Hello Kitty & Postcards

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I've quickly learned how my kiddos will remember me. I'll always be that teacher that likes Hello Kitty and postcards. How have I figured this out? Well, let me provide the adorable evidence. 

1. A kiddo gave me a Hello Kitty pez dispenser.
2. Same kiddo gave me a postcard after she went to Universal Studios. 
3. My kiddo who's still on vacay in China took a picture next to a giant Hello Kitty for me. 
4. Another kiddo got me a postcard from Carmel over Turkey vacay, but she hasn't given it to me because she hasn't written a letter on the back. 


They're too cute for words. I hope the months don't fly by too quickly after winter break.

That's a Hyperbole, Mrs. Trac

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Currently, one of my kiddos is in China because his family is adopting an adorable little girl. Instead of having a journal, he wanted to blog. That's how the kiddos roll in the 21st century. I've listed one of his posts below. It's so amazing that he's keeping his class updated in real time. Check out why he has an asterisk. 

Today we got Cailyn!  We got her at thee Adoption Registry Center of Guangdong Province. At first she was crying her eyes out*, but she is still getting used to us.  She likes to play with toys, and likes to stick her tongue out.  I can't believe I have a new baby sister! 

*thats a hyperbole. 

Yes, Picasso!

"Each second we live is a new and unique moment of the universe, a moment that will never be again. And what do we teach our children? We teach them that two and two make four, and that Paris is the capital of France. When will we also teach them what they are? We should say to each of them: Do you know what you are? You are a marvel. You are unique. In all the years that have passed, there has never been another child like you. Your legs, your arms, the way you move. You may become a Shakespeare, a Michelangelo, a Beethoven. You have the capacity for anything. Yes, you are a marvel. And when you grow up, can you then harm another who is, like you, a marvel? You must work, we must all work, to make the world worthy of its children."

—Pablo Picasso 

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Catch Up: Spirit of Dana Point

I've been putting off this post for almost an entire month. How silly, right? I just couldn't find the right words to describe the experience. I just thought that any words would sound trivial when compared to my memories. Well, here I go...

On October 17th, I took my kiddos on our first field trip of the year. It was an overnight field trip on a replica of a 1800s schooner that was docked in our local harbor. Imagine 25 fourth graders, 7 chaperones and 1 rookie teacher all together on this kind of boat but smaller. I wasn't nervous or stressed about the trip until I loaded my kiddos on the bus. Then, it hit me. All the planning, organizing and cramming has brought us to this moment. My kiddos were going to be treated like 19th century sailors and they were going to have to take care of one another. 

The most glorious thing happened. The field trip was flawless! The crew was amazing with the kiddos. Tough love all the way. My kiddos communicated and cooperated with each other. The pride beaming from their faces as they worked together to hoist each other in a boatswains chair and rowing a long boat to gather hides was priceless. I was overwhelmed with joy for them. 

Why am I now recanting this episode? I was just reading their writing assessments, which had a prompt about the Tall Ship. They wrote with expression and included so many details. For their closing sentence, many students wrote, "I'll never forget the Tall Ship experience!" I feel so honored to be part of their memories. 

P.S.
Sorry for recycling images. I try not to do it too often. I just totally loved that picture. Isn't our scenery gorgeous? Aren't my kiddos ridiculously cute? 

Who Else Wanted to be a Teacher?

Hillary Rodham Clinton also wanted to be in a teacher when she was in 6th grade. My friend Mark took this photo for me. I heart when my friends send me photos of teacher things.

J'Adore the Bigs

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This week has been total chaos on the logistics side of teaching. I've had to prep a bunch of grades for my co-teacher, which meant cramming in assessments and grading those assessments. All the grown-ups are running around hopped up on caffeine, sleep deprived and constantly talking about how stressed they are. Despite all of this, the universe has been good to me. There were so many little moments with the Bigs that kept me balanced and sane. Here are a few:

When it was my turn to go up to give the Bigs their awards, I definitely got the most cheers from fourth grade. 

