These past few weeks have been so busy, but it's also been a lot of fun. It's been challenging trying to do everything well. It takes a lot of energy trying to do (and be) your best consistently. I got the junior kindergarten class. Basically if they haven't turned 5 yet they can't go to kindergarten because of the new law that got passed. So all the late borns are held back.
I'm grateful I got such great kids. They all have different personalities. Some are super playful, affectionate and social. Some are really well mannered, while some aren't as much lol. Some are super adorable. Some are very independent. Some are really really silly and laugh at everything. Some are outgoing, while some of our new students are more quiet. It can be a little tricky teaching the academic side of it because there's a big difference in how much each student knows already. Some can read, while others don't know their ABC's. sometimes i wish i wasn't the teacher, and i was just another kid in the class.
I like that the kids get to learn through play. You can see them making new friendships too. When's the last time you played with blocks, dinosaurs, play dough, trains, trucks, puzzles, and did arts and crafts? Remember how exciting field trips were? Or getting to play hide and seek and tag? i wish when i was younger i got to go to a fun preschool like this. They have awesome school lunch, lol. There's extra speech pathology, hawaiiana, sports, swimming,and gymboree stuff too.
So far we've made cheerio and friendship bracelets. We do a lot of art projects with cutting, gluing, painting, and drawing. We're gonna be making sock puppets really soon, which i'm really excited about. (Even though i shouldn't be trusted with a hot glue gun.) We're also gonna make rainbow fruit cups that'll be fun. After we finish academic assessment, we'll dive more into reading/ writing, math, science and social studies.
One of the hardest parts is waking them up from nap time. They look so cute, innocent and peaceful sleeping. some still suck their thumbs, it's too adorable lol. Some don't move an inch when you try to wake them up. some kids cry because they miss their parents, it's so sad when little kids cry. It can also be more challenging since you have to give that child more individual attention while the rest of the class is going wild.
Sometimes i like to think what these kids will be like when they grow up. it makes me think, how much of an influence or impact i might have on them this year. It makes me a little sad i won't get to see them grow up. There's some moments that are just so priceless.
Sometimes it can be tough to prep and plan everything in advance. It can be tricky to give each child individual attention. It can be tricky to want to validate everyone's thoughts when they're so talkative or have many needs.
All my co-workers and bosses are really nice, i mean it is a preschool lol. I was gonna throw a dinner at my house for everyone, but there's really a lot of people and my mom said the house is a bit too messy.
It's hard not to be really happy being in such a fun environment with kids. It's not uncommon to get kids who want to sit on you, or want a hug, or having kids poke you and call you silly names. one girl wraps around my leg while i try to walk, and she just looks up at me and laughs lol.
Yesterday while I was playing on the ground, one kid hugged me, another pulled my shirt, and then another came up behind me and wrapped my neck.Then 5 other kids saw what was happening, and i literately got tackled to the ground, and wasn't able to get up lol. I was like, "no! stop! get off me! Mr. Chris isn't a jungle gym!" They all started to dog pile on me and hold me down. luckily tickles are super effective, lol. it was seriously the most fun i had in forever.
Everyday i get asked, "Mr. Chris, can you read me this book?" "Hey do you want to play with me?" "Mr. Chris are you going to chase me?" "Can we play hide and seek? Sometimes it's so hard to say, "sorry no i can't right now." Some kids sneak up on me and try to poke me. And then they run away while i try to tickle them lol. they have so much laughter and the biggest smiles. there's so much joy in simplicity.
More then teaching, it seems like the children all just want love, affirmation and attention. In a way, i think we all need those at times. Positive reinforcement and encouragement mean a lot to them. I can see when they're proud of themselves, or want to show their parents their work. never underestimate the power of a sticker and a reward sheet.
Time goes by so fast in preschool. I honestly enjoy staying there more then being at home. Even though i only get paid till 245, it's easy to stay till 530 or even late like 830. There's always something i can prep for. The first few weeks are usually the hardest since I have to organize/clean the classroom, label everything, and plan out all my schedules. I think the hardest part is really just prepping ahead of time.
Every morning we have a morning circle time. It's such a blast! I try to make learning really fun, exciting and engaging. Sometimes things do get a little chaotic. We greet people, then sing a song. There's a children's song that's been stuck in my head called, "Slippery Fish." Then we do our alphabet sign language and phonics song, sometimes i'll read a short book, then we talk about the calendar/weather and all the songs that go with that. We briefely go over manners/ rules/ colors, shapes and coins. I like to play simon says with them, or do a silly boom chicka boom boom dance and popseekoo dance with them. Sometimes we do my morning stretching routine. Then i say "Who are we?!" and they respond, "We are the pandas!" and they get excited and loud repeating that. Then we stand up and huddle in with our hands and quietly chant, "Pandas, Pandas, Pandas, PANDAS!, PANDAS! PANDAAAS!!" It's so fun.
I learned a bunch of fun prompts to help keep them orderly. i learn so much off youtube and pinterest. We have them grab an air bubble to be quiet, or i'll count down 5,4,3,2,1! and they go "zip!" and then i give them star stickers. If they do good, i say give me an "Ah Yeaah!" or give me a firework! and they clap their hands above their head and say, "pshhh!"
I was finally able to get all my kids to be quiet. And they were sitting in line. I said, only raise your hand and whisper if you really need to say something. A little girl raises her hand, i kneel down, and she whispers to me, "I love you." it was the most adorable thing ever.
This week i got really sick. Probably cuz kids keep putting their hands in my face and coughing in my face. i had to take 5 sick days and it was so boring jus watching tv. i much rather be having fun with the kids. just wish this fever would go away. it sucks not being healthy and not at your best.
It's nice being able to make income. but i really gotta learn how to manage money better. it' takes a lot of work to earn money and yet it's so easy to spend. i spend so much money on things i really don't need.
it worries me that i like my job too much because it makes me wonder if i'll ever finish my MFT counseling program, Im wondering if maybe i should take a break from my classes.. Im concerned that i might not go into professional counseling, or go back and be more invested in ministry.Those are still some of my aspirations and passions, but at the same time i really enjoy just being present with my little kids.
I used to really want kids. Then a friend talked about it practically. i started to think about all the time, expenses, responsibilities, and expenses again. So for a while i was pretty content if i never had any kids. But when i look into the face of a child and see absolute joy, im starting to see that perhaps having a child one day would be worth all those sacrifices.
1 comment:
Your students are adorable!!
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