My Little Elves

I have the best job in the world. 
Sometimes school gets just too stressful and jam packed with assessments, planning, and mangaging.  I need to remember to step away and take a break from all of the stress and craziness of school and let my kids have some fun, fun, fun! 

The other day, I told the kids that I came to school, and there was a pail filled to the top with kisses and that an elf wrote me a letter that said I am to give out Elf Kisses every time I see outstanding behavior and great work.  They think it is the coolest thing EVER!  I then went a little further and let them see the next letter from the elf (when the bucket was empty) that explained how he refilled the bucket because our class had been exceptional.  They just about had heart attacks when I showed them the mini elf letter!

Well, today I took it even a step further.  We did an activity that was the perfect mix between fun, creativity, and using our writing skills, and the kids loved it!  I gave them all an Elf Application.  We talked about what are some things that we can apply for and what an application is.  I told them that we are going to fill out an application to be an elf helper.  They all started going crazy.  I told them that in an application, they need to write their very best, make themselves shine above the other candidates, and be honest.  They need to answer simple questions such as, have you ever played with toys? What is your favorite toy?  Are you naughty or nice?  Are you a good helped?  Do you like Christmas music?  They had to draw a picture of what they would look like as an elf, and then write a statement as to why they would be a good elf.  The best part, and most official part, of the application was that they had to submit their fingerprints.  That's where they all "realized" it was the real deal!  They thought it was so cool to put their thumb prints on their applications!

I had some who were so worried about the are you naughty or nice question.  A few came up to me and said, "Can I put kinda both for this question?  I mean, sometimes I am naughty at home, but for the most part, I try to be nice."  I love that they are taking me seriously and trying their very best to be honest!  I told them to write an explanation to Santa off to the side, because he really likes honest helpers.

Am I horrible for making them go through all of this?!?! I love seeing their excitement though! It's so fun seeing the innocence and youth of a second grader. They show me so much... and help me remember how important laughter, smiles, and the little things are in life. 

This was JUST the activity that I needed to slow down and let them have some true fun to get into the Christmas spirit.  We need to take time and realize what's important... not making sure every little assessment is done perfectly, or every plan is put in place... I want my kids to have fun memories of second grade; not having a stressed teacher that is hanging by a thread.  They will remember applying for an elf position more than if they responded in their reading notebook every day. 

Letting go is my lesson I am in the middle of learning!  Kids can teach us so very much.  I am grateful for the lessons I learn from them!

Here are some of my favorites responses to the application:
(note: I included their cute little mistakes :))

*I would be a good elf because I'm fantastic.  I'm good at writing names and wrapping prestents and putting bows on stuff.  I'm a good helper at home, school and public.  If you would pick me then I will be truly thankful.

* I would be a good elf because I would be good at thinking of action figers and other toys.  I would be good at makeing parent things to.

*I would be a wonderful elf because I'm honest, nice and I have a great hobby.  I'm good at makeing stuff anmale's and I love to make toys for people how dont have toys.

*I would be a perfect elf because Im nice and Im a little good at makeing toys.  I be nie to my friends.  I am never late at school.  I am nice to my mom and dad.

*I would be a delifhtful, fantastic, amusing elf because I am sart, fun, supper dooper, amasing, kind, and mostly fun.

*I wode mack wonderful toys.  And I wode take care of the rainder.  And I wont ess arond I will stay fockist.  And I will do what you say.

*I make people happy and I share my toys and I help my friends and I clan the dishs and I clan up after myself.

*I will be a exlent elf.  Because I'm responsobull.  I love kids and I love work.  I will be on task.  I will help decerat.

shown so much love

i have been meaning to write this for a while now, but i am finally getting to it now!  it has been a few weeks since the last week of my first year!  it is such an accomplishment to look back and realize that i survived a whole year of teaching.... many weeks of planning, stress, sickness, and most importantly love from so many wonderful kiddos (and the hugs they used to express the love :) )  i got more hugs this year than i could have ever imagined! those hugs mean the world to me... they were needed by me just as much as they were needed by the kids.  it is so delightful knowing that such a young child can love so much.  every child made such an impact in my life and i am grateful of all the lessons i learned from each one. 

i was surprised at how quickly connections were created between every student.  i felt like one day i was given 21 kids to teach and the next day i had 21 endearing children whom i would eat fish for.  (and i wouldnt eat fish to save the world, let me tell ya!!! :)  with that said, there was one particular little guy that made a striking difference in my life.  j gave me a run for my money.  he definitely was a little stinker the majority of the day; however, when his true colors showed, he was just a doll.  we had a bond that i wouldnt trade for anything.  toward the end of the year, he was showing more defiance and many of us teachers believe it was because summer was coming which meant the end of structure and routines.  there were a few days when going to specials didnt sound very fun to him, so we made a deal that he could come and help me with some tasks that i needed to complete.  we had a lot of fun making our end of the year books while eating dunkaroos (a definite favorite of both of ours :) ) he was becoming one of my best friends... i cant even describe how difficult it was to watch him go on his bus home for the last time.  there were many emotional tears filled with fear for his summer and future, sadness that one of my "best friends" was leaving me, happiness that i was able to meet this wonderful boy, and worry that i will never see him again.  j, just know that you are always in my heart and prayers. 