I saw the twin brothers of one my kiddos at TJs. They were uber loud as they enthusiastically shouted, "Hi, Mrs. Trac!" The next day, the kiddo tells me that one of her brothers was trying to impress me, so he could be in my class in fourth grade. 


I got my kiddos all psyched up and excited to write when we were writing about the shelter that the Shasta tribe built. Did you know that the Shasta tribe built a summer and winter home? Fancy, no?


Today, I had an amazing language arts lesson. All I had were three different book covers for Indian in the Cupboard, a tri venn diagram, and a two-question worksheet. I even got to integrate my icons for depth and complexity. 


As Perez Hilton would say, my Bigs are amazebells. 

Just Bee

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This week, I'm starting off a bit more humble than usual. I'm humbled by the crunch of conferences. I'm humbled by the perseverance that the kiddos despite our hectic schedule. Most important, I'm humbled by the fact that I need to totally rethink my language arts class.

First Big Step

Today, I took my first really big pedagogical step as a teacher. I'm really proud of myself. It's funny because I was so anxious to do it. As a new teacher, I'm trying to always find the delicate balance between valuing innovation and respecting the work of my seasoned peers. I believe there is room for both if done in a professional manner. I finally gathered my strength from the hubster and his wise words. I also had these words from Steve Jobs echoing in my mind, "Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition." I know everyone is quoting that Stanford commencement speech, but it's really stuck with me. It's not cliche to me. It's the truth that is so often overlooked and underestimated.

This Week's Highlights

I don't have as many random silly moments with the big kiddos as I did with the littles. The big kiddos are too sophisticated and on their A-game this year. Here are some that I popped up this week: 

• "Mrs. Trac, I'm comparing my two favorite teachers. You're one. What's your favorite coffee?"
• Me: "What's a satchel?" Kiddo: "A man purse!" 
• As we're dying our printer paper to look vintage, a kiddo says, "Mmm...this smells like ice tea."

The Big Kiddos!

I usually keep my birthday pretty low-key when it comes to the kiddos. I'll pass out cookies at the end of the day, so it's mellow. Otherwise, it turns into a barrage of cards that I feel guilty tossing out. My co-teacher told the kiddos that it was my birthday. I was gone the first half of the day, so there wasn't too much birthday craziness. 

As they came in from last recess, I was giving directions I could tell that they had a surprise planned. The ear-to-ear grins are totally a tell-tell sign. After I was done giving directions, the kiddos all shouted, "Happy Birthday, Mrs. Trac!" That was totally magical then something even more magical happened. The next door class shouted, "Happy Birthday!" Then, another fourth grade class two doors down (like way down the corridor) shouted, "Happy Birthday!" All without the prompting of their teachers. Definitely one of my top ten moments of the year. 

It's nice to know they love me as much as I adore them. I totally adore them, quirks and all.

J'adore Paris

I've been sharing the postcards from my postcard buddy with the kiddos. The way their eyes sparkle when I share the postcard totally melts my heart. I love sharing the world with them. I shared the Paris postcard today. One kiddo thought he was clever and he said, "Washington DC was so ten minutes ago. I'm going to Paris now."

Tired

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I'm pooped, exhausted, fatigued and any other word that describes being too tired to barely type this post. My hubster's been on travel for a few days, so I decided to catch up on everything at work. I had been dying to tackle my mountains of paperwork and student work, so I stayed an extra hour after homework club. Doesn't sound too bad. Well, I've been leaving work around 5ish then running a few errands. Then, dealing with my usual one-way 45 minute commute. I got home around 6:30ish the past couple of nights. Then, I graded science tests, math tests and reading homework. Oy! It makes me even more tired just typing it all out.

