First Day of Preschool

I can't even begin to tell you what a wonderful year I think this will be. So many of my students are returning from last year. Today when I opened the door , it was as though we had not been gone for three months. I saw little ones that were " clingers" last year walk in and go straight upstairs to the bathroom to wash their little hands- eager to play. As a teacher, I can't tell you how GOOD that makes me feel. They feel like this is their home. The love us. They feel comfortable here. Wow... what a great feeling it is.

Today we spent a lot of time just getting to know each other and exploring all the materials that we have available. It was funny to hear the veterans saying -" Yes, you can use scissors, Ms Debbie leaves them out all the time." or " did you hear the bell, that means we clean up and we can go sing." My little guys from last year are my leaders this year. I smile as I say that realizing that is the goal of preschool - to create independent, confident short people ready to conquer the world and be successful in school. What creates confidence in children? Glad you asked. Acceptance! Show them you love them , that they are not just fixtures in your room. Be interested in what they say and do. Build Success- Dont set a child up for failure! Give them tasks that are age appropriate and allow them to be successful. Example: I dont expect a 3 year old to sit and watch me throw flashcards at lightening speed to name things like A is for Apple. Why do that when that 3 year old would rather cut the apple and eat it, or paint with it or toss it? As she is doing something more appropriate , I can talk to her in conversation that the word Apple starts with A.. maybe. Set Routines. Children love knowing what to expect. Have you ever said " I can do anything as long as I know what to expect."? Kids are the same way. They thrive on routine. Today was a classic example of that as my returning children dropped right back into our old schedule like it was yesterday. Routines make children feel safe.

Ok, I will jump off my soap box for now and share with you how we learned today.

We played in the moon sand.

We talked to Randy on our phones.

We played Dress up.


We danced and sang to Debbie and Randy's CD. You would think they would get tired of it.
We created in the art center. Gavin is working on a large piece of styrofoam.


Our back to school theme is " Dive into preschool". These is a large basket of shells. The children used a magnifying glass to explore them. As children wandered to the basket we talking about large and small, smooth and course. We sorted. One little boy said he found one shaped like a tornado. We counted.

We sorted Nemo fruit snacks.

Here's one little boy showing me his "tornado" shell.

Same little boy bowling on the porch.


I can only hope tomorrow will be as good as today. Of course, most of our days turn out to be exactly what we expect them to be!

Open House

After a half day training I was able to tie up loose ends to get ready for open house tonight. I am SUPER excited. Our Open House went well. We have 10 children returning and two of the new children are siblings from former families , so all indicators point to a wonderful year for Bright Beginnings. It was so heart warming to see the kids come in totally relaxed in a home setting that they know they are loved in - Their " home away from home". It was great to hear the parents talking saying how comfortable there were here. One thing in particular just touched my heart. This is the time of year that many kids get updated shot records. One of our little ones went today . His mom said she carried him into the office kicking and screaming. She said as soon as Adam got his immunization he looked at her and said " Can I go back to Debbie and Randy's now?" That just melted me. ( I mean, I am an emotional mess right now from exhaustion, it wouldnt take much for me to have a small breakdown.) I dont think I would get a shot to hang out with me. Thanks Adam for making me feel like I might be a little like " Miss Mary." Anywho--- I wanted to share some pictures of our playspace and thought tonight might be a good time!

This is the view off the side of my porch looking into the play area. There is still another white picket fence area around the whole house. The children are allowed to run and play in the grassy area. Many days children can be caught under that arbor reading to each other and telling secrets. Beyond the white fence area you see is out main play area.

This is another view of the play area. The green building is a play house. I love this time of year when the trees create a canopy over the play area.

This is looking inside one of my play rooms. You can see my science center and my writing center. You can see my alone space - the open block. During circle time ( 10 minutes ) we pull the alone space to the side and the children sit on the carpet.

This is our cozy chair for reading and cuddling.

This is a magnetic board I made from an old picture. I use it for my magnetic stories.

This is a view inside my living room , which the children go into as well. Not as often but it isnt off limits.

This is my front porch.

This is a view inside my dramatic play center. We have one whole room that is nothing but imaginative play.

Another view.

And, another.

Science Center

Writing Center

View across downstairs playroom. You can see a loft with an art center under it.

Cubbies ! See the little visitor peeking out? Each child had one waiting on them at open house.

Parent Center and ABC center.

Art Center

Blocks.


All that is missing is the children. There are other areas that I didnt upload - like the water table and the music center. I will add those another time. So, tomorrow will be here before I know it. I better get in bed so I will be ready to run. Oh... did I mention how excited I am? !!

Front Porches The Day Before THEY come back!

Here I sit on my my porch.  SO much to do today... so much. 

