Back in full swing

School is back in session and I have been kicked in high gear since the beginning of August. That is why I have been a ghost on my blog for a while. I hit the floor around 6:20 and go go go until I get to bed between 10 and 11. There is no resting for a Kindergarten teacher, I am always on the go and moving about.

I have a cute yet challenging class of 21 this year. They each are unique and fun and wide open little kids. I have many interesting stories everyday! After 11 days I am finally getting in the swing of things and not looking like I was ran over by a truck at the end of the day.

The best things about Kindergarten is they LOVE their teacher and let you know it. One day we were reading a book called The Kissing Hand and it taught them how to use sign language to say "I love you", while I was walking across the room one of the little boys held up his hand and showed me the sign. I call that strategy melt the teachers heart. The kids are also great for my ego, I am told multiple times a day that I am pretty.

One thing I always hope for in my classroom is that I can be a witness to the kids even though I am in a public school setting. I have had a few opportunities as the kids have opened up to me. During our weather time one day I asked them why does it rain, and several of the kids said "because God is watering the earth". I smiled and said I think so too! Then I heard a little one singing "Jesus Loves Me" and I told him that was one of my favorite songs. But my ALL TIME FAVORITE was after reading the book Brown Bear Brown Bear I had the students draw a picture of what they saw looking at them and one little boy excitedly came up to me saying "look at what I drew! It's Jesus watching over me!" We talked about how great it was that no matter where we go Jesus is always with us.

Here are a few pictures of my classroom:

Circle Area:

The tables:

Our Story Tree: After every book we read we put a new leaf on the tree. The kids think we will have 1,000 at the end of the year. We will have a lot but I do not think it will be that many.

My desk/Information Board:

Shelves:

Computer/Writing Table

One side of the room:

Calendar Board/Reading Area:

I had a picture of my homeliving center but it accidently got deleted. :(