Our school had an open house last Saturday to help with their enrollment numbers. They sent out 3,100 flyers and...drum roll please...30 people came. Yikes. I literally sat in my room for 2 hours listening to one of my current students tell me about his grandma, his favorite movie, the one time his finger got stuck in the stairs, and who knows what else. We bonded. Miraculously, we did have about 10 kindergartners enroll for next year, so they are calling it a success! To prepare for the open house, I had each one of my students draw a self-portrait and then I taped it to the edge of their desks so it looked like they were all sitting there. They turned out so cute.
We just finished up our big end-of-year project to go along with our study of Utah's physical features. The kids each made a batch of salt dough and brought it to school. We spent about a week making salt dough maps of Utah, painting them, and finally labeling them. It was A LOT and I was completely exhausted by the end of each day, but it was totally worth it to see their happy faces and to have something for them to take home that they made and are proud of. Kids need to feel successful. They maps turned out pretty well and I was plum proud! Props to my mom for doing this project every. single. year.
Robbie came to visit the kids/help with P.E. on Friday. It made my heart so happy to watch him with them, and to see how much they loved having them there. We went outside and played a great game of kickball. He spent some time in our classroom as well, just sitting in the corner. I loved looking back at him and smiling when one of the kids said something hilarious. They're funny usually, but they like to put on a show when visitors come. He stayed after school and helped me grade some papers. He even wrote each of them a little note and signed as "Mr. Simons." They'll love it.
In the month of May, I love to do a kindness challenge with my students. We talk about being kind, memorize a poem about it, and set a goal for how many acts of kindness they think they can do by the end of the year. They come in each day and write down what they did in a little journal and then put a sticker on a chart. This year, they set a goal for 30 and they are currently at 86!!! I'm so proud of them. We're reaching for 100 in the next few days! Some of my favorite acts they've recorded are:
In the month of May, I love to do a kindness challenge with my students. We talk about being kind, memorize a poem about it, and set a goal for how many acts of kindness they think they can do by the end of the year. They come in each day and write down what they did in a little journal and then put a sticker on a chart. This year, they set a goal for 30 and they are currently at 86!!! I'm so proud of them. We're reaching for 100 in the next few days! Some of my favorite acts they've recorded are:
- I took a shower without being asked.
- I massaged my mom's feet.
- I gave my dog food.
- I helped my cousin with his chicken.
- I helped my mom feel better because her ear was hurting.
- I opened up the door at the restaurant for a man with a broken leg.
They're just the sweetest kids.
Here's to 5 more days! Huzzah!
You are a wonderful teacher to those kids, Rachel! I love the self-portraits taped to their desks. What a great idea! Those kiddos are lucky to have had you this year, and will move to the next year well prepared!
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