  I pretty much finished the playrooms inside last night.  ( Well, bar the cassette and CD racks that Randy is still putting up.   See.. I have decided he has ADD.  He is organizing them before he hangs the rack.  Organizing is good when you arent on a deadline and have too many things to do before THEY come back. But I dont find it too snazzy right now.  )  Anyway , the rooms are ready. I even put fresh paint in the paint tins and brand new markers on the art table.   I know, it all sounds easy but there are over 100 "must have" items that have to find a home.  Maybe trying to paint one of the playrooms after our hectic summer schedule was too much .  But it is done now and it looks good.  

So... here I sit on my front porch....

Today I move to the outside.  I will put a fresh coat of paint on the playhouse.  Wash all the toys that have sat untouched all summer, fill the sand  and water table, buy some new " learning equipment" ( aka --TOYS!) and put new ground cover down .   I have a busy day planned.   I need to get all that completed before 6 pm when I get to meet THEM at the park for a play date.   

As I sit on the porch and drink my cream with a little coffee...

 I watch the kids get on the school bus.   Isn't it cool how around 5 - 10 they are still excited about getting on that big yellow bus?   Somehow that joy diminishes as they get older.   I watch the neighbors get their two daughters off the school for the first day this year.   It was cute to watch them take pictures on their front porch - grinning and hoping no one saw them.   One of my kid kids from last year drove by on his way to kindergarten . His dad saw me and honked.  I said  a little prayer for him. I hope he has a good day.   The traffic is picking up and cars are filing by with anxious and excited children headed back to school with a clean slate -  ready to start a new year.

Here I sit on my front porch.

The " THEY " I am referring to is my  preschoolers.  I am so excited for school to start back on Wednesday.  I have 11 returning so I expect this will be a wonderful year.  As  I sit and reflect the weeds are growing in my flower beds that I want " just perfect " for my kids- so I better get off my porch and get busy. Wednesday will be here before you know it.  

 I think  I will sit on my front porch a few more minutes and hope one of my kids comes by.

I wanna be like Ms Mary !

I was in trainings all day today.  For the most part it was repeat information.  Most of it was not unbearable although during one presentation the thought crossed my mind that I would rather be eating live snakes!  ugh..  That was bad, I know. Sorry.  But please, if you want to use a power point make it interesting. I can read ! If that is all you plan to do, give it to me and send me on my way .

BUT!

In one of my meetings I won a book. Even thought I didn't sleep well in the hotel last night and had a long drive home I picked it up and I am in love!  This new book is wonderful!  It is called " play" by Lisa Murphy.   I passionately believe that children learn through play. I get so tired of explaining why we don't use worksheets or hear a kindergarten teacher say - I need  you to get them ready for me ! Teach them their letters, how to stand in line, carry their lunch tray and oh yeah.. don't forget their addresses and phone numbers.  

From the introduction in this book, I was reminded that I want to be like Ms Mary.  Here is an excerpt.

" She opened the door and stepped out onto the porch.  She was Miss Mary. My new teacher- my first teacher.   She smiled as I scampered up the walkway to the front door. She bent down on my level and looked right at me . " Come on in." she said " Let me show you what we do here."  She took my hand and we walked through the front door and into the world she created in that old house So many things to do and see were waiting there just for me!  ......

She goes on to describe the things in her first day of school. The red checkered table cloth, the backyard complete with mudpies and then snack.  Her favorite snack was unusual - pepperjack cheese.  Guess what Ms Mary served that day!  You guessed it - PEPPER JACK CHEESE !  Ms Mary had called her mom  to find out what her favorite snack was.  She said " A Two minute phone call that made a life long impact!"

"  Many  teachers become teachers because of a teacher they had.   At some point in their educational experience they were blessed with someone who took some extra time, went  that extra mile, offered support and encouragement and did something that made a life long impact.

Remember this and take it to heart.  NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE IMPACT OF WHAT YOU DO!" At any give moment of any given day you could make a lasting impressing on someone. You could be the facilitating a crystallizing moment!  YOU could be their Miss Mary ! YOU could be their pepper jack cheese!

I became a teacher because of Miss Mary. The precious time I was able to spend in the magical place she had created is what inspired me to become what I am today. I , too, wanted a school in an old house with a huge yard where I could give back what I got during my mornings with Miss Mary.

As I grew up, I vowed to someday create a place for children where they could explore, create and simply be. Not be " getting ready" for something, not " hurried up",  not be forced or pressured to develop past their years.   But simply... be. " 

Isn't this book great?  The other day on the MSN homepage they had an article called "too sexy too soon?"  Do we really wonder why?  We want to potty train babies at 9 months, have them reading by 3 and reciting states and capitals by 5.  Can't they just enjoy being kids and learn the things that kids learn through play?  

