*Disclaimer: All students mentioned in this article are fictional, of course. Teacher's arent allowed to write about their students, or their troubles :) *
Being a teacher intitles me to a lot of interesting stories, especially being a kindergarten teacher. I always think of us as a different breed than other teachers. However, this does not mean I believe we are "better" or "more important", but I do think our job has several different requirements and skills than the upper grades. Here's a look into my day on Friday for an example: It's 7:45am...For starters, I was alone. Being without my assistant can be a good thing (we don't chat as much & I do get a lot done) but its usually a lot more stressful and makes me run home to bed in the afternoon. So, the day had started and I had 23 warm bodies to entertain all day long, with a chance of teaching them something that will stick with them throughout eternity. (Did I mention that one of my 23 was a brand new student? What a sweet child he is, although very talkative a times.) Having a new student always stirs up the room with new commotion as all the children try to show off. Report cards were due that day and I was ready! Luckily I had gotten ahead and finished a day early (who does that?) The only thing left to do was put them in the kids BEE Books to go home (BEE Books= Bring Everything Everyday, and our mascot is the yellow jacket. Catchy huh?) 8:45am...As I started the day I noticed that my "rowdy child" had obviously not taken his medication for the day and he was overly hyper. This can make or break his day..and mine :-/ Bathroom break, YAY!
9:30am..centers were in full swing and I was finally getting to the massive pile of paperwork (ONE of the many perks that they don't tell you/teach you about in college) I had yet to handle on my desk when I noticed one of my girls standing akwardly against the book shelf staring carefully at wet spot on the CARPET..Yup, we have a pee'er. This wouldn't have been so bad if we not just been to the bathrooms!! But, what can you do? I get out her change of clothes and talk her through the importance of trying every time we go to the bathroom..then I console her and tell her that it's okay, Mrs. Staley use to pee pee in her pants all the time. (which I didnt, but sometimes white lies help!)
10:00am..paperwork time...finally!! I get a good start on all this while the children are doing their independent work, when my "rowdy child" comes storming up to me with news he has to tell me right then or he'll explode."Mrs. Staley, *Gray* said you have a big butt." "HE SAID WHAT!?" The child, obviously confused on my surprised upset reaction starts questioning if he should have even told me, while the accused starts walking towards my desk already boo-hooing his eyes out realizing what he'd done. This is definitely the first time anyone of my kids even made mention to any part of my body other than my crooked finger (hey, we're all special) I stop and question myself on the appropriate way to handle this new and embarrassing situation. First off, these are 6 year old boys I was dealing with. Secondly, it was kind of funny. Regaurdless however, punishment had to happen for them to realize the important of not making any mention of a woman's features. ("Rowdy "has a history of this, as he has told a fellow teacher she looks pregnant before...and she wasn't) As the lecture began, "gray" decided to call out his friend for saying the same thing. "Rowdy child" said you had a big BOOTY! A big what? How do they even know these words! You are suppose to be innocent 6 year olds! Now this made it interesting. So the lecture continues on appropriate words for the classroom, and for punishment, walking laps at recess. Not a good thing! I believe they were both stunned so I felt that this was suffice. Plus, I didn't have time to take it to the office even if I wanted to!
Again, all this took place from 8:30-10:15am..not even close to lunch time, which is a-WHOLE-nother story! So, in a days time I play mommy, nurse, friend, teacher, social worker and much much more. What a tiring career I have chosen..but, we do it for the money...I mean the rewards of the children we help mold :)
..is it Friday, yet? :)
