Kindergarden musings

I recently started substitute teaching. It is a good fit for our schedule, allowing me flexibility and also keeping me available when the kids are home. I have mostly worked in the library, where I help out every week, so things are pretty familiar. I have also worked as an aide in a special needs class, and taught first grade at another elementary school in the district. That teacher was very organized, and left me great instructions, which helped make the day alot of fun. This morning, I got a call to sub for kindergarden at my kids' elementary school. I have heard not-so-great things about the kindergarden teacher here. Well, I arrived in the classroom and looked for the notes that most teachers leave for substitute teachers, explaining the routines, etc. All I could find was the teacher's personal notes, abbreviated to the point of being indecipherable. Also, no instructions on what to do as the kids arrive--where they put all the papers, etc...nothing for getting ready for lunch...nothing for the end of the day...and almost nothing for anything in between. Nothing on where to find anything. Hmmm, keeping 25 kindergardeners contained all day with no instructions. I almost walked back out the door. I did find the principal, and he informed me that this is an ongoing problem with this teacher. Thankfully, we had a visit early in the day from the Officer Phil program--a policeman, who just stood there and smiled and nodded at the appropriate times, and a lady who did some cool magic and puppetry while teaching safety...stranger danger, crossing streets, internet safety, basic values. The kids loved it. They were sure getting the message--"Call 911" if you have a problem. I do think, though, that the emergency operators might be inundated with calls from Hambden kindergardeners though. When talking about honesty, the lady asked what they should do if they found a wallet on the ground at school with a bunch of money in it. Several kids, having paid attention, shouted out, "CALL 911!"

Eventually, I gave up trying to follow the cryptic lesson plans, and sat everyone on the rug to read Dr. Seuss. I should have done that all day long. They were so quiet and actually sat still. Well, except for the fact that certain kids kept raising their hands repeatedly and reporting that THEY couldn't see the picture. Keep in mind, I was slowly walking back and forth in front of all of them, so they each would have a chance to see the page before I turned it. I let them know that the next kid that said they couldn't see would be moved to the corner, where they certainly wouldn't see the picture. One kid, AJ, who seemed to be unable to keep still, had been crawling around the whole time, touching things, etc. After telling him to sit still and fold his arms yet again, he finally fell asleep sitting up. The other kids started yelling and freaking out that he was sleeping when he wasn't supposed to. Well, I said, "Shhh! Let him sleep!" At least he was sitting still and being quiet.

When I went to pick the kids up from music class, the teacher said AJ needed to walk with me in the hallway...apparently, he had been stuffing kleenex in the radiator. Kids are something else! I really enjoyed most of the kids today, but I think I might have to say, "No, thank you" if I ever get asked to sub for this teacher again. Whew!

Kazoo

The weekend after Easter, at the end our spring break, we took a trip back to Kalamazoo. It was great to see so many friends again. It was a hectic weekend, but lots of fun. I didn't take nearly enough pictures, but here are a couple. Many thanks to the Andersons for their hospitality.

Easter

This year for Easter, we continued our tradition which began when we moved to Michigan, of going to my cousin Marilyn's house near Detroit. It was a little longer drive this year, but it was great to see everyone. Here are a few pictures. Liz brought the game "Trouble," and once we worked out the sportsmanship issues related to knocking players out/having your own players knocked out, it was alot of fun. We colored our Easter eggs a day or two early. The kids still enjoy it.

Our Guitar Hero

Several weeks ago, a group of people from Camp Jam came to the music store in town where the kids take music lessons. Guitar players had the chance to play a riff for them. The winner would receive a free week at Camp Jam this summer. Here is a link to their site:

http://www.campjam.com/

Well, guess what? Joseph won! He wasn't the best of the players, by his own admission. But the judges were really impressed with how good he was since he had only been playing for 5 months. We are still waiting for the materials to come in the mail...hopefully it all comes through as promised. We have one excited budding rock star here.

E is for...

I have been really bad at sitting down to upload pictures and post lately...Emma was in her music program at school several weeks ago. It was Carnival of the Animals, and the kids got to pick their favorite animal to dress up as. Anyone know Emma's favorite? The elephant. E for Emma, E for elephant. At first, she was the only kid to pick the elephant (imagine that!), but several other kids joined her. The song they danced to was pretty funny. Not very PC--"When You Are Big, No One Ever Asks You To Dance." I'm not making that up. It was great.