So it's finally true! My one, and for now, my only, year of teaching full time is over... and I have no idea what I am going to do with myself. I've been going in fast-paced mode for so long that I seriously almost felt guilty last night when I didn't have anything to do to get ready or any marking to do. My only job for the next week is figuring out where in my house to put all of the stuff that I've accumulated this year. Let me tell you about my year though, because it has definitely been a great one.
I've been teaching grade 2 at Stirling School since September. Grade 2 was a new experience for me at first, but it ended up being absolutely perfect for me. I have got to admit that I was originally expecting to have a few more 'accidents' and a lot more shoes to tie then I actually did. I had more than a few different qualified, excellent, hard-working teacher assistants and work-experience students in the room throughout the year, which was a HUGE blessing. I don't think I could have asked for more perfect fits in my classroom either. 20 little bodies keep you busy all day long, but despite my tired feet/knees, and the occasional headache, I wouldn't have traded the experience for anything. I am really going to miss seeing all of those kids on a regular basis. I am so proud of all that they have accomplished this year, and for the great people they are becoming. They put together the most adorable "Memory Book" for me to finish off the year, which I am totally going to cherish and love to look back on.
It's funny, once you become a teacher, to find that you've picked up some "must do's" what to do and not do when you have kids that start into school. I am SO grateful I got some insight into this before I had kids in school, because I now know how terribly important some of these things are.
1. Read at least 20 minutes every day with your child (either them reading or you).
- students who do not have parents who are available to read with them on a regular basis seem to struggle in ALL subject areas, eventually affecting them socially as well. Reading carries over into everything.
2. Take more responsibility for your own child's education. The teacher can only do so much.
- Have high expectations, and if they are not able to reach them, then seek opportunities to help them as much as possible to get them to achieve their best.
- If your child has a specific area of need (speech, language, learning, etc.), don't be a push-over with the school. Parents that are advocates for their child, especially if they remain positive and not accusing to the school and administration, will generally get their child the extra help that they need to succeed.
3. Don't over-schedule your children, but do involve them with some outside-of-school activities.
- Generally, students who were involved in out-of school activities seemed to be more socially well-adjusted, but also seemed to have more energy and more interest in the in-school things that we did. It gives them something to make them feel special.
- Students that were over-scheduled often seemed tired, and seemed to do slightly less-well than somewhere in the middle.
4. Have a consistent and managed bed-time for your child.
- Wow! Students/children who did not have a consistent bedtime or who seemed to have a less-structured routine at home were behaviorally extremely irritable and had a very difficult time with school work and even seemed to have a higher number of clashes and confrontations with friends. It seemed that this behavior could always be led back to one of two main reasons. Either the child admitted that they were tired and didn't get a good sleep, or else they missed breakfast/had an unhealthy breakfast and were hungry.
5. Therefore, kids need a healthy breakfast to do their best work. Also, send healthy snacks just in case.
6. Send your child to school with an extra pair of pants AND socks when the weather is really wet.
- okay, so this year wasn't a typical year for southern Alberta, but honestly, K-3 students could NOT stay away from the puddles. It is kind of humiliating when you have to have a child call home for the second or third time in the same week (sometimes the same day), because they "fell in a puddle" or "got wet because my friend told me to". I currently hate the smell of wet, dirty socks. It is possibly just easier and okay to assume that kids will be kids and that they WILL get wet, so sent them an extra pair of clothes so that they can be comfortable in order to do their work for the rest of the day as well.
7. Therefore, gum boots are essential!!!!
8. Offer to volunteer in the classroom, especially as a reader. If possible, make the time consistent so that they kids come to expect seeing you at a regular time.
- I loved my volunteers... enough said.
9. Give your child responsibilities.
- students that were most helpful and most well behaved seemed to have developed a sense of personal responsibility for their actions.
10. Praise your child often.
- nothing brakes my heart more than to hear a parent talk negatively about their child. It's important to know your child's weaknesses, but to criticize them for it instead of helping them improve, does no good.
I think that's all. But seriously, read with your children, nieces, nephews, siblings.... just read.
On a side note, I am now 24 weeks pregnant (woo-hoo!), and expecting a baby on October 13th this fall. We did not find out what we were having (Kevin's choice this time), but Kevin had an impression that it is a girl and that it will look like me, so I guess we'll see if he's right. In the mean time, I can make a few girl things anyways, because I already have all of the boy things that I need. If I don't have a girl, then some lucky friend of my that does will get some things.
Brody is growing up super fast lately. He is getting to be a really good talker, and even said our family prayer this morning with the help of dad guiding him what to say. I don't always understand what he says, but it is getting better. He learned how to climb out of his crib and play pen this week, so bed times are becoming a big struggle. Any suggestions are welcome. He does have a bed in his room that he can climb onto, but he doesn't seem to love sleeping in it yet. I probably want to move his crib out of his room sometime in July. It is really strange to look at him, especially over the last month, and to be amazed this this talking, strong-willed, funny boy is the same baby that I held in my arms less than 2 years ago. In the same amount of time he will be just about old enough to be in pre-school! I am so grateful to have had a wonderful day home care-giver to send him to every day that I worked (THANK YOU STEPHANIE!!!), but I am so sad to have missed a lot of his life over the last year. It will be so wonderful to be with him for a few months to ourselves before this new baby comes at least.
Any ideas for some cute baby girl crafts/things to buy/make, let me know! Sorry for the lack of blogging over the last year!
