Chicken.

One of the big Thanksgiving projects we do is making a placemat to bring home. The children color a turkey picture, write about what they are thankful for, and do some patterning on the placemat. It takes several days to complete and then the final product is laminated. It’s quite impressive when complete and it’s a nice keepsake.

One afternoon, while working on the turkey color by number page, Michael raised his hand and I walked over.

“I’m done with my chicken,” he said.

I looked at him with my head cocked to one side. My dog sometimes looks at me this way when he’s confused.

“Chicken?” I replied back to him.

No reply.

“Don’t you mean turkey?” I suggested.

He started laughing, I started laughing, and finally the laughter overtook his entire table.

Of the many, many things I’m thankful for this year, laughing with my sprouts it right near the top of the list.

Tribute.

One of the most popular centers is Read the Room. A group of sprouts take pointers (we’ve got some really FUN ones too, try offering Pokémon pointers to kindergartners and see how fast they jump to read) and read letters, names, words, numbers, whatever around the room.

Today during centers, as I walked by a group of girls reading, I overheard the following:

“Ok, you’re Mrs. D. and I’m Mr. A. – ready, go!” A little girl instructed her friends.

“Boys and girls, please be respectful, ‘sponsible, and safe,” the little girl told her friends.

They continued to play teacher and, naturally, after they spotted me listening, began really hamming it up. I guess they really are listening when we talk.

In what other profession do you get to watch children pay homage to you in a loving, complimentary way? It’s truly a tribute… and they’re reading too so it’s really a win-win situation. Love it!

The Pilgrim's Ship.

This week kicked off our study of the Pilgrims and Native Americans. I truly adore Thanksgiving… mainly the reflection of gratefulness, but also learning how the Native people welcomed the Pilgrims and taught them how to live and survive in this strange new land.

Each day, our goal for the class is small, but meaningful. Today, I wanted my sprouts to understand why the Pilgrims set out for a new life, how they traveled here. That’s it. In kindergarten, the social studies concepts are taken in small steps.

When we began, I posed the question, “Does anybody know why we celebrate Thanksgiving?”

I got a few answers relating to feeling thankful and grateful, all valid, but nobody mentioned the Pilgrims, Native Americans or the Mayflower.

We read two books about the Pilgrims and the Mayflower. We talked about it. Finally, we made a Mayflower puppet and learned a song called ‘Where is the Mayflower?’ It’s simple and fun and we sang that song about a hundred times (maybe it was more like seven or eight times). They loved it. I loved it. We were learning!

Finally, before moving on to math, I asked the class, “So what was the name of the ship the Pilgrims sailed to America?”

Every hand shot up. Yay! They were listening and learning.

I called on Evelyn. She was one of my best listeners, surely she would say the name I wanted to hear and we’d move on…

“The Cauliflower!” She exclaimed with a grin, proud of her answer.

“Good try,” I said, deflating inside.

Someone did give the correct answer, but that was just a classic kindergarten moment. Needless to say, I won’t be having any cauliflower at my Thanksgiving dinner this year.

Turkey Time!

On Friday afternoon, with two days of rain and no outside recess, we were feeling a little desperate. Five-year-olds need to move, groove, and get some of their pent up energy out. In a last ditch effort, I found Turkey Time on YouTube. On the spot, Mrs. D. and I made up a dance to go along with it.

Turkey Time, Turkey Time - make the sign for turkey (the letter Q under your chin moving down like a turkey's waddle)

On the Gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble - take both hands near your mouth and open and close them like a turkey's beak gobbling

On Stop - make the sign for stop

On Jump - jump as high as you can

On Squat - do a squat... kindergarteners need to be shown how to do a proper squat!

That's pretty much it... at all other times, just boogie like a Turkey. We'll be having Turkey Time often in the next few weeks. Bring on the gravy!

Applause.

Yesterday, as we gathered on the carpet to close our day, Connie excused herself to use the bathroom. As the group began to settle down and, in turn, quiet down, it became quite clear that Connie was giving a full out performance in the bathroom. I’ve heard sprouts humming and singing quietly to themselves in there, but this was different. She was on a stage and trying to reach the rafters.

“Shhhhh, let’s listen and enjoy her singing,” I whispered to the class.

We all sat and listened, enthralled. Connie, while unaware of her audience is totally aware of her vocal abilities. She actually has a beautiful voice and she was trying to let everyone in the school hear it.

When she finally finished her tune and emerged, the class erupted into applause. She sauntered over (I silently reminded her to wash her hands with sign language) and looked around with confusion. Why on Earth would the class be applauding her for coming out of the bathroom?

“Connie, we could all hear you singing… you have a beautiful voice, but remember to try and use the bathroom quietly,” I reminded her. During working times, those vocal outbursts could be distracting rather than entertaining.

Someday, when she’s making a million bucks in movies or music, I can say, I witnessed her first distinguished performance… in the bathroom of my classroom.

Old MacDonald.

At bus time, the topic of Toy Story 3 came up… again. This movie has just come out on DVD and it always seems to pop up at bus time. It doesn’t help that one little sprout has a Buzz Lightyear backpack. I love the Toy Story franchise, so I’m always game for a little Woody, Buzz, and Jessie chat.

“Hey, Mr. A. did you know there are Toy Story 3 toys now?” Luther asked.

“Really, where do you get these toys?” I prodded.

“Well, you have to go to Old McDonald’s and get a Happy Feel and then you can get a Toy Story toy,” he informed me.

Old McDonald’s and a Happy Feel? Oh boy.

“Do you mean McDonald’s?” I hinted.

“Oh yes, McDonald’s for a Happy Feel!” He remembered.

