Teacher Talk Tuesday

Well, I know it has been a while....and man, have I been busy!  There have been weddings, parties, mulitiple familiy visitors, and a brand new year in a brand new grade level! Having said all of this, I don't know if I can give much adivice since am no longer at First Grade I have only taught kindergarten 2 days but here goes....

 1.  Sing or chant everything!  A first day kindergartener's attention span is about 30 seconds long and I have learned quickly that 99% of them will actually look at you if you randomly start to sing or chant at them! Can you believe that!
2.   Try to remember that most of them haven't been taught to control their impulsive behavior and most likely haven't been in such a structured enviroment before.  (They are not all stinkers or honerey little toots like some might believe.)  It is our job as teachers to actually teach them crazy things, like self-control.)
3.  I totally agree with Abby from
when she discussed the value of team work.  There is nothing better than feeling like you are welcomed, valued, and supported by your team.  Remember, We all have the same goal! To teach our smarties to the best of our ability, and take them as far as we can to prepare them for the next year.
4.  Last for now, because I can hardly stay awake:) I just read a chapter from The Energy Bus that said "You are the driver to your own bus!"  When you are feeling stressed, bogged down, negative, or just plain numb from life, just remember you are the driver, and you decide what direction to take your life, on a Negative Nancy route, or a positive one.  This is an interesting thought considering I have been overloaded so much that I am searching for the next restaurant with a happy hour, or a happy meal that serves "happy" pills as a choice.