Sometimes they are soo sweet!

Today was our Friday (Hallelujah!) and we had our Valentine's party. One of the activities I thought up for us to do before our party was to make Valentine's for some of the staff around the school that doesn't usually get as much attention/appreciation (teachers' aides, janitors, lunch ladies). 

The kids were so cute decorating them. I got out my staff directory so that they could see the face of the person that they were making it for-we see people in school every day and may not even know their name! Then we set out to deliver our Valentines. 

When we returned from our little trip, I wanted to check in and make sure that they understood why we would do something like this. I posed the question to my kiddos and their responses absolutely melted my heart. 

One kiddo said, "to make people feel special and good."

Another, "we didn't want anyone to be forgotten."

We also talked about how it made us feel. I asked them if anyone was mad that they were delivering a Valentine. Of course they responded "NO!" like I was crazy. But then we discussed how people were surprised, touched, and excited to be receiving a gift. 

What a great ending to a crazy week!

Why didn't I think of that?

I have a little girl in my class whose vocabulary is off the charts. On one of the first days of school I was outside on recess duty and she ran over to me and explained that the different areas of the playground had special names. "This (she points) is Safari Africa and this is Rainbow City. Well it looks like Safari Africa could use a little bit of organization. So if you want to stay here and watch these kids, I will go over there and organize that!" I couldn't do much but giggle and agree to her proposal.

Now, a little background information. I am on a journey of weight-loss. My kids are getting used to me drinking my Spark in class (they know it as my vitamins) and taking my MNS daily vitamins when the alarm goes off before lunch. Just a few weeks ago I started weight training with a trainer four days a week before school. Well on my first triceps/chest day, I thought I would die. I was not sure how I was going to make it through the day-couldn't life a pencil-HA! So I thought I would have a little talk with my kids about my hard work. I hoped it would be something that they could connect with, as I explained that just like reading is hard for them, I am working out. It's hard for me, but I want to be really strong, so I will keep going and not give up.

Well even though this particular child is very intelligent. She missed the connection. After my whole schpeel about working hard and giving it our best, she raises her hand. "Mrs. Otten? Maybe you just shouldn't pick up such heavy stuff!" Problem solved.

Poop Sauce

Yep, you read that right. 

I thought I would use this as a source to share all of the awesome, heartwarming, funny, and terrible things that happen to me every day in kindergarten!

One of the best stories to happen so far this year comes from one of my little angels, we will call him R. One day I was walking around the room during rest time and I thought that I smelled something. I knew that this student had a history of accidents and pulled him out into the hall and asked him if he'd had an accident. He says to me, "yeah…well…at first recess (9:45-it's now 2:30) I thought I felt a little poop sauce in my underwear."

POOP SAUCE??

As I am trying to help R change his pants, he does not seem phased by this whole situation. In the bathroom, I help him get clean and get him into his underwear. I ask him if he thinks he can get his pants on by himself. He says, "sure!" This is his favorite word by the way, after HEY! As I am in my classroom teaching, I look out and there he is, out in our hallway (right by our front doors) standing in his whitie tighties. He tells me, "Hey! I can't get my pants on."

Some days I just have to shake my head and laugh. Meet them where they are at, right?

Mrs. O