1 Day Left: Treasure Bags and an Award

For the last several years I have given the kids a treasure bag to be stored where they store their other treasures.  When you team teach and have aides, it is rare to have time alone with your kids.  This is a time that I plan just for us...me and the kids. 
Inside the little treasure bag is a paper that says:
In this bag you will find a ROCK to remind you how hard you worked this year.  You will find a FEATHER to remind you to fly high to reach your dreams.  There are two small STARS to remind you to always be the best you can be....shine your light for all to see.  The HEART is to remind you how very much I love you.  Take care of yourself and each other (share the cookies) and never foget that I will ALWAYS be here for you.    Love, Mrs. Lohr.
I pick their name stick for the last time, write I love you on the back and they get to pick a treasure bag and take their stick home... the stick that has gotten them chosen all year.

The note was written on the back of this yummy paper. 

Little Red Riding Hood was taking chocolate chop cookies to her grandma.

They were quiet and purposeful with this.  Each took it to put in a safe place in their backpack.

Today was also Awards Day.   Each year, each teacher gets to choose one student to receive the Merit Student Award.  It is not for academic or athletic excellence.  It is for effort and progress and good faith.  I love giving this award to a deserving student each year.  Here is the essay I wrote for this year:

My merit student has made a total and dramatic tranformation this year.  From a child who had to be carried into the school crying to one who comes willingly by himself and with joy most days.  From a child who could not deal with any frustration to one who can laugh his way back to happy these days.   From a child who would not socialize with adults or peers to one who tells some of the worse jokes in the world and enjoys them so much himself that you can't help but giggle with him.  From a child who couldn't really read or write to one who is right on level and learning more each day...

From dark into light...

From sad into happy...

From there to here....

Congratulations, with love, to Wyatt!

OK.  So, I was crying while our guidance counselor was reading this.  The guidance counselor was choking up, my photographer was crying....

And now that you have dried your few little tears let me tell you a little bit more.  While the essay was being read, I was watching Wyatt.  Immediately when he heard the part about the worst jokes in the world he pointed to himself.  He knew it was about him and the grin began.  When they said his name he jumped up and came to claim his prize.  As we sat through the rest of the program he clasped his medal between his hands and the grin continued.   The classmates sitting around him congratulated him and were happy for him.  They know how much he grew this year.   Need another tissue?

Now, for the rest of the story.  Wyatt's mom called this evening to tell this story.  When she picked Wyatt up from daycare, she asked if he showed them his award.  He hadn't because I told him not to get it out until he got home.  She said he could show it so he got it out and showed them.  When they asked why he got the award he just smiled.  His mom told him to tell them why he got the award.  He grinned big and said, "Because I tell the worst jokes in the world!"

Oh.  My.  Goodness.

That ranks right up there with this:
When we were making the clay creations on the Luau day, one of the girls wanted to make a Hawaii biscuit.  What??  You know...the flower of Hawaii...the Hawaii biscuit.  Oh, you mean the hibiscus?  Yeah, the hibiscuit.

And they had a little party after school for those of us who are retiring from KES this year...good cake, good punch, good friends and some hilarious songs!



Who Will I Be?

I may have mentioned this in a previous blog, but I am still thinking about it, so it is worthy of a few more words.
I have always told people, if they asked, well, probably sometimes even if they didn't ask, that teaching and being a teacher was not something I did, it was who I am.
So, will that change now?
Who will I be?
Here's what I know today.
I am an encourager.  "You can do it...remember what I taught you."
I am an organizer.  "It is on the purple shelf, left side, half way down."
I am a doer.  "What is the problem?"
I am a fixer.   "You can do this..."
I am a sharer.  "Here, let me show you how I did that."
I am, in the best sense of the word, a teacher. 
I am a learner.
I am a loner....I know.  How is that possible when I am also all of those other things?
I am a child of God.

I wonder if my husband will start telling me he is not one of my students when I start being bossy...ok, bossier.
I wonder when I will stop saying "we" when I talk about Kingwood Elementary where I taught for all but 3 of my 33 years, and start saying "they"?
I wonder what it will be like to not have at least a visual knowing of about 500 of the kids who live in my town?

I am just now having the urge to sing a chorus of "Que Sera, Sera" Whatever will be, will be...
I am a child of God.
I will find my new place to serve.

Right?

2 Days Left: The Loo-ow

Yes, that is how many of them spelled it in their journals and I was happy to see how they were using what I had taught them and why isn't it spelled that way? And don't even get me started on words like eight, was, are....
Sorry for the side track.
Today the weather was perfect! Sunny and about 75 with a nice breeze. We started the day by learning a little hula dancing that even the boys did willingly. Just as well because I had a video clip of a master hula teacher who is a male!We divided into 4 groups and went about making merry....

A little limbo...how low can you go????

A litttle clay crafting...swim fishy, swim.

They have to dry and we will paint them on Monday.

We made flower leis and got some from Anna's mom.

