More Stories From My Crazy Kids

Oh, kindergarteners how adorable they can be....

Last week we were talking about friends and some activities we like to do. I let them pair up and share their ideas and then we'd share as a group. When we shared as a group, Beth, my quiet, slightly speech impaired friend, says "likes to play with dolls". "Oh," I said, "who likes to play with dolls?" She turns around and points at someone completely unexpected - my little boy who is ALL boy. Again, without even thinking, I busted out laughing! I couldn't help myself. That was NOT who I was expecting her to point to! All the while he's saying: Nuh uh. I didn't say that! After I composed myself I had to explain to the two of them that I wasn't laughing at them that I was just surprised and they were okay with my outburst!!

This week, we've had snacks all week which is unusual b/c I can't afford snacks for 20 kids every day so parents provide them. This week was those "Cheeze It Sticks" They're pretty good but individually tiny. I'm making my rounds and get to the last table and give each of them one little stick and walk away. Here were there responses:
HEY!!!!!!!
Uh, only ONE?!!!
Mrs. Whitlow!!!!
And my favorite: one look of absolute disbelief by the quietest kid in the whole class. - Priceless!

I love my kids. They're the best! Oh, by the way, they got two compliments in a row today for doing a great job in the hallway! (It's a big deal!)

Highlight of the Year

Last weekend I went back home to Sandersville, GA. It's a small little town in middle GA that usually no one has heard of. In my home town, Kaolin is King. What is Kaolin? I'll tell you. Kaolin is unrefined chalk; it's what comes straight out of the ground. It is also found in shiny paper, make up and of course the chalk you write with. It's "mined" by digging a big hole to get to the layer of white gold and scooping it up. Georgia is second in kaolin mining only to China. Anyways....

Every year we have a Kaolin Parade. It's kind of a homecoming also. It's not a fantastic parade but it's fun. They turn the square into a big tented smorgasborg that everyone walks to after the parade is over. You can buy anything from quilts to soul food to home made ice cream and whatever else. Mainly, you walk around looking for people you know, talk for a while, promise you'll see them later, walk a few steps, talk to someone else and the cycle continues.

The best part of the parade is seeing all my friends and family. I love coming home. I love seeing people I haven't seen in forever and catching up on life. And you always feel at home.

Sandersville will probably always stay a small town but none of us would have it any other way!

Also, just wanted to say one more thing: Hey, Aunt Vicki!!

They're Watching Me

Tuesday & Wednesday I went to a training session - Classroom oragnization management & procedures aka COMP. It was so good. I picked up so many ideas and came back to the classroom ready to try out my new ideas.

One of the ideas is to give every student in the class a "job" such as line leader, in charge of putting up chairs at the end of the day, room cleaner..... I've done the "jobs" for two days now and it really works. The kids really like helping and they take more ownership of the classroom AND it teaches teamwork. What a great idea!!

One of my jobs I gave to a quiet, shy girl we'll call Susan was noise monitor. If I have to step away to answer the phone or while standing in line, she keeps the students in line.

While I was walking back from my phone back to the kids I see Susan snap her fingers at a student and say "NO!". I just stopped. I couldn't believe this quiet, shy girl just did that. She looked so empowered and in control. Also it was like looking at a mirror. Instead of stopping a lesson to call out someone's name, I snap my fingers to get a student's attention. She obviously had seen me do this and mimicked my behavior....scary.