Elbow, knees, dreams

a blog about preschool, public schools, and what it's really like to be a teacher

May 2012 - Posts

things I would like to tell my students’ parents (but won’t)

Could you please check your child’s backpack weekly, if you can’t manage daily? Do you remember back in October when we met at your parent conference and I asked you politely to keep checking your child’s backpack? It makes me sad when I see your child’s Read More...

Meeting the new bunch

One day last week I sent my class to the local library for story time, along with a sub provided by the Princess, my assistant, my Americorps volunteer, and our special ed teacher. I stayed behind to meet the kids I will have in the fall, who came with Read More...

I’m in the right place

One morning, not long ago, one of my brightest little boys made my day. His bus arrives early, so every morning he peeks in through the window on our door, sometimes jumping up and down with excitement. If he sees one of us moving around the room, getting Read More...

the checklist: what we are supposed to learn

Yesterday during morning meeting I commented on how well the kids have done with learning the alphabet. “That was your job this year, and you did it!” Then a very serious boy raised his hand and said, “did we do all that stuff up there?” “What stuff, Read More...

Maurice Sendak, king of all Wild Things, has died

The New York Times reported sad news this morning. Maurice Sendak, the author of Where the Wild Things Are and many other children’s classics, died at the age of 83. I love his books, and have long admired him. As the Times said, In book after book, Mr. Read More...

National Teacher Appreciation Week discount at Container Store

The Container Store is having a 20% off sale for teachers, through May 31. If you sign up here for their Organized Teacher discount program, you will qualify for the discount. It’s probably worth doing; the Container Store has great stuff, and most of Read More...

zip, zoom, hello, goodbye

Two of my new students are now gone, just like that. To be honest, my life is easier without them, but still. ARGH. Why would you put your child in a preschool class for a month, and then pull him/her out without even saying goodbye? One family pulled Read More...