4.27.2010

"somebody loves you"

Have you ever heard the song "My Wish" by Rascal Flatts? My 4 and 5 year-olds hadn't. I introduced it to them today because my hope is that they will be able to sing it at our school's Spring Program, and again at their graduation at the end of May. It took a lot of self-control to keep the water works on hold during both the am class and pm class' 1st rehearsal. They caught on so quickly to the words and it was one of the loveliest moments I have enjoyed in a long time. Some of them (boys) chose to play "air-guitar" along with the song and that was also so much fun to watch. In the pm class, after they has listened to it 2 times through Danielle came up and hugged me, then Bethia, and Juliana, and Donald, and Madison, and Adam.... the whole lot. They all came up, nuzzled their little noses into my leg and hugged me so compassionately. It was ah-mazing to say the least. I can't wait till they have learned all the words, but I certainly can wait for graduation.

In less than 5 weeks I will have to part with them and that may be one of the hardest things I will ever have to endure. I don't know how I'm going to hold it together. Do other teachers get this emotional? Some of my students I will get to see next year, since they will attend kindergarten here at Rocky View. But some will move to Albuquerque, or back to their families reservation lands, or just to different schools in the area that didn't have pre-k programs. I just can't believe the year is almost over....

"I hope the days come easy and the moments pass slow
And each road leads you where you want to go
And if you're faced with the choice and you have to choose
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you

And if one door opens to another door closed
I hope you keep on walkin' ?til you find the window
If it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile
But more than anything, more than anything

My wish for you
Is that this life becomes all that you want it to
Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small
You never need to carry more than you can hold

And while you're out there gettin' where you're gettin' to
I hope you know somebody loves you
And wants the same things too
Yeah, this is my wish

I hope you never look back but you never forget
All the ones who love you and the place you left
I hope you always forgive and you never regret
And you help somebody every chance you get

Oh, you'd find God's grace in every mistake
And always give more than you take
But more than anything, yeah more than anything

My wish for you
Is that this life becomes all that you want it to
Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small
You never need to carry more than you can hold

And while you're out there gettin' where you're gettin' to
I hope you know somebody loves you
And wants the same things too
Yeah, this is my wish, yeah yeah

My wish for you
Is that this life becomes all that you want it to
Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small
You never need to carry more than you can hold

And while you're out there gettin' where you're gettin' to
I hope you know somebody loves you
And wants the same things too
Yeah, this is my wish"

4.08.2010

wings

"If I could fly anywhere in a plane I would fly to Buffalo Wild Wings 'cause that place is good and they have all kinds of sauces and they are good. Even white sauces and red sauces."

-Donald

If only my dreams and desires were as sweet and simple. Sigh.

4.07.2010

We can read!

We go in the car.
My mom is not fat.
I am a cat.
I can see you.

These are just some of the things that my students can read now! It's so great. I was very excited today because my afternoon class was reading every word I put on the board. Okay so not like supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, but words  like cat, dad, mom, and dog. It was so exciting to write a sentence and hear them read it out loud to me.

The best part of it all? When I stood in front of them and told them "You can read! You can read! People who read can be whatever they want to be! You are so smart! Soon you will be able to do whatever you want to do." and then Donald can up and wrapped his little arms around my leg and nuzzled his nose into it, followed by Adam, then Madison, Danielle, Bethia, and before I knew it I was smothered by 4-year-olds as we shared a class hug to celebrate our new found success as a class.

They drive me slightly insane some days.
They don't use inside voices.
They sneeze boogers all over my arms.
They eat mysterious objects off the floor.
The bite each other.
They cry over snacks.
They smell a little odd sometimes.
They are beginning to read.
No matter what they could ever do I don't think I could love them any less. I am so proud of the many amazing things that they can do.
Today was a great day.