I wanted something to go with the present we got for my husband. I wanted just a little more than the present. Something that would make him smile!! Something that I couldn't buy!! Something that would be meanful.
After thinking about it, I decided to make him a question set that his son could answer. I always LOVE hearing what the child thinks. This is what I came up with...
I have put a copy of this at my TPT store (Click HERE). It is FREE!! Wahoo!!! Go grab it and make for your Father!
Last night I am lying in bed and thinking. I usually do this during the school year with new ideas to try in my classroom, but last night I am lying awake thinking about my salary and it is summer. Why am I lying here awake during the summer?
Well, a couple days ago I went into my school to sign my contract for next year. I signed my contract with no raise, not even a step increase. :( It amazes me that the price for everything goes up but my salary either stays the same or gets lower. It isn't fair!!
Yes, I know. I am a teacher! I have always wanted to be a teacher. When I was little I remember lining up my stuffed animals and teaching them. They were great listeners.(hehe) I have never imagined doing anything else with my life but teaching. I taught classes at the YMCA throughout high school and just always knew my passion was to be a teacher. I was so excited the day I got my first job and I still continue to get excited for the beginning of the school year. This coming year will be my 12th year teaching. I just never imagined that my dream job would pay so poorly.
Why oh why do teachers get paid so poorly?Without teachers no one else would have a job. I think teachers should be one of the highest professions out there. I know my opinion really doesn't matter but still. In order to be a doctor, you have to be taught by a teacher how to be a doctor. It just isn't fair!
Luckily, I am married to a wonderful husband who has a good job. If I was single, I don't think I could survive. Especially with two kids. I think that is just horrible. I have a very important job but the pay stinks! Teachers should be the people that don't have to live paycheck to paycheck. I love watching the Housewives shows. They are always very entertaining to watch. I looked up what some of the housewives get and I just can't believe it. Someone that is on a show is making more than a teacher?!Actually way more than a teacher. It would take me years to make what they make. I find that ridiculous. I think our country has the wrong thinking. Maybe our education system would be better if they paid the teachers what they are worth!
Then next year they want to base teachers salaries off test scores. I am all for keeping the good teachers and getting rid of the bad, however I think basing salaries off of test scores is the wrong approach. I have always had good scores, but it is super scary when my salary is going to depend on that. They don't know the make up of my students and their lives. I have no control what happens at my students homes but now my salary is going to depend on them. It is super scary. I know I was never a good test taker. To think I could have hurt my teachers paycheck if I scored badly. I would have felt horrible the rest of my life. I think doing this is going to cause some of the best teachers to quit because it is too stressful.
Again, I don't want to be all negative but I do think the education system needs help. I have always wanted to be a teacher but with the stress I have thought about doing something else. I don't know what that would be, but it has been on my mind. I love teaching! I love helping kids succeed. I love watching my class grow. I do think we as teachers should ban together to get our education system better.
My students give me their favorite thing about Kindergarten and I write it up on the board. This is one of the decorations for our graduation.
Yesterday was officially my last day of the school year. This year has went by so quickly. I returned to school with 3 weeks left after my maternity leave. It was bittersweet! Loved seeing my kiddos but hated leaving my lil.
We always have a Kindergarten Graduation the last week of school. Each K teacher puts it on in their classroom. I like this because I can add what I want to my graduation. Here are some of the things I do. It seems like my classroom parents really enjoy it.
First I have my kiddos sit in the middle room so their parents can come in and sit. Then once I know that every student has someone there, I play the graduation march song and the students parade out. Once all the students are out and lined up at the front of the classroom, I welcome the parents and introduce the Kindergarten graduating class. Then I tell the parents we have a poem to perform for them.
K is for Kindergarten---hip, hip, hooray.
I is for imagination we use everyday.
N is for numbers--we know one, two, three.
D is for drawing, the best you can see!
E is for exercise to keep our bodies strong.
R is for reading books all day long.
G is for good friends. We made more each day.
A is for the alphabet we know how to say.
R is for remembering everything we learned.
T is for treats every Friday we earned.
E is for excitement. This year we've had some.
N is for next year. First grade here we come.
Each student or each pair of students say their part. Then at the end of it all the students say, Yay!! First Grade!!!!
Next, we sing First Grade, First Grade.
This year I used this version, but there are different ones out there.
After we sing, then we sing another song.
Make new friends,
but keep the old.
One is silver,
the other is gold.
Next, I have the students sit down on the carpet so they are nice and close to pass out awards. I always start with the diplomas first. I call each student up and shake their hand. Some of the parents want a picture too so we pose for the camera.
After all the diplomas are passed out I pass out some other awards I have for them.
Then, I play a slideshow that I make on my Macbook (iMovie) showing different fun learning adventures we had all year. The parents usually need a tissue for this.
This year I used these songs: We're Going to be Friends, My Wish from Rascal Flatts, Linus and Lucy(LOVE Snoopy), and Let Them Be Little.
Next I go over their folder I make for each student.
Inside the folder:
Grade Card Make New Friends Poem with class pictures
Data Graphs from all year
Slideshow DVD
Then, I go over what I am giving to each students for my end of the year gift.
Then I always give each students a penny. This penny has the year they graduate Kindergarten on it. There is a poem that talks about why I give them a penny. I think it is super adorable. I tape the penny to the poem. I read the poem out loud to the students.
Last, I have another poem I read to the students. I thank them for coming and allowing me to teach their child.
The graduation is always bittersweet!!
On another note...
I saw this in the canal behind my house!We have lived here for over 2 years and I haven't seen one in the canal.
I am a kindergarten teacher. This will be my 12th year teaching. 2 years in Ohio and 10 so far in Florida. I have a Masters in Reading and I am a National Board Certified Teacher. My husband and I have two adorable little boys named Liam and Chalan, and a dog named Charlie.
