Saturday, November 19, 2011

mixed reviews

Feedback on The Food Restaurant:
  • "I'm confused about what the objective is for the restaurant play. What is the purpose of the center?"

Feedback from my first teacher evaluation:
  • Good at building relationships with students and parents
  • Excellent managment
  • Holds students to high expectations

Friday, November 18, 2011

4 instructional days until thanksgiving

I have dragged myself through this week. I have not once gone above and beyond for my kids. I do the bare minimum to prep for the following day and then I got home, eat dinner, and fall asleep on the couch while pretending to get more work done.

My desk is looking a little like a wasteland and I just want to crawl back into bed.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

just keep swimming

Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming.


I've made a lot of fishy faces across the hall today.

a christening

Everyone said it would happen, it was only a matter of time. And yesterday it finally did.

"Ms. Haley I really need to go to the..."

I knew it was already too late. She had never fully stood up from criss-cross applesauce and then she was frozen, legs sort of crossed, half standing.

And so S has officially left her mark on the ABC carpet.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

my principal just observed

She came in this morning and saw The Food Restaurant up and running for the first time. I haven't gotten any feedback yet, but I'm holding my breath.

I wouldn't say that she seemed very happy when she asked that group of children, "What are you supposed to be doing right now?"

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

technology and kindergarten

What are your thoughts?

I feel very passionately that, at least my students, need a lot of human interaction and hands on learning to make up for the time they spend watching t.v. and going on the computer. Additionally, I think that students learn best when they have the chance to see how something works and to make sense of it in their own terms (before applying it). Finally, I see the value in hands on learning from a modeling perspective: they need to be able to watch someone else do something before they can do it.

Others would argue that because of the day and age (as they say) even Kindergartners should be learning through technology, e.g., see a story on the projector instead of from a book.

I'm sure there is no right answer, and this is an important debate, but I try to ground myself in the question "What do I need to do today so that children will learn?" From that mindset, I am struggling to fit in the enhancements of technology into my very limited prep time.

I really would like some weigh in on this, so if you know of research or have opinions please let me know.

sweet victory

My principal just asked me to facilitate a professional development training on management.

This is coming from someone who said in my interview, "I know your type, and I know your management is going to be crap... Convince me I should hire you anyways."