The Start of a New School Year

After a period of silence, I'm back. It's a new school year. A new class. And yes, a new job. Nearly three weeks ago I said goodbye to my sad and confused preschoolers ("My mom said you're going to a new school. I'm sad." And: "Are you going to go to a new school for 1 day?"). Two days ago I welcomed a world of almost-middle-schoolers into my classroom. Some of them are taller than me. Sometimes they're smelly (especially after outside recess in 90+ degree weather). But this teacher is very excited for this school year.

Mom and Dad

This conversation was too good to not share:
Preschooler 1: Do you live in a blue house, Miss Britta?

Me: No. But I used to. My mom and dad live in a blue house.

Preschooler 2: You have a mom and dad?

Me: Yes, I do.

Preschooler 2 [very seriously]: I never knew that.

Me: My mom and dad are going to come visit me this summer.

Preschooler 1: Are they going to come visit us?

4 year old joke telling

At breakfast this morning
4 year old: Why did the chicken and the bunny cross the fire hydrant?
Me: I don't know. Why?
4 year old: Because they wanted to drive the fire truck! [laughs hysterically]

Did I miss something?!

An apology makes all the difference

Bad days. We all have them. That was yesterday for me. It wasn't just cranky kids. It was expensive car repairs. It was the rain that started just as I was getting ready to bike home. It was a neighbor's car alarm that went off in the middle of the night previous to yesterday. It was that pounding headache. And it was a little boy who was "mean" to me.

But this morning I walked into my classroom to a smiling boy holding a letter that melted my heart and restored my faith in humanity.

Please note: I said nothing to the parents of this child about his behavior yesterday. I figured we all have days where we aren't our nicest, friendliest self - I was willing to cut him some slack. But he must have confessed.

Lessons from a Preschool Teacher

Sometimes we get too caught up in and stressed out from the adult world. After nearly 8 months of teaching preschool I've learned as much as I've taught. 3 & 4 year olds have the amazing ability to make you want to live life to fullest or go home, hibernate and refuse to face the real world (after they've entirely drained your human energy supply). I'd be lying if I said everyday wasn't an adventure.

So here it is, life lessons from my own [preschool teacher] perspective:

• I've learned that sometimes you have to give up your adult pride to be a best friend to a 4 year old whose dog just died.

• I've learned to eat those pale green/brownish, overcooked peas at the lunch table because what do those words "eating vegetables makes you strong and healthy" mean if I don't do it myself?

• I've learned it's more important to be able to tell your mom or dad 3 good things that happened at the end of the day than to focus on the fact that you hit someone or you made someone cry after you pushed him down on the playground.

• I've learned a hug can make a lot of situations better.

• I've learned not to flinch when a 4 year old gets over zealous telling a story and suddenly [and accidentally] spits on my face.

• I've learned that some battles aren't worth suiting up for and others absolutely cannot be lost. Choose wisely.

• I've learned that the world needs more love, more discipline, and more respect than we're teaching the next generation.

keeping the sickness at home

4 year old: "I have a fever at home but I didn't bring it today."

Thanks keeping us healthy here at school.

Baby talk

The head teacher in my preschool classroom is currently pregnant. Since the kids found out there's been a lot of baby talk. Today one of the kids said, "When your baby comes out of your belly she will have some blood on her and she will be kinda rotten."

Now who wants to have a baby?