To start the day, the kids came in all bubbly and happy, and of course chaotic as usual. Recently in devotions, my kids have been so enthralled with the bible stories we are reading. Today's conversations involved endless questions about the Dead Sea, Jesus' triumphal entry, and the some side-tracked comment about mating puppies (which definitely got a few laughs). The kids were late to their PE event because of all the questions.
After the kids left, Budi and I had a sing-off of eighties songs. We love to blast music in our classroom when the kids are at specials. It's so therapeutic. We worked on lesson planning and even came finished our field trip proposal for next week. These hour long breaks always seem to get me in a great mood for teaching.
Once the kids came back, we caught up on some Charlotte's Web (which we are reading as a novel study in Grade 3). It brings back such fun childhood memories when I read this book. I absolutely love watching them get excited about what they are reading; it makes me feel like I'm experiencing the book for the first time all over again.
Chapel was a big event, as usual. My kids have finally learned to harness their mouths for one single hour out of the week (in hopes of winning the beloved spotter award - however, I do suppose it also has something to do with my bribes of candy for good behavior). Instead of the chapel room we made our way three flights up to the music room. The teachers all got to sit on couches (which was a lot more comfortable than the hard wood floor).
The songs were so upbeat and fun to sing, and you can only guess which class was the only group not to participate enthusiastically. Yes, that's right - mine. They stood there and sang monotonously. It was such a pitiful sight that I couldn't help but laugh.
At the end of chapel, the principal announced the winning class of the spotter award, and my kids one. However, she didn't even know what grade level my kids were in. She just said "this group of kids right here" - talk about major brain cramp!
A celebratory march led us out of the music room and downstairs, where we had a few moments to kill before lunch. Budi and I decided to practice our Easter song for my PYP production. The song that is assigned to Grade 3 is one of my favorites called "My Savior, My God." Volume has always been an issue for my kids. I can't decide if it is because of lack of effort or nervousness. Today - I finally found out why. I turned down the volume to hear them sing and they were bad. Bad doesn't even do them justice - they were more horrendous than a band of dying farm animals. There is one child, whom I love so dearly, that sang so off pitch that I had to hide my face behind my computer because I was laughing to the point of tears. I'm sure that Jesus loves hearing his voice, but aside from Him, I'm positive there is no one else that feels that way.
Lunch came and went (and whoops, forgot about my recess duty). Once the kids were back inside, it was candy time. I've developed a helpful silence strategy for my kids - which also doubles as my bribery for chapel. The kids relish in the fact that I give them candy every day. One piece and they are temporary residents on Cloud 9.
Budi took his turn to teach Math, and I randomly started to search for a more inventive way to present my upcoming Bible lesson on the different pieces of the Armor of God. That's just what I did. I found a project that allows students to create a whole suit of armor out of poster board. We initiated the project with the helmet of salvation. The kids were so ecstatic (especially the boys - they are always so hard to please with projects). It is an epic event already, and it only happened a few hours ago. Throughout the next two weeks we will finish our study on the Armor of God and hopefully have a fantastic finished project, that will be ready just in time for our next Grade 3 chapel.
The rest of the afternoon flew by until the end of the day at prayer time. The kids were trying to distract me from praying so they could steal an extra piece of candy. No such luck, I have the reflexes of a puma and the eyesight of a bat in total darkness. When I finally shooed the vultures away from my desk and started to pray, one of the kids snorted and a symphony of giggles burst out of all fifteen of them. The hyena giggles were extremely contagious and before I knew it I was struggling to finish the prayer. When the "amen" finally game, I nearly fell down in laughter.
I chased all of my kids out of the classroom to escape the horrific giggle episode re-make of the Teletubbies. For some reason they just want to stay after school and hang out with their crazy and unconventional teachers. I must admit that's better than them racing out the door with a pure hatred for Grade 3.
Yes, it was just a bunch of little funny things, but they always seem to paste a smile on my face. You know, people say that you will never forget your "first class", and I know that's true. I've had so much fun and it will be so hard to give them up and let them go to Grade 4 next year. Just thinking about it makes me want to cry. Yes, they drive me bonkers at times, but they are my pride and joy. They make me more proud than I've ever been in my life. Their growth from the beginning of the year to now has been remarkable; not only academically, but socially and spiritually. If I can successfully achieve this every year here-on-after, I know that I will be able to make my mark on these kids' hearts and impact our future generation of leaders.
No comments:
Post a Comment