My first week of student teaching, my mentor teacher told me that no one appreciates Fridays the way a teacher does. I have come to believe that even more firmly since that day more than 15 years ago. Fridays at each end of the school year are even more appreciated!
This week really has been so fast and furious that it is kind of difficult to process. One of the favorite events of the year for the kids in the intermediate grades is the track meet. All the third, fourth, and fifth graders go to the track at the local university and participate in track and field events. Everyone at the school is involved in one way or another and it is really fun, even if you are in the stands. The atmosphere is really nice. The kids cheer for their friends, they cheer for the stragglers, and everyone gets a ribbon! The down-side to this event is that it is held in the middle of the day and lasts for about 4 hours. This wouldn't be so bad except that it is hot and about 75% of the people there leave with a sunburn. I will pat myself on the back because this year, for the first time ever, I managed to leave with minimal sunburn! I got a burn along the part in my hair and just a slight pinkness on my chest and the top of one knee that was gone by this morning. Considering that there have been years that I have left, able to glow in the dark, I counted this as a massive success!
The effect of track meet always continues into the next day. The kids come to school tired, sore, and sunburned. Several of my kiddos also had to play in ball games yesterday evening, so they were double-hit and double-exhausted. So what is a teacher to do? Call for a reading marathon! Now that is a great way to spend a day! The kids bring blankets or pillows, wear comfy clothes, and a stack of books. We read by ourselves, with a buddy, and I read to them, too. Time usually flies, and we have a chance to read deeply, which is hard to do at school. After everyone got settled, I put the thousand and three things I have to do aside, and I read, too. It was terrific! Several kids were able to finish books they'd been working on reading for a while, and many of them shared with me and with their classmates about what they'd been reading. And everyone agreed that it was a great way to spend the day after the track meet. :)
Another fun little interlude today was the graduation ceremony for the four-year-olds in the Pre-K classes. They have been our little buddies at recess this year, and we will miss them so much when the Pre-K classes are moved to another building next year. Just so you know, four-year-olds totally crack me up. I love hanging out with them at recess or greeting them in the hall, but I would probably lose my mind if I had to spend the entire day with a whole group of them. The cuteness factor of the graduation ceremony was really off the charts! They stood on risers and waved to their families and fifth grade buddies. They sang cute songs and wore cute graduation caps made of construction paper. Their names were called and they got a certificate and....the best part...the teacher told the audience what the child wants to be when he/she grows up! Oh, so adorable! There were lots of policemen and firefighters in the crowd, of course, one teacher, a few mommies, one daddy. Then, there were a few that were a little more unique and somewhat hysterical:
Next week is the last full week of school. And, yes, you probably did hear me cheer at that thought. What that means, though, is that next week is going to be incredibly challenging. Two field trips and a "fun day" help, but that still leaves two days to get through! Wish me luck - I'm going to need it!
This week really has been so fast and furious that it is kind of difficult to process. One of the favorite events of the year for the kids in the intermediate grades is the track meet. All the third, fourth, and fifth graders go to the track at the local university and participate in track and field events. Everyone at the school is involved in one way or another and it is really fun, even if you are in the stands. The atmosphere is really nice. The kids cheer for their friends, they cheer for the stragglers, and everyone gets a ribbon! The down-side to this event is that it is held in the middle of the day and lasts for about 4 hours. This wouldn't be so bad except that it is hot and about 75% of the people there leave with a sunburn. I will pat myself on the back because this year, for the first time ever, I managed to leave with minimal sunburn! I got a burn along the part in my hair and just a slight pinkness on my chest and the top of one knee that was gone by this morning. Considering that there have been years that I have left, able to glow in the dark, I counted this as a massive success!
The effect of track meet always continues into the next day. The kids come to school tired, sore, and sunburned. Several of my kiddos also had to play in ball games yesterday evening, so they were double-hit and double-exhausted. So what is a teacher to do? Call for a reading marathon! Now that is a great way to spend a day! The kids bring blankets or pillows, wear comfy clothes, and a stack of books. We read by ourselves, with a buddy, and I read to them, too. Time usually flies, and we have a chance to read deeply, which is hard to do at school. After everyone got settled, I put the thousand and three things I have to do aside, and I read, too. It was terrific! Several kids were able to finish books they'd been working on reading for a while, and many of them shared with me and with their classmates about what they'd been reading. And everyone agreed that it was a great way to spend the day after the track meet. :)
Another fun little interlude today was the graduation ceremony for the four-year-olds in the Pre-K classes. They have been our little buddies at recess this year, and we will miss them so much when the Pre-K classes are moved to another building next year. Just so you know, four-year-olds totally crack me up. I love hanging out with them at recess or greeting them in the hall, but I would probably lose my mind if I had to spend the entire day with a whole group of them. The cuteness factor of the graduation ceremony was really off the charts! They stood on risers and waved to their families and fifth grade buddies. They sang cute songs and wore cute graduation caps made of construction paper. Their names were called and they got a certificate and....the best part...the teacher told the audience what the child wants to be when he/she grows up! Oh, so adorable! There were lots of policemen and firefighters in the crowd, of course, one teacher, a few mommies, one daddy. Then, there were a few that were a little more unique and somewhat hysterical:
- spy
- environmentalist
- a big boy
- a "dinosaur digger" (yes, that was the exact terminology - I adore that!)
- nail technician (really this is only funny because I know the child - very blingy - and I know the mom - not at all blingy)
- Buzz Lightyear
Next week is the last full week of school. And, yes, you probably did hear me cheer at that thought. What that means, though, is that next week is going to be incredibly challenging. Two field trips and a "fun day" help, but that still leaves two days to get through! Wish me luck - I'm going to need it!
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