Dead Frogs and Decomposers

Today, my co-teacher and I experienced a beautiful, teachable moment.  We headed out with our students for our daily adventure.  We walked past Silly Hill and over to the Naturalist Garden.  While walking under the grapevines, one of my boys shouted, "DEAD FROG!"  We all went running over to see. There, in the sometime-stream was a dead frog, belly up in the water.  My students were instantly contemplating how it died and what would happen to it.  There were thoughts of someone throwing rocks in the water, (something we do not do), and it bumping the frog on the head.  Other thoughts were of another animal attacking it.  In all actuality, there appeared to be nothing wrong with the frog; perhaps it simply died.

My co-teacher and I took this moment to ask what our children thought would happen to the frog's body.  Their knowledge amazed me.  Instantly, one of my young ladies shouted out, "Decompose!"  And another began to explain that to decompose means to "turn into dirt."  When asked what kind of creature may assist in the process of decomposition, one of our students chimed in with, "Worms!"

We spent the rest of our afternoon finding the fattest, longest worms I have ever seen in our West Woods.  We rolled logs and lifted stones.  We sang songs about worms and got our hands good and dirty before touching them.  We have decided to use this teachable moment and allow it to trickle into tomorrow as well; what else are worms useful for? COMPOST!

Muddy Sneakers

I told him not to go that far into the mud; warned him that his shoes would get stuck.  However, I am a firm believer in learning through living, so I did not intervene.  I watched him try to lift his feet; they were stuck!  I walked into the mud and grabbed onto his arms as we eased his feett, sneakers and all, out of the mud.  A few of the children laughed while he stumbled to his feet, and I kindly reminded them that they shouldn't laugh at someone's misfortune. 

He cried and cried.  We walked over and found some leaves to wipe off the excess mud.  He continued to cry.  I talked to him, let him know that it was okay to be muddy.  The school day was almost over and surely mommy had a washing machine at home that would make them good as new.  He cried harder.  Finally, one of my little girls intervened.

She squatted down in front of him; her too-big dress billowed around her ankles and her pigtails discheveled from play.  She cocked her head to the side and said, "Don't worry!  Last week, I stepped in mud and my shoes were muddy too!  But, I didn't cry because I knew that my mommy would be able to get all the mud out and make them good as new!  And, look!"  She kicked her foot out from under her dress and proudly displayed her sparkling clean shoe.  The little boy cracked his very first smile and finally began to calm down. 

A few minutes later, I went over to her to thank her for her kindness; "That was a wonderful thing to do for your friend!  Thank you for sharing your story with him and being so sweet.  I really appreciated your help."  She smiled and waved me over so she could whisper in my ear, "I made up that story.  My shoes were never muddy!  I just know that I feel better when someone else tells me they did the same thing!"  She pulled away and I winked at her, letting her know it would be our secret.  She returned my wink and walked over to her friends that were examining a frog. 

The empathy that young children are capable of is forever surprising to me.  After their little "talk," she continued to check on him on the way back to the classroom.  She assured him several times that she would not laugh at him for falling down or sinking in the mud, and that his shoes would get clean.  What a beautiful world it would be, if only adults were so kind to one another...    

Busy, busy, busy...

No one can prepare you for how much work it actually takes to run a classroom.  There are lessons to plan, parents to email, journals to write, books to find, materials to buy; the list goes on and on.  The beginning of the school year is particularly busy; open houses, parent orientations, and staff meetings.  For teachers, these are tasks that are done lovingly every year.  In my position at the Nature Center, I am not only a preschool teacher, I am also a part of a nonprofit organization that runs other events throughout the year.  I am involved in many of these.

While sitting in my staff meeting this afternoon, I started to feel the stress creep up on me.  I had letters to write, notes to make, events to prepare for, and on top of it all, homework to do.  I was going to be giving up four nights of my life next week to promote the preschool and/or the Nature Center.  I decided I needed a few minutes to gather myself.  After going to find sushi and chocolate with my room mate/co-teacher after work, I felt as though things were in perspective again.

I teach because I love it.  I work for the Nature Center because I believe in its mission and its effect on the community.  I want to be a part of all of the happenings within my company.  The people that I work with are of a rare breed; they work hard for a beautiful cause and receive little in return.  I have to remember that everything I do is for my students, my colleagues, my community, and my planet; even if I have to give up my weekends from time to time.  

Teaching Together

When first entering the field of Early Childhood, the most difficult challenge for me was co-teaching.  Although I was aware that having another teacher in the room was necessary, I was not used to collaborating so closely with another person.  I have worked with great teachers, and a few that left something to be desired.  I am currently working with three fabulous, creative, and unique women.  Each brings something different to our classroom.  Watching them with our students sets me at ease.  Not only do I trust them all implicitly; I value their presence, opinion, intelligence, energy, and companionship.

We have a child in our classroom that struggles with control over his body and vocals.  He is in constant motion, and is sometimes disruptive to other children.  Today, we had our Naturalist buddy visit our classroom.  He introduced us to four animals; allowing the children to touch the animals and ask questions.  This little boy was struggling to be calm and still.  One of my co-teachers sat with him.  She kept a hand on him to ease his anxiety, spoke softly and sweetly to him; gently reminding him to relax and breath.  I watched as tension left his body; she appeared completely unaware of the profound impact she had on him throughout this presentation.

I'm sure I will tell many stories of these wonderful women with whom I have the privilege to work.  Co-teaching is not easy; finding fluidity with a team of four ladies is nearly impossible.  I am glad to have found such a balance in our classroom.  Our positivity toward one another and joy to be learning from each other reflects in our teaching and encourages our students to pursue the same relationships.  Thank you, ladies!  You are the best!

