Mourning the Firsts

Since school ended on March 13th, everyone has been focused on all the lasts that are being missed.  And I am by no means saying that those things shouldn't be mourned.  I am sad for those as well.  I have kids I taught as second graders that were sixth graders this school year, and will be leaving our campus without a proper goodbye.  I get it.

But in my house we're not mourning the lasts.  In my house, we're mourning the firsts.  And I haven't seen as much talk of that.

You see, I teach kindergarten.  I'm also the parent of a Kindergartener.  And this mess has taken away all of our end of the year firsts.  We've lost our first Field Day--our first chance to celebrate our year together with a day of play.  We've lost our end of the year projects.  And you know kindergarten projects are the bomb.  I bet your mom still has yours.  But we've missed our chance to do all those cute projects about how much we've grown, what we'll do this summer, how much we love mom (and dad), and all the awesome things we learned together this year.  Those first keepsakes aren't coming home.  And it sucks.  We've lost our first yearbook signings and/or memory book making.  These were our first best friends, our first classmates.  We've spent our days together and won't get that send off.  We've lost our first end of the year celebration--whether it's a class party, a graduation/moving on ceremony, some type of awards, or whatever combination of those.  It's gone.  Sure, they'll get other ceremonies.  But they won't be with this teacher or these classmates.  And the first one is always extra special.  They won't be as cute next time the opportunity presents itself.

So at my house, and in my packed up classroom, we are mourning the loss of our firsts.  Because kindergarten is a BIG DEAL, y'all!  Not just because we learn to read.  Not just because we learn to add and subtract.  Not just because we learn how to write.  We learn how to be kind.  We learn how school works.  We learn to cooperate.  We learn to celebrate success and growth.  We learn how to be a good friend.  We learn to congratulate each other.  We learn how to persevere.

And I am stuck here having to hope that we learned those things well enough, even with our lost firsts, and our shortened time together.  Because the academics will come if we mastered the rest.  I promise, parents, the academics are the easy fix.  And while I mourn all the things we didn't get to do together, I will also remember with joy all the things we did get to do together.  And I will hope that from those moments we did have that they remember to be kind, to persevere, to cooperate, and to celebrate their growth and success.  Because that's what will get us through this.




P.S. -- I'd like to also say a huge thank you to my kid's teachers this year.  Because with their love, support, and encouragement, he did master the important things.  He's learned to be kind, to cooperate, to celebrate, to persevere because of you awesome ladies!  And that's what matters!  So thank you!!

Open-Closed Shape Sort

I love math.  To be honest though, when I was a student, I HATED math.  But as a teacher, I love it!  Maybe it’s because I get to teach it in a way that would have made so much more sense to me as a student.  Maybe it’s because kindergarten math is so much more fun than algebra.  But either way, it is probably my second favorite thing to teach (right behind science).

Shapes are a big deal in the primary grades, and one of the trickiest things for students is the concept open and closed.  I don’t know why, but it’s like their brains fill in the holes and they don’t recognize the difference.  Enter my open-closed shape sort.

This is a cut and paste activity, so it sneaks that fine motor practice in as well.  Are you noticing a theme here?  😉  I would definitely not use the open-closed shape sort as an introduction to this concept.  This is intended for practice after several days on this concept.

The shapes are either complete, closed shapes or open figures that have holes included.  Students will have to really look close to decide which category to put their shapes in.  The pieces can be glued either on construction paper or in a math journal.

There are many options for the open-closed shape sort, depending on grade level.  In kindergarten, I typically do an activity like this in a small group setting.  I also only give them the scissors at first.  They don’t get a glue stick until they have all their pieces laid out in the correct spots.  This allows for discussion as we sort and lowers the frustration levels because they’re not worried about it being stuck on the wrong side.  In first grade, depending on how deep into the concept you are, this could be a center activity with or without a teacher or even a simple assessment.  You could even use the open-closed shape sort in the beginning of second grade as a completely independent activity to assess retention of the concept or introduce a geometry unit.

