Kindergarten Circus

Some weeks I really question my job title and this week was one of those weeks! I’d like to re-write it to include circus clown, lion tamer, both!

Over the past few weeks I felt like Kindergarten had finally settled down! We've made life cycle pictures, color posters, and number cards. We were learning computer terms. With computer terms we practiced syllables, and letter sounds. The kids had been actively engaged and could finally put up their iPads on their own.  I changed my lesson plans up, and for the past two weeks, we haven't actually gotten on iPads.  Instead, we played "TECHY" (BINGO) and practiced finding letters on a keyboard.  It's really gone considerably well and this past Thursday was the last day of my rotation with those lesson plans. 

A little over a week ago, my principal decided to do an observation during kindergarten! Let's just say she suggested I tape off an area for the kids to sit in or get a rug! (Jumping beans might have been her description!) "Give a little bit more structure!" she suggested.  "Other than that you are doing great."  So I taped the floor off and carried on!  The classes seemed to like the tape and I was back to feeling pretty good about Kindergarten.

Then the other day happened…and I think I might have grey hair now! How in the world are kindergarten teachers still standing when the day is done? 55 minutes and I'm exhausted. I really feel like anyone could have grabbed a seat, eaten popcorn, and enjoyed the three-ring circus going on in my class.   

Act 1: Initial Corral!  Getting everyone in the room! Sometimes they just decide they love their classroom teacher SOOO much, they don't want to come in. I coaxed, I bribed, I loved, I encouraged, I told! I seriously looked like the most ridiculous clown at the circus. 

Act 2:  Acrobats in Action! The acrobats put on quite the display today, crawling through and around! Back flips off chairs ...(okay back flips didn’t really happen!) 

Act 3: Confetti Blast! The kids enjoyed the confetti shower…maybe it was in celebration of the acrobats? Or maybe it was out of disgust for the game of BINGO.  Whatever it was…BINGO markers make great red and white confetti.

Act 4: Little Drummer Boy! Quite the beat slamming the door can create! 

Act 5: Runaway snot!  Caught just in time by the ringleader! (Uh disgusting...I barely do my own snot let alone other people’s snot)

Act 6: Juggling iPads is just not the same as professionals juggling flaming batons.

Intermission: The lion tamer swept in and played some silly kid songs! They sang along, danced and got LOTS of wiggles out.

Act 7: The silent letter hunt! Paper keyboards and the alphabet song (Oh and Skittles!) Which reminded me why I love even kindergarteners! 

Although it was CRA CRA (as my fifth graders from last year would say) looking back, it makes me laugh...laugh out loud even! I survived and no one was harmed or caged, we even learned what the monitor is; that's all that really matters. I'll do it again tomorrow and keep loving my job!