“I think it’s called a Happy Meal, but I could be wrong…” I added.

“I don’t know, I think it’s a Happy Feel Mr. A.,” he finished as his bus was called.

I didn’t have the heart to tell him I’m a vegetarian. No Old McDonald’s or Happy Feels for me.

Buddies.

We are lucky enough to have a third grade class come down once a week and read to us. Now because the teacher of this third grade class, I’ll call her Mrs. F., is one of the most amazing, creative, powerful teachers I’ve ever observed, known, and worked with (she’s beautiful too!), last week, she sent Mrs. D. and I an email. Would we like her to work with her class on doing some comprehension, letter and/or word work with our class? Would we? Um, heck yes!

With a little work, we created some simple materials using the charts and lists we’ve been using from The Three Habits of Highly Successful Reading Teachers. We met briefly with Mrs. F. and explained what we’ve been doing and she did the rest.

She made each of her students a folder to keep the materials in and then worked with them to find leveled books that would have lots of the words on our list. She then had her class use highlighting tape to highlight all, yes ALL, of the words on our sight word list so they could have our sprouts identify and read them in the books. Really? THIS is what collaborative learning communities should look like.

After their arrival, I began to circulate and listen in on the reading buddy action. It never ceases to amaze me how a kindergartner will respond to the one on one attention from an older peer. It also never ceases to blow my mind how a third grader will step up to the plate and take a kindergartner under their not fully developed wings. They don’t rise to the occasion, they surpass it.

When I came upon one pair of boys working together, I stood in front of them and watched.

“Do you know that word?” The third grader asked his buddy as he pointed to the word ‘come’ in the book… he had highlighted it with yellow tape before arriving.

My little guy looked at his list and then up at me.

“Go ahead, read your list and see if you find the word,” I prodded.

This is how we’ve done it so far. The children learn to read the list from the top and the repetitive reading as they look at the words help them learn the ‘chant’ first and then eventually be able to read them.

He started at the top and came to the word ‘come’ in the list.

“There it is! Come!” He shouted.

It’s never quiet when our third grade buddies come and that’s just fine. Learning isn't always calm or quiet.

“Look, here it is,” his buddy redirected him to the word ‘come’ in the book.

That little boy looked up at me like he had just discovered how the greatest magic trick in the world was pulled off. These words we’re learning… they’re in books! This was exciting, electrifying stuff.

As I continued to circulate around the room, I saw the same discovery taking place with other groups.

We’ve begun talking about Thanksgiving and what being thankful means. I am truly SO thankful for Mrs. F. and her class too. They are going to help our sprouts become stronger readers… and sooner than I ever would have expected too! I can’t wait to see how these amazing children help us grow and expand our learning all year long.

Conscious.

A few times a week, we are lucky enough to split our sprouts into two groups for specials. The first group we keep needs some extra help with letter identification and sounds and so we do interventions and activities to help support their needs. Today, during our time together, I was feeling a little tired.

It was nothing to do with school, it was just one of those days. I still drink my one cup of coffee each morning, but sometimes by the afternoon, I begin to drag a little. As I sat with a small group of friends looking for letters in a plate filled with puffy foam stickers, I was wondering if I should increase my daily caffeine consumption.

After completing her alphabet sticker book, Dawn, a little girl who has really struggled to catch on asked to read her book to me. I sat down beside her and she opened her book. She proceeded to say and sing the entire alphabet as she pointed to each letter, something she was never able to do before.

Like a shot of espresso, her enthusiasm woke me up. I had her read the book to Mrs. D. Mrs. D. sent another child over to read his book to me. There was a frenzy of exhilaration as we all realized some major learning was going on… light bulbs were illuminated… and I wasn’t tired anymore. I was completely conscious.

Santa.

Today while washing hands, I overheard (and was subsequently sucked into) and interesting conversation.

Billy came up to me and reported, “Mr. A., Charlie pushed me.”

Before I even opened my mouth to reply, Charlie interjected, “No I didn’t, No I didn’t, No I didn’t do a thing!”

Now I’d seen the push, so at this point, I was fishing for the facts.

“Charlie, remember how important being honest is, please tell me the truth,” I said.

Before Charlie could answer me, Amy, a witty and bright little girl, offered, “Charlie, remember Santa is always watching to see if you’re being naughty – lying is naughty.”

Charlie looked at me. I nodded in agreement with Amy.

“OK, I did it,” he admitted.

“Thank you for being honest, now what do you have to say to Billy?” I finished.

He turned and apologized.

I guess with Halloween over and the Christmas decorations out in stores, visions of presents and a certain jolly fat man in a red suit are taking over. To be clear, we've just started learning about Thanksgiving, that's it! I'm not sure where Santa entered the picture, but hey, when you teach kindergarten, you’ll use whatever works.

Saving.

After recess today, Martin walked in and I became alarmed. He appeared to have either dried blood or mud all over his face. Not just a smattering here and there, I mean his face was covered… After he put his coat away, I called him over.

“Martin, are you alright?” I inquired.

“Uh-huh,” he replied.

“Martin, what’s all over your face buddy? Did you get hurt?” I asked.

He looked surprised by my question.

“Martin, what’s all over your face?” I prodded again.

“Oh, I had pudding for lunch!” He said a little too loudly for Quiet Time.

“Well you need to go get a wet paper towel and clean off your face,” I instructed.

“Oh, I was saving it for later,” he said attempting to lick his face with his tongue… I think he was going for a laugh and it was hard to hold one back.

“Well, clean it off for me please,” I finished.

Saving it for later? I think the poor kid was going through sugar withdrawal from Halloween.