True Life: I'm a Kindergarten Teacher

You think you know, but you have NO idea! Finger painting, dress-up, story time and nap time. The usual uneducated idea of what goes on in a modern day kindergarten classroom. The funny thing is NONE of those things I just listed happen in public schools anymore, not even in kindergarten (at least not in NC). Now let me tell you I don't disagree that some of those "activities"s are necessary for 5 and 6 year-olds but I don't get to write the curriculum ladies and gentleman.

Breaking the stereotype of a kindergarten teacher is not exactly what I am here to do today. This post is simply dedicated to sharing some of the hidden tales of what happens in a typical kindergarten classroom. The type of tales that only a teacher gets the joy of experiencing on a daily basis. It would also be a shame not to share some of the borderline amazing stories I've got with the world. Take a moment to think of all the recent  AT&T commercials. Now imagine this all day long with a class of 21 students. Teaching is a job that could drive a weak person to the nuthouse. A smart teacher knows that what you need to do is turn all the negatives into positives and laugh about it. I'm not going to lie, there have been many times when I have been on the verge of a breakdown then a moment like the ones below happen and instead I break out into laughter. My assistant helps a lot with this as well. She is constantly using sarcasm with them and let me remind you, they are an average age of 6 and typically give us a look of total confusion. There are constant reminders of why it is I have jumped through rings of fire to have my own classroom. If there wasn't, I'm not sure teachers would survive. 

Alright, let's just go for it and start with the nasty part of my job. The gross stuff that no one tells you about until you have signed the contract and are stuck in a room with kids who just learned how to dress themselves. Let me start by informing those of you who don't already know this about me, I am a germaphob. I am constantly thinking about when I can wash my hands next. This is partly due to the fact that anything and everything gets me sick. I knew this year my immune system was in for a treat, but didn't really think of being constantly surrounded by messy children. Let's first start off by the sneezing and couching that goes down. No matter how many times you remind them to cover their mouths/noes there will always be those 1 or 2 children that think you just like to repeat that for fun. I won't name names, but one of my little boys this year would constantly sneeze in my face. I got excellent at dodging them but I am not superwomen here. Now let's move on the the puke. Yeah, I went there. There is no sugarcoating that word in Kindergarten so get over it. I lucked out this year, most of my children made it to trash cans or on the floor. If I would have been barfed on at school (like many of the horror stories my veteran co-workers told me about), I don't know that I would still be teaching no matter how much I love it.

Boogers, good old boogers. Clearly picking and digging was a constant sight. I started off being polite but eventually just ended up starring at the child with my teacher stare until they realized what they were doing. Or I  just went with the one liner, "tissue". They immediately knew I wasn't playing and left those boogs alone. I wish I had captured some of the faces they would make when they knew they were caught in the act. By the end of the year I think my children knew not to be caught doing that by me or ended up being excellent at hiding it. Either way, I am cool with it. Runny noses also began to fade out by the end of the year and thank goodness because constant dry heaving when I saw a child with a water fountain flowing from their nose to mouth was not part of any of my lessons. As for the booboos... From bruises to blood. They were constant and often turned into acting auditions. Most of the real accidents came from falling on the playground, picking scabs, or nose bleeds. I am not good with blood. Shocker, right? Thank you Jesus for Mrs. Lupton, my handy-dandy assistant. She is a mother of 4 and can handle anything. I'm pretty sure I came close to passing out when I had to clean a chin gash one of my little girls got from taking a face-dive into mulch. The smell of blood is something I can't handle. And that my friends, is obviously the only reason I couldn't save lives for a living.

Sharing this side of kindergarten doesn't often come up in a typical conversation so that was therapeutic to get that out of my system. 

Let's move right on to the clumsiness that comes with kindergartners. This amazing trait may stay with some of them, but for right now they all have their fair share. I have tried holding in my laughter when they miss their chair or trip over their own feet, but I no longer feel it is necessary unless they are truly injured. I'm now a pro at instantly knowing when it's just Mr. Clumbsy taking over. Why yes, I'll share my wisdom with you - You've got to look for the 3 stages of emotion that hits within a minute time frame. Stage 1: Shock. This is the funnest to watch for. Their priceless face is basically saying, "What the heck just happened to me?" Sadly, it doesn't last long until the next stage hits. Stage 2: Crying. This is when they realize they have hurt themselves or are terribly embarrassed by their lack of control of their tiny bodies. This is when, as a teacher, you've got to go into actress mode/mom mode and stop the laughing because it only makes them cry more. The next stage will roll on in if you are a good nurturer like myself. Stage 3: Laughter. This when the child realizes the only way to keep their street cred is to turn that frown upside down immediately. Now you know what to look for, your welcome new mothers.

