Smiling's My Favorite

So often I get engulfed in the difficulties of life and let them swallow me up rather than pause to reflect on the beauty of the positive.  So, here’s my attempt at savoring the precious moments of life and making an effort at letting them outshine the negative.

Things that make me smile: 

*The fact that God sent his precious son to bear all of our sins.   The strongest kind of love there is, and he's offering it to us.  I know I will never be able to fathom it, but sometimes it just really hits me.

*When G (boy) breaks out into song randomly… my favorite: Party Rock Anthem.

*How L spelled the word August: Ogist (usin’ his sounds, man!)

*A girl took out 4 dollar bills and another child said that wasn't very much money, M replied, “Uh, yeah it is, she has 400 cents there.”

*When I had Christmas music playing while we worked, the whole class began to sing when “Silent Night” came on.  It was so peaceful and sweet.

*When I told S that he had a beautiful singing voice and R, who was standing right next to me started belting out some musical notes in her best opera voice.  Oh goodness… J

*When students go and sit right by Frizzle (our Elf on the Shelf) and start up a full conversation with him.

*The random hugs that I get throughout the day.

*This e-mail from one of my kiddo’s mom: "Thank you for all that you do and the care and love you display each and every day to the children you teach.  We so often take people for granted and we want you to know how much we truly appreciate you and are very blessed to have you leading X."  People do not realize how much these kids of words affect teachers.  This brought tears to my eyes and gave me JUST what I needed to get through the rest of the day, full of energy.

*This morning I heard a story about one of my boys who gave a quarter to a kiddo that didn't have one so he could buy a book from our book sale today.

*How R starts every sentence (well practically every sentence) with: “technically.”

*L was wearing a shirt that said “I didn't do it, my sister did,” and he told me “it’s a teaser.”  (love their vocab!)

*When kids come back from the bathroom with their shirts tucked into their underwear.

*When all my kids beg for me to read another story.

*When we were putting our fingerprints onto our elf applications to Santa, one kiddo put his entire finger (up to the palm) onto the ink pad and I said, “no, honey, just your finger.”  He looked at me confused and I realized how much we say that just doesn't always make sense to them.  He was doing it right according to my directions!

*My little girlie that goes to speech came back with a pencil and a note saying that she worked extra hard today so she could give me a pencil.  Later on the speech teacher came and told me that S asked if she could work hard to get a pencil for herself, and then extra hard to get a pencil for me too because I was having a rough day since M wasn't listening.  O.M.W.  How stinking sweet.  They put so much together in their cute little minds.

*G got 0 out of 5 addition problems to 10 wrong on her test last week, and after working so very hard for so long with her it was defeating.  But then, in a matter of a few days, she completed 10/11 addition problems correctly ON HER OWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Talk about a celebration.

*How G (same girl as above) has so much trouble identifying coins, let alone counting them up, but with the help of her parents and me pulling her in a group every day to work with her individually, she completed 6 counting coin problems ON HER OWN correctly.  I just cried.  And I’m crying now writing about it!  I can’t express how overjoyed I am.

*Frizzle (our Elf on the Shelf) gave us a mission to show kindness to one another.  Now, whenever a kid gets praised for showing kindness (such as offering to I pass out papers or hand their paper to someone else) there are always a few who, (while making eye contact with me) “copy” the act so they get praised too. J  Such cuties.  They’re really catching onto this kindness thing… I was actually going to fizzle it out because it seemed just like yet another tiny thing to manage, talk about, and plan, but they are really catching onto it.  Today I had so many reports of kind acts and I could see how it just lit up their little hearts!

*After hearing about our kindness mission and discussing how we don’t always get rewarded when we complete kind acts, this was R’s reply, “well, technically we do get rewarded because it fills our hearts up to the brim.”  Talk about cuteness.

*K comes up to me and says, “Did these {copies} take long to print?”  My reply: “no, not really.”  K:  “Oh, well you did a very nice job printing.”

*When the kids say, “Grabby hands don’t get,” as a reminder not to grab the papers from me when I pass them out.  Love how they catch on to so very much. 

