And the "Coolest Mom Ever" award goes to ....

A colleague of mine (who teaches Kindergarten) and I often carpool to work together. A few weeks ago on the way home from school, he showed me a 'gift' that one of his student's mothers made for her son's birthday.

Billy's mom wrote and illustrated a children's book where her son was the main character, a pirate, and each of his classmates also had a role/character in the story. (Many of the illustrations of all of the kids actually looked like them too!!!) The story centered around Billy the pirate and his friends going on an adventure to search for treasure. Along the way they had to encounter and fight off an evil man-lizard (Billy's teacher/my colleague) and had to tackle a final challenge by answering a very difficult riddle to the biggest/baddest character (my principal).

Billy's mom surprised Billy by giving the book to his teacher to read to the class on his birthday (alongside homemade peanut free snacks that she provided!)

The kids LOVED the story, and so did Billy! To top it all off - my colleague loved it so much that he incorporated the story into a performance piece at Billy's Kindergarten graduation last week, where the entire class acted out the story as a play to all of the parents!

How cool is that???

Namaste

I was teaching a Grade 2 class the other day. I gaze over the group of children in my room and my eyes settle on Billy looking like this....

I guess I'll need to reevaluate my lessons in the future to make sure they're not as stressful.

Namaste!

Deli Meat Mix Up

To wrap up the musical year, the Grade 1's are designing and creating their own percussion instruments. To start things off we decided to brainstorm all of the different instruments we've played this year so far.

One by one, the small hands come up, sharing answers such as "the tambourine", "the guiro", "drums", "xylphones", "glockenspiels", "triangle", "claves", etc, etc.

One little guy is vividly shaking his arm, wanting to be called upon. I call his name to answer and he proudly replies.... "We played the salami this year!". The other students look at him with questioning eyes and giggles.

I repeat: "The salami?"

Billy says, "Yah, you know....we always play with the Kielbasa! It's fun!"

Me: "Ohhh, do you mean the cabasa? C-A-B-A-S-A! "

Billy: "Yah, the salami one!"

Too cute!

Inspired, Energized, Refreshed

I am very fortunate to have had the opportunity to participate in what I call a 'teaching utopia' for the past thirteen years. Elementary students from across the province are chosen and come together to participate in a week-long course that develops their leadership skills and potential. How lucky am I to work with the 'best of the best' future leaders as well as some of the most amazing and inspiring teachers from all around Ontario? I learn SO very much from them all and come back to the classroom feeling motivated, recharged and rejuvenated. Despite the lack of sleep and chaos that ensues in order to prepare to leave 'real life' at work and home for over a week, it is 1000% worth it and I hope to continue to pay forward this opportunity to future students.

If this week is any indication of our future....I wholeheartedly believe that we will be in good hands.