Spring Cleaning

Yuk!! How I despise those two words. However, I was just reading some educational blogs and came across an interesting one that challenged me.

This time of year always brings different emotions for me at school. I feel the end is near and that I never have my students where they should be. I panic that they won't be ready for first grade. The blog I read suggested making a list of failures and successes, so here it goes.... (These relate to work.)

Failures:

1. Parent Communication-The hardest thing I find about teaching is talking to parents. I can write notes/newsletters all day long, but I am not good about contacting parents with problems. This has become more prevelant since having my own child. After listening to parents complain about education, I find that what I might think is important, a parent will find it picky. I also have a difficult time explaining myself. I guess I see the big picture and forget the little details.

2. Behavior-I have not had a good year where discipline is concerned. This group of children is VERY talkative and doesn't listen for directions. We have a bunch of chiefs and not enough Indians. : ) I just wish they would listen and follow directions. I have tried our behavior plan with rewarding good behavior with starbucks. It doesn't phase the ones that aren't doing the right thing. I have tried incentives with a marble jar, lunch bunch, silly banz, behavior charts, etc. I just don't seem to be getting through to this group. Many would say that I just haven't found the thing that works with this group. Probably so. Maybe it comes down to problem # 1.

3. Time Management: I need to use my time at school more wisely and get things done. I bring home way too much work. I stay late at school most days. I just don't ever feel like I get it done.

4. Keeping the fun in it: Since moving back to S.C. I am amazed at the difference in the expectations for kindergarten. It is like first grade used to be. There is NO time for the fun things. They (the powers that be) expect you to be teaching the kids to read, add, subtract, and write by the end of the year. What happened to art projects, centers, games, socialization, etc. I hate that we are missing out on the fundamentals that WILL make a difference down the road. I wish I could find the balance.

5. Meeting the needs of all of my children. What an enormous task. I don't ever remember having children at this time of the year that don't know their letters/sounds, numbers, etc. Then I have a few reading on a first and second grade reading level. I TRY to differentiate, but I feel that I can only stretch so far.

Successes

1. Provide a safe and loving environment: Although I am a rule follower, I make it a point to make sure the children know they are safe and loved. It is one place they can count on someone paying them attention and giving them that needed hug.

2. Organization: Enough said.

3. Flexibility: My classroom seems to have a revolving door this year. I have gained/lost 6 students this year. As one leaves, another comes in. I have to be flexible with all of the pullout programs. I have to be flexible when working with 5 other females on a team.

4. Serving my school: I am a firm believer that it takes more than the 7:30-3:00 to make the school work. I stay involved by serving on the PTO executive board and our School Improvement Council. I volunteer to help out whenever needed.

5. Student Growth: Wow. I love this time of year. It amazes the growth the children make. I try telling the parents at the beginning of the year that their child will grow by leaps and bounds. Checking report card skills this past week has proven this statement. I am sooo proud of my kids. They've come a long way...baby.

For those of you that know me well, you know how hard I am on myself. I continually question what I do and try to make sure I keep up with the latest educational programs. I'm sure that if I had done this list every year for the past 23 years, the failures and successes would be very similar. Maybe this post will get me motivated to turn those failures into successes over the next 9 weeks and next school year. If you have any suggestions on how to do so, please let me know.