C is for cookie

This morning, we read Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten.  I love this book because each student is a different animal that represents every letter in the alphabet.  For example, there is Adam the alligator and Becky the beaver.  While reading this book, I stopped and asked what animal was being shown and what letter the name and animal name began with.  We made the sound that the letter makes.  We went through the entire alphabet and I was impressed by the knowledge each of my students possesses.  When heading in for snack, I was unaware that this particular lesson was not yet finished. 

One of my children brought in a snack of organic cookies.  The cookies were in the shapes of letters and numbers.  As soon as the children began snack time, there was talk of, "Here's an 'L' for your name!" or "Look, and 'R' for Miss Raina!"  I walked around the room, encouraging the children to find the letters from their name.  As I passed by one table, I noticed the word "zoom" spelled out as clear as day!  This being the fourth day of Pre-K, I was extremely excited!  I complimented him and asked him if he knew what he had spelled.  He sounded out the letters, "zzz-oooo-mmmm, zoom!"  He then went on to explain that he had written the word "zoom" because he likes fast cars and that is the sound they make when they drive by.  I was taken aback by this child relating a simple word like “zoom” to a passion of his. 

Ideally, I would want every child to leave my classroom appreciating words and letters and the beautiful ways they are put together for us in our everyday lives.  However, I feel that reading is something that comes when the child is ready; it can’t be forced.  Today, this little boy gave me a perfect example of how a child’s interest in reading “just happens.”  It is our job, as teachers, to nurture this interest and help it grow into a love for reading that will benefit them throughout their lives. 

A New Year

The other night, I was speaking to a friend, discussing my new class and the beginning of the school year.  I gushed over my new classroom and co-teacher; my students from last year; the Nature Center as a whole.  I talked about my Master's program and the goals I had set for myself this year.  But mostly, I talked about my former students and how hard it is to watch them grow and change and move on to new teachers and new classrooms.  He listened to me go on and on for a long time before saying, "I could never be a teacher!  I would get too attached; too involved.  It would be so hard to say goodbye every year."  This comment echoed in my head when I was asked to sub for a class filled with my students from last year.

"Miss Raina!"  I was greeted with hugs, smiles, and stories.  When they settled down, we made play dough and read a story.  My co-teacher measured them and discussed being taller or shorter.  We had snack and went for a long walk; searching the pond for creatures and running up and down a hill.  Although they still love me and want to talk to me, they have moved on from my care and my classroom.  They are older and are excited to be with new teachers and in a new space.  I realized today, that maybe it isn't so hard to let go.  It's exciting to see that the lessons they had learned from you are still with them.  I love to watch them grow and change.  I will always be their teacher, and they will maintain a special place in my heart.    

The First Day of School!

I have hurried about my classroom with my co-teacher over the last two weeks preparing for our students; discussing how we should run our first day.  What activities did we have planned?  How should we greet them?  Where will they sign in?  How do we help sad children and their parents feel comfortable?  What books will we read?  There are millions of things to do and many questions to answer.  Although the planning and preparations are essential, the beginning of the school year never feels "real" until the first child enters the classroom.

We began school yesterday.  It was a beautiful day; sun shining, the buzz of children filling the air around the Nature Center.  I knew it was going to be a wonderful day.  As children filtered into our classroom, I felt my heart overflow.  There is an excitement that surrounds the first day of school that only exists on that day, in that moment. 

I smiled at each student and greeted them by name.  I comforted the two children in my class that have a hard time separating from their mothers.  I busied myself; looking at artwork and encouraging them to express themselves and tell me about their drawings, reading stories and listening to the tales of their summers that slipped away so quickly.  I heard of new babies, new puppies, and new houses.  A few children even expressed their happiness that I was with them on that exciting morning.  However, it wasn't until we ventured outside to our forty acres of woods, meadows, and ponds, that my heart bubbled over.

I started our walk staying ahead of our students; sandwiching them between my co-teacher and I.  I led them past the Visitor's Center and under a canopy of grape vines.  We stopped and collected leaves whose colors excited them and rolled over logs to see who lived underneath.  One little boy and I walked side by side down the trail, the others giggling behind us.  He was quiet and I watched him as he looked around with excitement in his expression.  He touched the leaves of the trees gently as we walked by.  I caught him sniffing the air and closing his eyes; taking in all that the forest had to offer.  It was then that he turned to me and said, "We get to come outside every day?"  I responded, "Yes, every day, rain or shine!"  He paused and looked around again, "I think that's great," he said, without looking in my direction but grinning widely.  "I think that's great too," I whispered.  He turned to me and smiled before running ahead of me and jumping on a log.

The rest of our walk was full of mini-lessons about the ecology around us and reminders of rules and how to be kind to one another.  However, it was that moment with that little boy that resonated with me.  It wasn’t the words he said, but the expression on his face; pure wonderment and admiration.  I don’t know when most adults lose that sense of wonder, but I hope that through my passions and my teaching that I am able to preserve it for this child and so many more. 

Beginning my journey!

I have chosen the title for my blog; Learning, Teaching, Growing; because I believe that education is a lifelong journey.  In order to be successful educators, we must constantly pursue our own professional and personal development through learning.  As I continue my education, I am excited to be able to use this page as a way of communicating my progress with those in my online community, as well as my family and colleagues.  I hope you'll enjoy my blog and I look forward to your contributions!