Whooped by Five Year Olds

The beginning is the most important part of the work. -Plato

 

School began today. I haven't anticipated a new school year this much since I was in school myself...many moons ago! This year I'm going back to school too, not to further my own education, but that of those precious souls just entering their educational journey. I am back to the drawing board with the freshest of the fresh.....Kindergarten.

I have been so busy getting ready for my first year of teaching that the readiness of my own children has suffered. True to my procrastinating self, even though I had an unexpected extra week of summer, I was cramming yesterday to get my classroom finished and food for school lunches purchased. The kids were in bed an hour and thirty minutes later than planned, I was in bed two-and-a-half hours later than desired. But I was ready. Lunches were packed, uniforms ironed and laid out, every last minute item I needed for my classroom was loaded in the van. I had never been more ready for a first day at a new job....or so I thought.

The morning went smooth. We dropped Cecelia (my only child not in school!!) off at my parent's house, and arrived at school exactly when I wanted to. I had, however, wanted to be there before any students arrived but several had beat me to it. I had a schedule written out in my planner. What I didn't plan on was how fresh these youngins would be! In my mind, I think I pictured the Kindergartners I taught last year.... at the end of the last school year. How much they learn and grow in nine months!!

I spent most of the day explaining procedures and rules, practicing coming and going in a group, showing them around the classroom and helping them find the restrooms. They were so eager to learn and dive right into the "fun" stuff. The truth is, they had fun doing pretty much everything, except going to Mass; that was pure torture! Both for them and for me. By the time Mass was over, I was exhausted, but the soothing thought of how much they will grow and learn in a matter of weeks was like aloe to my wounded expectations.

I have seven students. I am an aunt to three of them, mother to one, and most of the others I have witnessed grow from the time they were babies. They all call me Mrs. Stewart, even Isabelle, who thinks that is the most delightful thing ever. She slipped a few times and called me Mom, but I might be a little worried if she hadn't. I am amazed at both how smart they are and how green they are. One boy explained a complicated truth of our faith to me and yet needed help walking directly behind his classmate; another child already knows his multiplication tables (yes, a Kindergartner) but needs help holding his pencil correctly. I love this job! I have found my niche....actually I must give the credit to God. He has placed me where He wants me and gave me pleasure in doing His will.

Here's to a successful 2012-2013 school year!

Gina

When I Grow Up I'm Gonna Be......

"You're beautiful, and nice." This is the comment I look forward to every Monday and Friday when I step into the primary grade's classroom at St. Mary's Academy.

At the beginning of the school year the faculty asked any parents who couldn't pay the full tuition if they could help out with various jobs pertaining to the school. These jobs included yard work, fundraising, organizing a phone tree, cleaning or helping in the classroom. I volunteered to help in the classroom twice a week. I was thrilled to be asked to take over with the Kindergartners on Monday and Friday and was also happy to be able to see my boys throughout the day.

What I didn't expect was the joy I'd feel when I would see one of the little ones experience a breakthrough in learning. When they have a light bulb moment and squeal with excitement at the realization that they are reading! Or when they remembered through the weekend that 9+9=18! I didn't expect to laugh so much when, in all innocence, one would call me Sister, another Teacher, and yet another Mr. Stewart (and in her dialect Misto Stewut).

The Kindergarten through Second graders are all in one room, and from across the room I can see Hunter and Benjamin as they are being taught by Sister Bernardine. When I hear that one or the other is struggling with a certain concept I send them positive thought waves and cheer them on hoping they will tune in.

I have been asked to be the sole Kindergarten teacher next year, which means Mon., Wed., and Fridays I will be at St. Mary's passing on my wealth of knowledge of the ever so important concepts of colors, shapes, letters and patterns. More importantly though, I will be able to help these future adults grasp the concepts of self-esteem, confidence and respect for those around them.

Even on challenging days, when the kids have enough energy to power a Morse Code message to Mars and I'm going on my fourth or fifth cup of coffee, I find strength and companionship in the company of the other teachers. OTHER teachers? That sounds so foreign. Me? A teacher? Yes, that is the path that has been laid for me, and with a happy heart, I intend to follow it.

"My" Kindergartners

Ben reading to the class

A Step in the Right Direction

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts."

I mentioned in an earlier post that my dream is to make a living as a photographer capturing beautiful moments and freezing them in time for the enjoyment of generations to come.  I didn't know how or when that would start, but within the past month I have stumbled upon a discovery that, although many have probably already known, was something new to me. It turns out that if you let your dreams and aspirations out of your head and heart, and into the world, something will happen.

To announce my dreams to others was always a fear of mine. I feared that if I let them made known and then never saw them to completion, I would be looked at as a failure.  But what I have discovered is that when our dreams are made known, others are more than willing to help you make your dreams a reality!

By mentioning my love for photography, and my desire to turn my hobby into a career to others, doors have been opened in ways I never imagined. Most recently, the staff at St. Mary's Academy asked me to do the school pictures this year. I was elated to say the least! My first real photography job! So with my far-from-professional equipment and some backgrounds I bought at the Goodwill, I arrived at St. Mary's on "Picture Day" full of excitement and anxiety. Excitement that I got to spend a day doing what I loved doing, and anxiety over the thought that I wouldn't be able to do it well enough.


I started with Sr. Bernardine Marie's class, the K-2nd graders. They were exceptionally cooperative! One by one, I had them climb up onto the stool, show me their grandest smiles, and hop on down. The middle grades, 3-5th graders, were next and were also pretty easy subjects, despite the fact that they had to sit very still because I didn't have the best lighting and couldn't use my flash on account of the undesirable dark shadow that would appear behind their heads.


Finally, the 6-8th graders. Is it possible that students become more immature as they age? They seemed to come with two goals in mind:  not to smile, and to act as if getting their pictures taken was absolute torture! Despite their resistance, I captured their smiles (or at least their 'trying-not-to-smile' smiles), and sent them on their way.

By the end of the day, I felt I had what it takes. A dream. That is all it takes. Well, a dream and the courage to share that dream with others. I won't make a dime for myself for the work put in to the final product, but I will have hopefully earned Saint Mary's enough money for the yearbooks (which I have been asked to help with!) and I earned experience, the most valuable asset of all.