My Hopes

This class came at the perfect time!  I was off for the summer and had time to reflect on my years in the classroom and my hopes for the future.  As I am busy getting ready for a new bunch of kindergarten kiddos, I have many hopes for the new school year.  I hope I can make every child in my classroom valued and respected, I hope to instill in them a true love for learning that will last them a life time.  I want to treat every child with the kindness and love that I use with my own children.  I hope my classroom is a place my students look forward coming to every morning and a place they do not want to leave at the end of the day.  I hope to show the families of my students that they are their child’s first and most important teacher.  I want to give them the tools they need to continue the learning process at home.  These are the same goals I would hope every early childhood teacher would have.  We have the best job in the world!  Even though it can be frustrating at times, there will always be amazing, curious, innocent children who are waiting to be loved and learn about the world around them.  

I want to thank each of you for reading my thoughts, inspiring me, giving me ideas and things to reflect on.  I wish you the best of luck in the future and hope that when it comes to work, you will always do what you love. 

Diversity Through Art

Diversity
Love, respect, kindness
Open mind, open heart, open hands
Differences, learning, passion
Food, music, stories
What makes us special


In reading the criteria for this assignment, I thought it would be simple, but as I was working on it, I was having a difficult time.  Diversity is such a vast concept, it was hard for me to put it into words.  It is also a concept that is forever changing.  If I had to do this assignment again in a month, I am sure I would define it differently.  I am excited to look at the other blogs and learn from all of you. :)

We Don't Say Those Words in Class!

I was married in July 2009.  I started working at my new school that next month, teaching first grade.  Since I was brand new to the school and my students had no idea who I was, I decided to bring in pictures from my wedding to share.  As I was showing the pictures to my students, one of my little Hispanic boys  said, "He can't be your husband, he is black."   Two students gasped and said, "Oooh, you can't say that!"  Another little girl (Caucasian) said, "She can marry whoever she wants!"  It was interesting to listen to the conversation  that was sparked by the pictures.  Based on their reactions, it was easy to detect which students had parents who spoke to them at home about acknowledging differences in others.  I used this as a teachable moment to discuss respecting differences in others and  appropriate ways to acknowledge those differences.  It was a lesson we would revisit many times throughout that year and one I hope still sticks with them. 



*Ignore my brother's silly face in the picture. :)