I wanna be like Ms Mary.

This time last year

One of the things I love about blogging is I can go back to see what I was thinking at any given time of the year.  I decided to go back and see how I felt this time last year.  This is what I found:

Ok. Let s start with preschool. Today is the 7^th day and I think maybe I need to see if Wal-Mart or Mickey D's has openings. I am exhausted.   It is really tough getting 13 brand-new preschoolers to get in a routine and be social (In a nice way) with friends.   I mean, we have went through about three trees worth of toilet paper, a gallon of glue already, and the sand… where is it going? Do they eat it?  Thankfully I love my job! There are just days that it is like trying to tack jello to a wall.

The really wonderful thing about that post is- this year I have 11 of those children RETURNING so we are all already friends.  Two more of my new children are siblings!  I predict this year to be one of our best yet.  Is it time yet??!?!?!?!?!

Silver Dollar City

Randy and I decided that today would be the day that we take Geneviette, the granddaughter , to Silver Dollar City in Branson , MO. We had another motive to get there this week. The childrens' festival ends soon and we wanted to see the kids shows hoping they spark something for our concert tour next summer. We went through a storm on our way but it was clear when we got there. We had told GG she could ride a train. She thought the parking trolley was the train and LOVED it. We could have driven two hours back home and she would have been satisfied. Maybe we should have..... Silver Dollar City has a mommy blog to give hints and advice for moms that are planning a visit. They should have me as a guest writer.

1. If you bring a bag to carry small things - remember the key should be small. The bag will get heavier as the day rolls on.

2. Rent a stroller. ( That was the BEST idea we had all day. ) Make sure the bag you bring has long enough handles to hang on the stroller.

3. If you RUSH to get to the first train ride. Make sure your hubby goes TT BEFORE getting in line. If not, you may miss that ride.

4. When taking a 2 year old through a cool toy store , before leaving check her stroller for stolen objects. YIKES!

5. Bring an umbrella if the rain chances are "scattered showers" that may be translated into Torential down pours! ( Not good for a girl with BIG hair and LOTS of hairspray!)

6. If you are sitting in a show and your grand daughter is sitting on your lap and you feel a warm sensation running down your legs. Be scared. ( Also, Great thing you packed HER three outfits and you none.)

7. Make sure you look at the calendar and come on a day when all the kiddie rides, the magician AND the animals are ALL there and working.

8. If you just started a diet AGAIN. maybe you should SKIP THE CANDY FACTORY!

9. But above all make sure your child or BEAUTIFUL grand child has a great time and feels like a princess and her smile will make it all worthwhile.

Today I Must Clean

We have been home since Wednesday and I still haven't gotten the motivation to get all our " stuff" put away and clean house.  If I had a good way to describe my house right now ( I mean rather than just saying it is a PIT) I would say PILES. There are PILES in every corner.  From where I sit right now I see piles of mailbox magazines ( LOVE THOSE) , scrapbooks, guitars, clean- folded clothes, paperwork ( ugh) jewelry that I have worn the last few days ( wierd I know, but my room is also a pit so I placed them here in the living room) , mail.. the list goes on and on.  I have decided that today is the day I am planning to purge.  I went out to eat with Danielle last night to meet her mother in law to be and I made a comment that my house was AWFUL  . Danielle replied no offense mom, but you could clean all day, have it spotless and it still wouldnt look clean, you have too much stuff? What!!?!?!? Too much STUFF! But  I LOVE my stuff. I even added to it a little on the trip.  Just like in my later years  I discovered that I was attracted to older men, I have discovered that I love bright eclectic things in my home.   I have the playrooms at the back of the house , my kitchen is yellow, my dining room is red... you get the picture is a very colorful home.  So today this is my mission.

I will PURGE. 

I will PURGE.

I will develop a sense of style and organization in my home.

I am starting at the front of the house and DEpiling my home.  The scrapbooks are going in the memory closet ( Yes it is an actual closet for my memories, I will blog about it one day.)  Everything will find it's special spot.  I will evaluate do I REALLY NEED it and does it say what I want it to say.   For instance, I on our trip I bought a cute box that has rolled magazine pages all over it.  It is AWESOME.  It doesnt really go with my other stuff. So, I will find a spot for it or I will take away everything else that makes it seem like it doesnt fit.  (  Now, that sounds crazy!)  I am going to get a large cardboard box and just start taking things away.  How dare Danielle say my house doesnt look clean! I will show her. 

I wish I could get rid of this ugly flowered couch that was Randys mothers. I mean, people save bibles- but couches?  

I think it would look better too if I ditched the drapes and let the sun shine in.

Nobody really looks under the chairs anyway, right?

Maybe I need to call the girl that helps me clean my house.

Ugh... I better get busy.