Very festive!

And the fruit kabobs they made to eat at the luau feast.

Our "chef" roasting the "pigs".

The table set up and ...

...the chow down.

And then we got out the water!

This is a favorite activity every year. I dump clear marbles into the water and they have to pick them up using only their toes. They hand them off to a partner who holds and counts for them. Then we switch. I do believe that some of them could use those toes for fingers if they needed to!

Next, the water balloons! We tossed several times and they got better and better. Anna was usually one of the last standing...watch:

The catch.

The toss.

The catch.

Did you notice the little guy beside her?

Ahhh...the delicious terror of it all!

So, the day ended with volcano cupcake snacks and a cute BackYardigans movie about a luau.

I am so tired.

I am going to bed.

Do I have 2 more days in me????

Oh, and once again, the teachers have as much fun as the students...

Everyone got their photo taken in front of the backdrop with the props...grass skirts for the girls and Hawaiian shirts for the boys...we made their photos into pins for them to wear.

Can you see how we made the piggies?  See their little legs?

3 Days Left: Little Red Riding Hood-the Musical

Today was all about "The Show".  We have been practicing since the end of April, with 2 a days for the last week.  They knew their lines (and everyone else's), where to stand and when...mostly.  Yesterday I had them practice without me saying anything (and I mostly made it) since I might be sick and not able to come to the show.  They made it through with very few difficulties and I began to breathe easier...a lot easier.
They did such a wonderful job for the dress rehearsal this morning (in front of a room full of 4th, 5th and 2nd graders) that I was afraid they had peaked too early.  But the show in front of the parents went just as spectacularly!  Well, after they got those silly nervous smiles off their faces and quit waving at all their people.  Only one little girl didn't have anyone and truth be told, she is so used to her mom not being there for her that she was thrilled when she got a special grandma for the day.
Here is scene 1's scenery as I drew it and then as the parents painted it.  You'll see scene 2 in the show photos.

We had a vote to see whose design would be used for the cover of the program,

but everyone got to color and put their name on a few.

Here we are in costume, lined up and waiting for the final show....

OK.  Enough.  On with the show!

"And soon all of her friends were calling her, Little Red Riding Hood"

"But, mom, I can take the cookies to Grandma all by myself. 

I know the way."

LRRH with some attitude.

All of her animal friends tried to convince her to play hide and seek.

"Grandma's not feeling well today. 

Would you all like to come with me to take her some cookies?" 

Singing the Big Bad Wolf song.

"Mr. Woodcutter, will you protect us?"

A sign of the times:  all of my other woodcutters have used axes.

The first sighting of the Big Bad Wolf. 

That gray squirrel is scared!

And the big bird hiding in the back...teehee.

LRRH just finished telling the BBW

that she is nothing but a big bully.

(All of my BBWs, but one, have been girls...so much better

at this age.)

BBW singing her song of lament.

"I'm just a wolf, friends, a lonely wolf friends...I just want to play."

"Hey!  You're not my granddaughter. 

 What have you done with her you nasty old nuisance?"

They loved the word nuisance.

"Come in dear, Granny's been waiting for you."

Delivered in a believable old lady voice.

"But, Mr. Wolf, you scare people."

"I know I've been very bad, makes me sad...

No more nasty!"

"Granny, I'm sorry I frightened you.  Here sit in your chair

and have your cookies."

The BBW turns into a good wolf, learns some manners and they

all live together peacefully...at least for awhile.

And then they all had cookies and milk. 

Hardly any were left by the time I got out there,

so I am guessing that everyone got their fill.

I may be biased, but they were really good.  They glowed as everyone clapped for them. 
One mother made a point to thank me for all I had done for her son this year.   Aaahhh.

Luau tomorrow....



Funnest Friday

Friday was our last Fun Friday of the year and our Field Day (in lieu of a trip to a pitiful little zoo with the other Kindergarten classes), so we tried to make it a little more fun than usual!
We...well, they (I tried it the first year and that was about 20 pounds lighter!) got to climb the rock wall tower.  Most were fearless.  All of them tried more than once and 7 of them got to the top to ring the bell!

Near the bottom and....

...near the top.

It was cloudy and drizzly on and off all day, but no one complained at all!

We had 4 more activities, but I didn't get photos of all of them because I was so busy doing mine.  They made bead necklaces, and an ocean craft inside and we painted and did field activities outside. 

They drew and I traced on a tote bag a picture that would remind them of something they learned in Kindergarten this year.  We did these before Friday so all we had to do was paint on Friday.

We had our picnic lunch inside...

...and then we made baggie ice cream.  If you haven't tried that, you should...much fun!

BRRRRR!

YUMMMM!

It was also Dalaynie's UnBirthday.  Isn't she just the cutest thing?

Here they are on their way home with their pretty painted bags...most looking tired and happy.

Every year I hope that they will remember moments like this, when it was no big deal to cozy up and throw your arm around your friends...