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Open-Closed-Shape-Sort-761400

120 Chart Mystery Picture

Everyone loves a good coloring page, right?  But how do you make that coloring time that is oh so important fit into a rigorous, standards-based curriculum?  You include math of course!  Now, there are a ton of math coloring pages out there, from 100 charts to addition facts to graphing plots.  So what makes these special?

Because they are 120 chart mystery pictures!  When I was in first grade, we loved the idea of the mystery pictures on the 100s charts because of the great practice with number recognition and place value skills.  Plus, our kids got some great fine motor practice as a bonus!  However, we were following the Common Core State Standards at the time, and the expectation for first grade was for students to be familiar with numbers up to 120.  So rather than miss out on this great practice, or only partially meet the standard using products that were already out there, I created these 120 chart mystery picture pages!

As you can see, there is a 120 chart mystery picture for just about any occasion you could wish.  I have them available In a year long bundle that includes everything from Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas to Mardi Gras, St. Patrick’s Day, Spring, and even Summer!  There are currently 13 in all.  Students 2^nd grade and up could easily complete the year long 120 chart mystery picture set independently as practice, review, or even an assessment.

If you’re teaching first grade and think that your students may need a little more practice with number recognition before they dive in independently, I do offer the 120 chart mystery pictures in 2 other bundled sets: fall holidays and spring holidays.  Maybe you’re only working on that skill in the fall.  Or maybe you want to hit it hard in the fall and use the spring set to spiral, practice, or assess on an independent level.  Whatever works for you.

I actually still use these even though I’m in kindergarten now.  And you’re thinking, but how?  And why?  Let me share!

Why??  Easy.  First of all, some of them are just plain ready for it.  I always have at least one small group of students that is ready for “first grade” math.  So, why not expose them?!  Second, all of my students can use the coloring practice!  ALL. OF THEM.  And bonus, while they color they get more exposure to numbers and how to recognize them.  BAM!  Great plan!  Third, I love, love, love their conversations while they try to figure it out.  It is adorable.  Fourth, like I have mentioned before, any time I can bring in some art or social studies or speaking and listening, I’m going to do it.  Check, check, and check because most of these pages give a nod to a holiday, or at least a season.

As for the how, everyone’s favorite word: differentiate.  In first grade, I would give this activity independently (for the most part).  In kindergarten, we always do it small group.  That group that’s ready for it, let them at it.  I usually monitor fairly closely, and stay close for questions, but it’s a great time to help another group with their independent work if they need it. 

Then there’s the group that’s just almost there.  So I teach them how to match and mark the numbers with each color.

After they’ve marked all of one color, or even all the colors, they can go back and fill it in nice and neat.  Notice though I said teach them.  This is not something they’ll immediately catch on to.  But with good modeling and guided practice, they are capable.  I promise.  If most of your class is at this point, you could even show them on a document camera if you have one.

And there will be that group that just needs some extra help.  That’s ok.  It’s kindergarten.  Some of our babies just aren’t ready to go to 120.  But that doesn’t mean that we should exclude them!  So, a third way I differentiate is by helping them mark the colors.  This is a great opportunity still to discuss and practice the numbers as you do it.  But if the class is going to color a 120 chart mystery picture turkey, everyone should!  I do this type of scaffolding one color at a time.  I grab my own crayon or even colored pencil, and slash through all the boxes that need that color.  Then they go through and shade those marked boxes all the way in.  And we move on to the next color once they’re finished.  It sounds like a lot of work, but it really goes super quick.  You can even pre-prep the first color before that group gets to you (during planning, or even while that independent group is working).  It’s not as demanding as it sounds, I promise!

Once you’re finished, you have some great artwork to display, and you can even hang a math standard by it too!  If you’re looking for a way to include some art and fine motor practice in your math block, or if you just need a math activity to go along with your holiday activities, there is a 120 chart mystery picture for you!  And if you can’t find one that you need, leave me a comment and maybe that will be the next 120 chart mystery picture I add to the bundle!

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/120-Chart-Mystery-Picture-Year-Round-Bundle-632078

Welcome to the Yellow Rose Garten!