a favorite story from the year:  there was one day when the 3rd and 4th grades were taking their standardized tests which meant we needed to stay out of the hallways to cocntrol noise level... we took a classroom bathroom break since we werent able to go to the bathroom for a few hours.  i warned everyone many times and j decided he just didnt need to go or even try.  well about 2 hours later i had pulled his reading group to my back table and while he was reading a page from his book he randomly states, "ms. johnson, youre always right." he had this smirk and was completely serious while speaking.  i was kind of taken aback since he is always sarcastic and says the exact opposite how he feels.  i just laughed and asked him why and continued with, "i know i am!  thanks for finally realizing that!"  we continue reading and discussing our book when he finally admits, "i have to go to the bathroom."  i had to ask him to repeat it a few times; i couldnt hear him because he was saying it so quietly.  i about died.  i was laughing so very hard and could not contain myself.  this had to be the best moment ever.  finally i broke through and he admitted that i was actually RIGHT!!!!  if only he had learned to listen to more of what i had to say from then on!  although, it was really nice to have that quote for the rest of the year to remind him of what he said. :)

the year was filled with such blessings, heartache and joy.  there were times when i didnt think i could survive another day, but i always tried to do my best to enter the classroom with a smile and be there for my kids the best i could.  within the last few weeks, i realized how much i truly love having a classroom.  it is so satisfying knowing the second home that i enter 5 days a week holds so much laughter, learning, and love.  i didnt know how much i really loved teaching until a few weeks ago when i gave it up for a few months.  i look forward to this next year starting fresh with a new group of kids ready to embark on our year long adventure.  it is so hard to leave the kids that you have developed these deep relationships, but it is so fun knowing that it will all start over and i can use all of the experiece i gained to know what to do and not to do for this next year.  i cant wait to make the bonds again and learn all of the fun quarks and be challenged on how to reach these new children.  bring it on! :)

the most tender of hearts...

the heart of a child is truly pure.  such a sweet story about one of the little girls in my class.  she came up to me the other day asking if she could speak to me later.  i offered to talk with her right then, but she wanted it to be in private, so i told her we can talk right after recess.  she waited a little while after recess, when the rest of the class was going off to a special, to ask if it was a good time to talk with me.  she sounded so serious; i was very concered, and almost scared about what she was getting ready to tell me.  she continued on with saying that she was feeling badly because she brought in a littlest pet shop toy to school.  i was relieved that she wasnt telling me anything more serious, but i could tell that she thought this was a horrible crime and it was weighing heavily on her heart.  she continued on explaining that she had been keeping these littlest pet shops in her backpack.  she showed me her storage area for these toys and it was half way filled with them.  she went on to admit that she and another girl each brought one of the little puppies to lunch to show each other.  it was so hard for me not to smile and even giggle because the confession was so serious.  i can tell that in everything she does, she has the most pure, gentle heart and spirit.  it is so sweet to see the care that she had to feel the need to make this confession.  kids can teach us so very much! :)


another story about my day... today we were learning to add our voice into writing.  we read this fairy story by david shannon that was about a girl who had a wild imagination and pretended she was a fairy.  well, i had my kids pretend that they were either a fairy or wizard and write down the powers that they would have.  they really got into the project and came up with some great ideas.  they all got to share their powers and then we acted them out... we had a blast!  while transitioning into reading, i told them that i was the queen fairy and i was going to take all of their powers.  during read to self time, i had one boy come up to me and ask, "ms. johonson, when we go to recess, can you give us our powers back so we can have them while we play??"  some of the other students heard him ask and heard my response as a yes, and got rather excited.  i thought it was so precious that they really thought i took their "powers" from them!!  cant wait to continue this project tomorrow!

love through a kid's eye...

well, i have a friend who teaches 3rd grade just down the hall, and she comes up with the best activities for her kids, so i decided to "borrow" this cute quiz she gave her kiddos.  i wanted to see some 2nd grade responses to these questions on love. :)  i have had many laughs about some of them and i hope you do too!

while i was giving the quiz and reading the questions, all the kids were so embarrassed; it was so cute!  some of them didn't want write their thoughts because i would be reading them... little do they know, im posting their responses for everyone to read!  here are some of my favorites:


1.  What do you think is the right age to get married?  Why?

      ~I think that I shod be 20 to be married becaus you can not get married when you are 8. 
      ~I think you shoud get married at age 28 becuse it gives you time to know the person rilly well.
      ~20 because it is after all the 1 dijit numbers and teens.
      ~I think the rite age to git married is 22 becaus people love that age.
      ~I think the right age to get marred is 27 because my mom was marred at 27.

