The Best Parts of My Week....6/21-6/24

Hi everyone,
Well, it's the last week of school! Every year seems to go faster and faster! Wasn't it just September? Wasn't it just my first day of teaching back in 1984? I went through my school yearbook today and I counted 19 of my students whose parents I had as students too! You would think that after all this time I would be counting the days to retirement.....but just the opposite is true! I am more and more energized as the years go by. Sure, my bones and joints hurt more and this job is sometimes physically challenging, but I am only looking toward retirement in the sense that I am counting how much time I have left to accomplish my goals. There is so much more that I want to do! I love my job and the following are some reasons why!

.....While talking to one of my fourth graders on the last day of PE, he shared with me that he now has his own pedometer and will be wearing it all summer to see how many steps he moves each week just like I do!


.....I watched in pride as our 5th grade students "Moved Up" during the ceremonies and celebrations of this week! It seems like yesterday that they arrived as kindergarten students!


.....As I was saying good-bye to students on the last day of school during dismissal, I was suddenly wrapped in a hug by one of my students. While many students give hugs on the way out, this one was special on many levels. It's hard to describe why, but if you are a teacher, you know the kind of student I am talking about........the challenging one......the one it was hard to connect with......the one that you were never quite sure if you were giving what the student needed.......the hug told me that I got it right!

Have a great summer everyone! See you in September!

The Best Parts of My Week....6/7-6/11

This week we held our annual Field Days! Field Days were the best parts of my week on so many levels!

.....seeing the excitement on the faces of Kindergarten students as they experienced Field Day for the first time!

.....welcoming the more than 40 volunteers who helped with Field Days which included parents, grandparents, and former students!

.....playing with students during Tug of War, "Clean Up Your Own Backyard", Beach Ball Volleyball, Water Balloon Toss, "Spaghetti and Meatballs Relay", and more!

.....watching with pride as fifth grade students cooperate, problem-solve, and work together during our adventure-style fifth grade Field Day!

.....listening to the excitement on the fields while students participated in the many Field Day activities!

.....answering a Kindergarten student the day after Field Day who asked if we were going to have Field Day again!

.....reading a booklet made by Kindergarten students who wrote about and drew a picture of their favorite Field Day activity as a way to thank me for providing them with a terrific Field Day experience!

.....feeling the excitement in the air each day that a Field Day was scheduled!

.....being grateful for terrific weather on each of three Field Days even the weather forecast indicated otherwise!

.....realizing that all of the work that goes into creating successful Field Days is worth every minute!!!!

The Best Parts of My Week....6/1-6/4

As the school year winds down, the events and activities wind up!!!!!!!
Enjoy the best parts of my week!

.....During Kindergarten Orientation, as I was explaining my PE program to a group of parents touring the building, a parent of a current student and an incoming kindergarten student thanked me for teaching her daughter Yoga! She explained that her daughter came home and told her mother that she learned a new way to react to her little brother when he was bothering her! She learned a "Volcano" pose, which helps students get rid of angry or difficult feelings and was going to use it the next time she got upset. The power of Yoga for children continues to amaze me! That made my day!


.....As I was chatting about our upcoming Field Days with a group of students waiting to be picked up by their teacher, one of the students asked if I organized all of the Field Days for all of the students in our school. It was as if she just realized that someone had to be the one to organize the events and that they just don't happen by themselves. I responded that yes, I organize our Field Days each year. She then replied "Doesn't that take a lot of time?" I of course said yes, but that I love Field Day and it is worth all of the work that goes into it so that students can have fun! I then asked all of these students to show their "Attitude of Gratitude" during Field Day so that everyone can enjoy the activities. It was amazing to me that an elementary student could be aware of and appreciate the amount of work that it takes to create a school-wide event!