During K/1st Sunday School class this morning, we were talking about Abraham going along with God's plan. After teaching the lesson, I asked the students, "Who followed God's plan?"
Everyone said, "Jesus." Well that is certainly true but not quite the answer I was looking for. So I asked who we were just talking about. Once again everyone said, "Jesus." Time to try a new tactic. "Who went to a new home when God told him to?" One girl's eyes brightened. "I know, Ham. Wait that isn't it. Oh, Abraham. I keep wanting to call him 'Ham.' "

Treasures Found in the Most Unusual Places

I found a book made by one of my kinders in the turn-in box today.  Unfortunately the author did not leave a name. Tomorrow I will ask the likely author more about it. For now I will share the cover.

"School Danger. Don't go towards these things. 

Bear, Shark, Cat"

I can understand the bear and shark danger although I didn't know they were lurking on our playground. There is a pretty big puddle after all the rain we have had.  The cat on the other hand is a mystery. Well the author is a kindergartner.  Maybe spelling cat was easier than cougar.

Check That

The first day for the kids to do their workbook page and put it back without having a grownup check it.
I told them when they were done:
   to check to make sure they wrote their name
   to check to make sure they circled a Gg
   to check t0 make sure they wrote 2 Gs
   to check to make sure they circled all the Gs in the box
     


T. showed me his paper.  "I even checked the goat."

Check That

The first day for the kids to do their workbook page and put it back without having a grownup check it.
I told them when they were done:
   to check to make sure they wrote their name
   to check to make sure they circled a Gg
   to check t0 make sure they wrote 2 Gs
   to check to make sure they circled all the Gs in the box
     


T. showed me his paper.  "I even checked the goat."

It's the Neediest Ones

"It's the neediest ones who stay with you." I was a first year teacher at the time one of my co-workers made this statement.  She said it with such a neutral tone. A fact. Nothing more. Nothing less. "Neediest," I thought to myself, "Maybe I misunderstood.  Naughtiest seems more like it."

A kindergarten classroom is a conglomerate.  A hodgepodge of little humanity: sweet, kind, ornery, undisciplined, energetic, helpful, fretful, timid, and talkative. They are my kids. We spend a year getting to know each other, then our time together is over.  I tuck the class and its memories, good and bad' away. These kids have a piece of my heart.

Then sometimes, years later, a student will come flooding back into my consciousness.  

The restaurant was crowded and the only place my family could get seating was outside on the sidewalk. It was a lovely evening in early summer.  Once the sun slid behind a building and the heat of the day subsided, it was quite pleasant. At the table next to us was a young girl with a head of unruly hair tamed into a ponytail.  It was beautifully thick and dark, but obviously the curls had plans of their own. I could see them bounce as she talked animatedly to her family. Something about her captivated me.  When she turned her face towards me, my mind was flooded with memories of Misty. The girls could be sisters.  They both had thick beautiful hair, a round face, a smile that light up the room, and an energy that couldn't be contained. 

It had been years since I had Misty in my room.  She was one of those throw away kids who spent her time being shuffled around to relatives. My heart ached for her.  Worldly, streetwise, and mature beyond her 5 years, she wanted nothing more than to be loved.  Unfortunately, at times she was anything but lovable. But love her I did. Through a year of ups and downs, break-throughs followed by trips to the office, she learned about expected school behavior.  I learned about patience and loving unconditionally.  She learned to read.  I learned that sometimes life gets in the way of learning. She learned to trust me. I learned to admire her resilience. And then our time together was over. I checked in on her as she made her way through the grades in our school.  I'd remind her I loved her and I knew what a good kid she was.  She would tell me how many days it had been since she was last sent to the office. The last time I saw her, she was moving to the Middle School. She no longer wore her hair in a ponytail.  Her bright smile had faded; the boundless energy gone.  I reminded her that I loved her and we said our goodbyes.

The family had finished their meal and Misty's look-alike ran ahead of the group.  Her mother called her back. Then quietly they disappeared around the corner.

Yes, it's the neediest ones who stay with you.

By Any Other Name

I teach my kinders to look around the room to find words on the word wall or other places if they don't know how to spell something. Yesterday a girl needed to look at my name tag to spell my name. Moments later she handed me a lovely picture addressed "to STAFF."