2.  What is falling in love like?
      ~Like my hort is brsting.
      ~I think falling in love is like sone thing crazy becuse you are dieing to know that person adn tell them that you are in love.
      ~I donot now I haven't.
      ~Like kissing somewon.
      ~Falling in love is embarrassing!
      ~Falling in Love is like being in a romantic movie because love is sweet.
      ~I think it is creepey.

3.  How can you tell if 2 adults eating dinner at a restaurant are in love?
      ~Becus he gives hr a reing.
      ~I think they wod get iey contact.
      ~I can tell becaus they are probobley on a dayt.
      ~If they are laughing.
      ~If they are staring at each other.
      ~They useshly kiss.
      ~If they kiss and do love stuff.

4.  Do you want to love someone SOMEDAY?  Why?
      ~Yes because I want to have kides. 
      ~Yes becus I am prity.
      ~Yes I want to becuse I want to have my own kids becase I want to see what my kids wood look like.
      ~Yes I do because you can git childrin and have childrin.
      ~no!  because Boys are gross!
      ~Yes Because I think it is going to Be jast fine.  (I think this is my favorite!)
      ~Yes I do Because It will be hard by your self.
      ~Mayby I want to love someone because averyone else will.
      ~Yes Becus my kids will have a DaD.

5.  Do you feel loved?  By who??
      ~Yes because Alexis tlod me.
      ~Yes I am loved by God!
      ~I feel loved by my mom and dad becuse ther not Grochy or mean to me they do nice things for you and you do things for them.
      ~I feel loved by my best friends.
      ~Yes I Do fill love by my teacher because she is nice.
      ~I feel loved by my parints.
      ~yes By ms. Johnson she is grat.
      ~God

6.  Why do people fall in love? 
      ~Becos they doNt whant to Be wowone.  (alone, but due to his speech, many of his sounds are w's. :) )
      ~Becus a hot Boy and girl meet and fall in Love and kiss and get merred and have kids.
      ~To be happy.
      ~To be married and have a happy family. 
      ~because they Love to be with each other.
      ~bcus they like to date.
      ~because if no onen wood fall in love then ther wood be no more people!


kids are so precious!  i just love hearing their thoughts and feelings on every subject.  hope they brought you some smiles today!

its the little things

i just cant wait for valentines day.  i feel like a kid again!  i was filling out all of my valentines, and thought about how fun it will be to go around to all of the kids bags and drop them off.  i cant wait to see all of my kids smiles and hear their laughter while they open theirs, and play all of the games that i have planned.  i love being the one in charge of the schedule, but i am mostly excited to be a part of all the fun activity throughout the day! :)  it feels so fun being on the other side of the school day...its almost like being behind the scenes.  i wonder if my kiddos get as excited as i do for days like this?!  i just hope i remember to prepare myself for the sugar rush! 


on a side note, i finally read the book, you are special, to my class (i have been wanting to for quite a while now) and we wrote entries in our reading notebooks about how we can connect to the book, or what it reminded us of.  it was amazing to see their insight and how they could relate to the book so well.  they could think of times they felt a lot like punchinello with hurt feelings, how they may have felt like another wemmick by giving gray dots to others, or even how they felt like lucia by not caring about what others think.  they all understood the message about how we should not to judge others by what they look like, say, or do.  i dont know if they connected it 100% to the true meaning of the book, but i loved hearing the responses they came up with, and being a part of the discussions with the book.  sometimes i wonder if they really are more intelligent than me!  im thrilled to be able to dig so deep into these meaningful books with my students.  if you have not read you are special by max lucado, i strongly encourage you to do so!  every time i read it, i am covered in goosebumps and tear up! its sends such a strong message.  i hope my kids know just how special they are.  i need to remember to tell them so every day.  sometimes i get too caught up in what im teaching, how they are so squirmy, or the fact that i dont know how to get things across to them always.  i need to take the time to sit back and let them know the things that truly matter.

teaching makes me smile.

so after almost a week away from my kids, i was definitely ready to see them again!  in line after a bathroom break, i mentioned the fact that you are supposed to get 3 hugs a day.  well, they acted on that one for sure...  i certainly met my quota for the week after saying that!  i absolutely love 2nd grade hugs. :)  and at least i know they are listening to some things that i say! 

another tidbit to make you grin... i love the way kids hear and repeat certain words.  my kiddos were working on an assignment in social studies.  (they have to come up with their own store and decide all of the factors that go along with it like their name, what they will sell, how much they will charge, and so on) well two of them came up to me very perplexed about how they will determine the cost of the animals for their pet store because, "it apends on which animal" theyre selling.  oh, the joys that go into my work. :)