For those that may not know, I’m Brittany Henderson.  I just finished my 7^th year of teaching, which was my 3^rd in Kindergarten.  I have also taught 1^st and 2^nd, as well as worked with 4s in a preschool/daycare setting.  Kindergarten has been my favorite so far, hence the “Garten.”

While we are currently living in coastal Mississippi, I was born and raised deep in the heart of Texas.  Actually, I was even born on Texas’ Sesquicentennial, or the 150^th anniversary of their statehood.  Texas is where I spent most of my childhood, where I met my high school sweetheart, where I graduated from both high school and college, where we were married, and where I began my career.  So Texas holds a pretty special place in my heart and is a large part of my identity, hence the “Yellow Rose.”

Teaching has always been part of my life, has always been my passion.  As early as I can remember, if given the choice I would play school (as the teacher obviously) over house any day.  Teacher was always my answer to “what do you want to be when you grow up?”  My husband told me early on in our high school relationship that he already knew I’d be a teacher.  In fact, he even said kindergarten teacher.  There was never any other option for me.  Now that my goal has become a reality, it is my passion to do right by my students daily.  And I don’t just mean teach the standards.

I’m a firm believer in “let them be little.”  Kids need play, social learning, and to enjoy school to be successful.  So, I’m not just here for the basics.  In my classroom, if it can be taught through play, art, music, science, social studies, whatever, I’m down for it.  If it strengthens motor skills, speaking and listening skills, emotional understanding, or social skills, I’m all over it.  What I’ve found though, is that we’ve steered so far in the other direction in education, that a lot of those things don’t always exist.  I’m ready for that to change, and the only way to see that change is to start it.

There you have it.  Yellow Rose Garten, and a little me, in a nutshell.  Research states that learning something new takes 400 repetitions, unless it’s done through play, then it only takes 10 to 20!

So let’s play!!

All Roads Lead Somewhere.....

It seems we have found ourselves once again in a season of questions.  This happens every few years or so.  In fact, without going back to check, I'd wager that about half my posts on this blog have been written in such a season.  I guess somehow I hope that by writing it out, it will make more sense.  Doesn't usually work, but I generally feel better after.

So in an effort to get my mind to be able to focus on anything else I should be doing (cleaning the house, laundry, laminating centers, and so on), let's see how this goes.

As some of you know, the company my husband works for has announced they'll be closing some of their stores.  So far, 8 in his district with another round coming next week.  Which makes the biggest question right now, will we have a job or a severance package by summer?  Not a fun place to be.

However, he has taken that news and decided to put a proactive spin on it.  He's currently (and fairly aggressively) seeking a job in a semi-new field, as well as taking an online course to prepare for any offer he may receive.  Which leads to another question: will we end up with a new job in a new location?  Or will this job search be longer than we think?

Both of these major questions about his career obviously play in to mine.  I had to sign my contract this week.  The school year is quickly coming to an end.  Plus, the plan was to improve my own education/certification in the near future.  But now that's in question as well because I can't really start anything until we know if he has a job, which job it will be, and if we end up having to move.  So how do I help, or can I even help, with our finances?  Do I need to pack for the summer or a storage unit?  Do I research certification in other states or is it even worth it yet?

All this to say, if we seem distracted or confused, we have good reason.  And if we can't commit to something or seem hesitant to make plans, don't take it personally.  Because most likely the conversation has led to a hundred different "what ifs" swirling inside.  And the truth is, we just don't know.  But we've been here before and it all led to good.  So while it's not easy, and I won't claim I'm doing a great job at it, we are putting our trust in God because He has always put us where we need to be.  This season will pass and we will settle again.  This road will lead somewhere, and I have to believe it will be for good.  In the meantime though, it's all a question.

As the year wanes on, I find myself more and more needing an outlet.  Since I already have this one, let's take advantage.