My kids on Field Day

Field Day was during the last week of school and I was astonished at how athletic some of them had become. Not much clumsiness came out of them that day. What a shame. They must just save that for the classroom.

Bribery becomes your best friend in a Kindergarten classroom. Let me give you the politically correct term for any of my professors reading this, "positive reinforcement". There is no other way for me to explain this but kindergarteners haven't fully developed a sense of self fulfillment. That is why sweets, toys, games, and sometimes parties that include sweets, toys, and games become a part of your daily routine. Any kind of classroom management from individual, to table, to class I have going on in my classroom. You can never have enough! I am constantly searching Pinterest and blogs for new management ideas, so if you are a teacher and have a favorite, please share! I love learning what others do in their classroom. Sharing is caring! :)

I am the M&M Queen in Kindergarten

So there you go. Some of the hidden secrets of kindergarten that no one shares. Don't let these adorable faces fool you. They will chew you up and spit you out if you are not prepared.

My kids on the carpet on the last day of school.

From Yins to Y'all

Hi friends! This long overdue post is very necessary because I have officially survived my first year of teaching!!!! I now completely understand all aspects of the word "survivor". My lack of posting anything since September was not me giving y'all the silent treatment. It has only been because my life has been totally consumed by my crazy, beautiful year as a first year kindergarten teacher. The journey was not all smiles. There were many ups and downs but overall this has been one memorable year that has changed my life for the better!

My kindergarteners' "silly" pic on Field Day!

I know what most the non-teachers out there may be thinking... No time? Surely you could have some spare time to share the wonderful news. HA! Here's an explanation in a nutshell. Teaching is not a job that stops when the bell rings at the end of the day, especially for a new teacher! From week night to weekends I was creating stations, planning, learning the new CCSS (Common Core State Standards), grading, laminating, conferencing-calling-writing parents and the list could go on for days, but to save you I'll stop. Once you think you are ahead, have checked everything off your list more magically appears like a scene from Harry Potter! The checklist doesn't stop, sadly even after school has ended for the summer. This a promise! Teaching is no job for anyone who isn't passionate about educating. Sharing the news on my blog clearly wasn't even close to the top of any of my lists. So sorry and it will never happen again.

Now that school has ended, I finally have a bit of time to breath get back to my favorite hobby, blogging! I have been yearning for this day. First off, let's explain this title. Clearly I have moved South. Raleigh, North Carolina to be exact. Instead of hearing "yins", I now hear "ya'll" and have totally picked up on some of the slang. The slang is a whole other post in itself. The thick accents have no effect on me now, but when I first moved hear that's all I could think about when people were talking to me. Most of what they were saying went in one ear and out the other. I would find myself trying to mimic them without even realizing it. Thank goodness that has stopped and hopefully no one ever heard my attempts. And yes many of my co-workers consider me a "Yankee" or "Northerner". I never heard this word so much than out of the mouth of my TA (teacher assistant) aka one of my new Southern mothers. She held the worst stereotype for us so-called Yankees. Luckily I have broke the mold for many of her opinions of us from the North.

This big step in my life was NOT  an easy one to say the least, but I have never been more proud of myself for choosing to make this move. I honestly couldn't have asked for a better place to work. I am the luckiest girl to have been welcomed by such an inspiring, caring, welcoming, generous staff. From my Kindergarten Team to the ladies in the office, they all have all taken me in as part of the family that is created at this school. I am so honored to be a part of NHPS. I seriously have never met so many people who genuinely cared about how I was doing with the move and all that comes with being a first year teacher. I never expected to love my job so much especially with being so far away from my family and friends. The main reason I took a job out of state was because I just wanted a classroom to call my own and the thought of substituting made and still makes me nauseous. Now the thought of teaching somewhere else immediately makes me tear up. I don't know how I could ever leave this place! (Sorry Mom! Maybe one day...)

Most of the K Team in our Pete the Cat costumes

So now that I have finally let my first batch of babies go on to become first graders, I have never been more appreciative of summer break. I will be heading home to Pittsburgh in a few days to spend some much needed time with family and friends before we take a family vacation to Orlando! Our usual mother/daughter trip to Disney has grown this year to a full blown family vacation plus some very close friends! It will be my not so little cousin Colin's first time to Disney and on a plane! I have never been so excited to experience this magical moment with him. My cousin Kelly just surprised us by giving in and joining the trip as well so I'm positive we'll be making a stop at Sea World to see some orca whales. And as long as I'm alive and in Orlando I clearly have to visit Hogwarts. Always a kid at heart.

P.S. Don't you worry now, I'll be sure to keep up with my posts and share more about my first year as a teacher. I've got plenty of stories to share that are bound to put a smile on your face. :)

My kinders after winning both the media & computer awards!