spider.  I love these stories.  Usually, I will read the story myself the first time I do it and then I will use
recordings, iPad apps, YouTube videos and such to tell the story in another way.

This year I couldn't find my copy of The Very Busy Spider, so I ended up telling the story from a book written in Spanish.  It was fun and frustrating to look at the words and try to figure out what they said, but I also knew the story well enough to tell it without the exact text.  I love it when I get to that place where I can just tell the story.  The same is true for the other books.  Go Away Big, Green Monster has an app that has the story in song form.  For Abiyoyo I have an iPod recording of Pete Seeger telling the story.  Jack & the Beanstalk is a different story.  I don't usually use a different version of this book.  The one that I have is simple enough and flows nicely.  It's one that we got with grant money many years ago.  I enjoy the Fee, Fi, Fo, Fum part the best because I get to sound like a giant and the kids are really engaged.

All in all, this is a great group of books and the children really enjoy them.  They are among the ones most requested when I see them in Pre-K.