I was asked a couple weeks ago to share in my Sunday School class what it's like to be a champion for students at my job in about 5 minutes.  I agreed, knowing the instant I hit send that it would be very difficult for me to do so.  Strange as it may sound knowing that I'm a teacher, I'm actually not all that comfortable with public speaking.  I write much better than I speak, and I stay more focused that way, too.  So after a few days of contemplating how to go about this, I decided to just write it down, and be honest with my group that I was much more comfortable sharing in writing than I would be just speaking.  I was told after the fact that I should write more often.  And I should.  But that's hard when you pour your heart and soul fully into who knows how many hours "on the job" a week, and then pour just as much heart and soul into fully being wife and mom.  There's just not much left to pour out for myself.  However, being at the point where I might break if I don't, here I sit.

So, this is what I shared, along with a few tears, with my class (with a few minor edits/additions, because that's what writers do).  And what I try to keep telling myself not just daily, but second by second as I muddle through this year that feels so......relentless.

"Students who are loved at home, come to school to learn, and students who aren't, come to school to be loved." --Nicholas A. Ferroni

Most research shows that it takes 5 positive comments to make up for 1 negative.  Really think about that, 5:1.  And that's not just for kids, it applies to us adults too.  Sometimes that ratio can seem overwhelming.  Actually, it's overwhelming all the time.  Especially now that I'm a parent.  I know that my child gets the encouragement he needs at home.  But I also know that we all have our days where there may be very little positive interaction, or no interaction at all.  We're all human, and in that short time between school getting out and bedtime, there's a lot that can happen to direct our attitudes away from the positive.  Which is why my classroom is my mission field.  And why even though it's not "supposed" to be, and is frowned upon by most higher-ups, my focus is always RELATIONSHIPS FIRST.

"The way we talk to our children becomes their inner voice." --Peggy O'Mara

I take my job very seriously.  But not the part of my job you'd expect.  Oh sure, I work hard to teach the academics, but there's a big difference between teaching curriculum and teaching students.  I believe my job, my responsibility to our future generations, is to be their cheerleader.  Some days it's exhausting.  Some days it's a struggle to keep positive interaction the focus.  Some days I suck at it.  But every morning, I get up and remind myself that these little people who will one day be our politicians, doctors, lawyers, teachers, church leaders, and whatever else they can dream to be, deserve as much love, confidence, and emotional support as I can pack into one day.  I mean, they spend more time with me than anywhere else.  And I want my child to be getting that same amount of love, confidence, and emotional support from his teachers.  Because we are all in this together, we all have a stake in this future, and I'd rather it not be miserable.  And because every child that passes through my classroom should leave it with a stockpile of encouragement to combat the negative the world will constantly throw at them.  Constantly.  And relentlessly.  I know this from experience, because it happened just today.  And my stockpile is low right now.  The world doesn't care if you have someone replenishing your fuel.  So I have to keep doing it for them, no matter the cost, so they never get to empty.

I'm very blessed to be in a school where many of my coworkers also see the importance of being cheerleaders for our students.  And because of this I have a great system in place to allow the interactions that lead to encouragement of our students.  We showcase their strengths and talents to the community.  We allow them to take responsibilities in their class and their school.  We show them how to monitor and analyze their academic progress.  We empower them to achieve success by teaching them emotional and social skills along with their academics.  But even in such a wonderful workplace, there can be days...weeks...phases, where it's just tough.  Almost too tough.  But then I remember.  The blessing of seeing our students speak in front of crowds, seeing their excitement over achieving their goals, hearing them say these skills have made them a better person, or even just having them stop by for a quick hug every morning is what keeps me going.  On those tough days (and there have been a lot lately), when it seems like I've got no more encouragement left to give, when I feel like I've failed because I snapped, God sends me one of those blessings to keep me going.  Something as simple as a student thrilled to wave at me in the hall or the shy smile they shoot my way when they can read that word.  That's my why.  It's not easy.  But it is worth it.

A New Adventure

I'm back! I'm sure nobody pays enough attention to this anymore to even realize I was gone.

But now I'm back. And I'm taking the blog in a new direction, or on an adventure, if you will. My intent is to use this as a tool to promote my "side hustle" as it's so affectionately called.

And so, to that end, please share and donate if you can to my first ever Donors Choose project. It's for some alternative seating choices for my students. This will be greatly beneficial for my wiggly little learners!

Seating Choices Make Better Learners