The perks? I only have my giant language arts pile left. My files are organized. The kiddos files are organized. Grades are entered into the gradebooks. My room is all spiffy and redecorated. I have an official to-do folder for my aid. I also have all my field trip forms organized for the huge field trip on Monday. Totally worth the extra work, but I don't want to do it for awhile. 

Thank You

Dear Parents of the Kiddos,

Thank you. Thank you for sharing your hopes for your child with me. Yesterday, I finally got around to reading the surveys that I asked you to fill out a month ago. My apologies that it took me so long. We've been quite busy. Oh, those unassuming half sheets of paper. As I read your answers to "What goals do you have for your child this year?", my heart became overwhelmed. All of sudden, I was so humbled by your honesty and your hopes. Most important, I was humbled by the trust you have in me. Thank you for trusting me with the intellectual, social and emotional well being of your child.

From PostSecret

*Please don't let me be the 'Don't Scribble' teacher.

First But Not Last

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This week, I had my first slice of humble pie for the school year handed to me. I've been having amazing literature discussions with the kiddos and watching them successfully complete their math worksheets. I totally went in feeling confident that they were going to do well on their literature and math tests. OMG. How wrong I was. Now, I'm going to spend the next week re-thinking and obsessing over my lesson delivery. How can I get them to transfer their ideas to a starch white paper? How can I get the ideas sticky enough to stick long enough? Perhaps, they're just overloaded with information?

Trying Not To Get Swept Away

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I feel like it's so easy to get swept away during the day. I'm trying so hard to being spot on that I may be missing out on the smallest moments that I adore. Here are some from this week:

A kiddo brought in a playbill from a play he saw this past weekend. 

Another kiddo brought in the world's smallest pumpkin to share. (It is definitely possibly a tiny tomato posing as a pumpkin.) 

A kiddo shared Indonesian money that his mom found in the street. 

One kiddo who had a hard time in library last week, walked into the library and immediately said, "I promise I'll be better this week." He was. 


While in library today, a kiddo said, "Whoa! You must be superwoman! You were just here. Then, I looked for you and you were all the way over there. Now, you're back!"

Fourth

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When I got my job offer, I was thrilled and a bit unsure about the grade level that I was offered. I was given a position on the fourth grade team. A bit unsure because it was the only grade that I had never taught for more than a day or so. It would be whole new territory for me. All summer, I kept thinking, "Will fourth graders like this? Is it too first grade? Is it too fifth grade?" I thought I would miss my little first grade niblets terribly. 

I'm about three weeks into the school year and we're finally set into our permanent routine. What's the verdict? I love it! I feel so blessed to be with these kiddos. My class is amazing. It's such a neat age. They're independent and sweet. Best of both worlds. 

I've even had three moms tell me that their kiddos are happier and more responsible with about finishing their work. I wish I could take the credit for them being happier and more responsible, but I really think a lot of is the kiddos' coming of age. I'm so thrilled to see how this year will unfold.

On Happiness

In this moment, I'm completely genuinely utterly happy. Things may not be perfect. There were definitely a few bumps in the road. I know I did my best. I know that next time will be better. With that said, I had some beautiful moments. Amazingly wonderful moments. Moments that I've been waiting so patiently for. Because of those moments, I will sleep so well.

More Than Extraordinary

To teach each child in my classroom, I have to know each child in my classroom. We teachers need to bring not only our extraordinariness but our flawed and real and ordinary humanity to this job, which involves a complex and ever-changing web of relationships with children who often need more than we can give them. - Ellie Herman

The Moment

On Monday, I had the most wonderful moment. It's so easy to be swept away with prep for kiddos, planning with team members and just getting used to being at work at 8 am. Then, there's a moment of clarity. In that moment, everything makes sense. Everything feels perfect. This moment for me? I went to drop off some supplies in another teacher's classroom. As I'm strolling across the playground, a little one darts from behind the handball court. She's heading full speed towards me. I give her a huge hug. She hugs me back with a huge grin on her face. In that moment, I know why I love being a teacher and I can't wait to get to know my new kiddos.