Tears of joy...

and not because it was the last day of school  (and I can get a solid's night of sleep).  Today I actually cried in front of my entire grade two classroom and my associate.  Actually, my associate was crying too.  The surprise the kids were working on was, in fact, a photo album of all of our time together and a personalized mini card from each of the kids with the sentence. "Ms V is a great teacher because__".  Each of them finished the sentence and drew a picture to accompany it.

As I flipped through the pages in front of my grinning class I was excited to see and share what each of them had written.  I was fine until I got to the last page of the album where my associate teacher had written, "Your classroom will be lucky to have you," and I looked up and she had tears in her eyes and then of course that meant I did too.

I am not a crier. Seriously I don't do that and to do it in public is just mortifying but I really couldn't help it.  All the kids continued to giggle and state the obvious that both of their teachers were in tears and acting like complete ninnies but it was just a really bittersweet moment.  It is the best gift I have ever received.

It's ironic that I was initially worried that I wouldn't be able to connect with my grade twos like I did with my grade fives and now I wonder how I'll adjust again to a split class.  It's been a truly rewarding experience that took me by surprise.  The class even sent me away with my own mini Hawaiian getaway kit including some coconut scented soap!

I gave a card and a gift to my associate at the end of the day and of course more tissue was needed.  I am really going to miss everything from round two.  I had an amazing mentor, well behaved and lovable kids and a magical feeling when I walked down the primary hallways with colourful art posted on the walls.

That walk to my car felt the heaviest.  It was probably because I had to bring back all the stuff that I used during my lessons and a bag of goodbye/Christmas gifts from the kids...but also because I won't be back till mid February and even then it's a different area and division in the school. I should be happy that I finally get some time off to work on my resume and relax and eat some candy canes and stay in my pajamas all day...but I definitely have the last day blues.

I'm going to go eat some peanut chocolate fudge that my associate made me to console myself...who knew primary would win me over so thoroughly.

Proud Mama

Today my kids did me proud...they were fantastic on stage with their nativity play and their Hawaiian dancing.  The parents oohed and ahhed and laughed at all the intentionally funny moments.  The coconut people had army helmets with green paper leaves and brown tissue paper coconuts and the three wise men came out in hawaiian shirts and touristy cameras.  It was a fantastic feeling standing in front of them leading them through the dance as their parents took their pictures.  They were glowing with pride at the end of their performance and I was too frankly even though initially I was mortified that I would have to do the dance with the kids in front of the parents too. 

Primary has really grown on me over the last few weeks...I wasn't really sure if it was for me but today I wore Christmas bell earrings and lead a Christmas dance in front of parents with a smile plastered on my face and I truly felt in my element.  I will miss my kids, they all have their own little personalities and it makes me happy to think that I've made their day a little brighter.  I wasn't even sure if I was making progress with them or if it was just that they were so easy to please but I realized today that I have been doing something worthwhile.  I had so many parents of quiet children tell me that their kid talk about me non stop at home and we've had a lot of "Aha!" moments during our lessons. 

We did doubles for math this week (as best we could considering it's Christmas concert week).  I even taught them a rap about it with dance moves earlier in the week to help them remember the patterns.  This morning I let them play with building blocks and practise doubles and then later doubles plus 1.  It was just...nice.  To sit around in a big circle, everyone with their heads down sorting and feeling and moving the pieces to explain that you can use 8+8+1 or 7+7-1 to answer 8+7.  They were calm, I was calm and it was just a relaxing but productive morning. 

I think I will miss that the most from my grade twos.  I hope that when I go into my next practicum block in a split grade 5/6 class, I remember that sometimes playing and fiddling around with stuff is just as effective learning as lecturing even in the junior division.  I'll also miss their spontaneity and joyfulness...I don't think you can find another division where applause and "yay"s happen so often and for the simplest things.   

Tomorrow will be my last day with the grade twos.  At least we'll be happy together during our class Christmas Party.  I think the kids have a surprise in store for me but I have yet to figure out what.  When I had asked them what they had done yesterday afternoon while I was in a meeting they just said "Nothing!" with huge smiles on their faces.  Giggling shortly ensued so I just played along and wondered out loud why everyone was so happy.

I have one more batch of Christmas goody bags to wrap and a few assignments to finish up marking so I best get back to work but happy teaching! 

 

Bright Hawaiian Christmas Day...

It has been a very long time since Ive posted but I am alive and actually doing well!  My associate teacher has been teaching me so much and constantly offering me advice and suggestions to improve my portfolio in time for job applications this January.  As for the kids..they are angels!  Of course a few behavioural issues here and there but they are such a good bunch of kids its hard to complain about them.  This leaves me with more time to explore the creative aspect of lesson planning.  I have been trying to explore more kinesthetic learning and interpersonal interactions to consolidate their learning when reading and auditory skills are not as strong.  I think they're getting it and my teacher seems more than pleased with my efforts.  

I received my formative assessment this Friday and was given an overall "outstanding" and I could not be happier.  It really pays to make the effort...and recently the principal has also noticed my efforts as well.  I hope that this good luck will continue because at this point I realize that teaching is what I was meant to do.  I thrive under classroom conditions and I get really excited when I can come up with a fun and creative way for my students to learn things they've never understood before.  

I've managed to visit my grade fives a couple of times over the weeks and the changes made in their classroom have really benefited the students.  I miss teaching them and they've missed me too but maybe one day I will be their supply teacher and get to teach them again. 

As for social life, it's actually been pretty good!  If anything I find my time blogging replaced with human interaction which is always nice.  It's sometimes a balancing act, especially with Christmas concert demands, lesson planning and now signing up to help direct the Christmas pageant at my church.  I'm trying to make the most of my time here at home before I leave for school again.  When I head back I will have to deal with a huge work load and the pressure of job applications.  It will be a hard few months but I keep reminding myself that by April I will be a fully certified teacher!  I better get back to work...I have to design a 3-D palm tree with coconuts on an island with waves for our wall display outside the classroom for students to post their postcard writing pieces (I love how creative my associate is!).  

Happy Teaching!

Mele Kalikimaka!

Well I've just received an email from my associate teacher...looks like I'll be helping out with the Christmas concert and Christmas Mass...and the grade two's theme is...A Hawaiian Christmas!  Super excited for some Christmas themes and amazing Hawaiian culture integration in our social studies and language unit.  Who doesn't love thinking about sunny tropical islands during winter time? lol In the meantime enjoy some Hawaiian Christmas Songs...we may be teaching the kids these songs and some dance moves to go with it ;)


Happy Teaching!

Mele Kalikimaka


Christmas Island