I love my work

Yeah, I know....totally cheesy, but it is true. Especially in the last few months, when my personal life has been in such a state of turmoil, it has been a tiny island of light and positive energy for me. Each morning I enter my classroom and see all these beautiful little beings, so busy with their formation, growing and learning and changing right before my eyes. I am grateful and honored every day to be a part of that.

In my classroom just now we are working on a project that I really just stumbled into, but has turned out to be one of the best and most wide-ranging projects I have ever done with children. It all started with a desire to bring more discussion about families and culture and the differences between the ways that people live together.

I was reading a book and we started a discussion with the question, "What are people?" Giggles all around from the kids at first, but really a fascinating discussion, ranging from biological characteristics to social behavior and beliefs. From there I decided to focus on culture, and go from continent to continent. We started with North America. Some of the children wanted to do some more reading, and I offered them the suggestion of doing projects, group work. They came up with the most awesome topics, for instance, Jazz and Blues, New York City, Native American Art, Aztec culture, Caribbean music, and Mountains of North America. I was so impressed with the great topics they came up with. We decided to have a party after the projects were finished, and present our research, eat North American food, and listen to North American music. Fun :)

Another change I have made this year that has been as nurturing for me as it has been for the children, is the focus on more art lessons. I have been learning and experiencing right alongside them, and I really see a huge enrichment from the expansion of this aspect of the curriculum. We have done work with watercolor, and fiber art, and now we are making woven beaded jewelry (Native American inspired).

My first few years here were so difficult professionally, but I am recognizing now that they pushed me to be a better, more flexible teacher. I am reaping the benefits of having seen those years out, and now I can really use the new confidence and skills I learned.

I can't wait for spring, and growing things with the kids!