That just touched the surface of the last few days in first grade.  By looking at the praises, the heaviness of daily battles really seems to diminish a little more.  Maybe I’ll get better at it and soon it won’t take much effort at all!  

Year End Reflections

Since the school year is winding up, I view it as my end of the year, and it is only appropriate to sit back and reflect on what a year this has been.

Overall, I am beyond pleased as I look back and remember what has happened.  What a year of growing, learning, and true wonder.

I LOVED the amazing group of kids that was lent to me for the past 9 months.  Sure, there were plenty of bumps and bruises along the way, but these kiddos brought so much joy to each and every day.  This year was indeed a challenge personally.  I spent the majority of the year so torn about what to do come the last day of school, and spent way too many hours on the search for different apartments to live in in order to flee the horribly built places here in Branson.  I feel like all I ever do is pack!!  Ick!  It was also hard being so far away from my family, and since the majority of my friends have found other places to trek off to, it was difficult without as much support from outside of my classroom.  I also did learn to trust more openly, and give up a bit of control in my life, which was difficult!!  I feel that I am still in the major process of this lesson and prayers are welcomed! :)  It's also kinda funny because something that I remember from my 6th grade report card was that, in one area, I got marked "needs improvement," and that area was: risk taking.  Well, I think right now is my time where I am finally able to say that I now can move that mark to "satisfactory."  I am taking one big risk giving up my job and wandering into the great unknown future.

This year my students were truly my saving grace.  My kids and families were unbelievably appreciative, supportive, and uplifting.  They were my family and home during the year which gave me the reason and purpose to get up along with invest so many hours into my job.  They took away the annoyances and made teaching them the most rewarding thing I can think of.  I can truly say that I am dreading the last day of school.  Little pieces of them will be carried with me in my heart.

So, on another note, I had the kids write to a prompt the other day.  They needed to tell their readers something only they know about me.  It was sooooo fun to read through what they picked up on through the time of our bonding.  Here are some of my favorite responses: (please forgive the mistakes...remember, they are only 2nd graders :) )

*Dear Next Years Class,
     This paper is a secert all about Ms. Johnson.  Well her birthday is April 27.  She will not tell how old she is but we found out what day and month is was.  The good thing is she is so nice, sweet, kind, helpful, conssdrite, and lots more things.  But this is the bad thing when she gets mad she is mad.  So I would be on your best behavier.  If you are not lissoning I would start lissoning.  You will have a great year and you will have so much fun, lagh all day long.  When you have a subtoot (substitute) just imagine it is Ms. Johnson.  Do your best on all of your tests.  And pay all and I mean all of the hug tax.  Just don't give her a hard time.

*Ms. Johnson is nice because Ms. Johnson gets us sprizes.  Her favorite football team is the green bay packers and her favorite coler is green.

*Dear next years class,
Ms. Johnson is as fun as going to the zoo.  I need to let you no Ms. Johnson hates humming. (Hehe, it drives me NUTS and I made that clear from the beginning of the year!) She loves cookies.  She also loves good classes.


*I have some advice for you.  Do your own work and don't make Ms. Johnson do the thinking and don't make the other kids do the thinking. (I do tell them this quite frequently!) P.S. Ms. Johnson doesn't like bugs.


*Dear 2nd grade class,
    Ms. Johnson has a dog named Bella she is as cute as a button.  Ms. Johnson is the nices teacher on earth.  Hay you shood love Ms. Johnson.


*Dear students,
She is very cool and very nice helpfoll fun and cinda crazi.  A grait teacher knos a lot.  Shes not meen.  Just remember not to hum or wistle thats when she gets crazi.


*Ms. Johnson is very nice because she likes to plan fun stuff.  Ms. Johnson also likes triking you a lot so wach out.  And she likes to have a lot of fun with everybody.  And she likes a lot of suger.

*Dear next years class,
The first day of school brin a cookie because Ms. Johnson will want a cookie tax.  Ms. Johnson will also want something green because she loves the packers.  If you get an A on a test Ms. Johnson might give you a jolly rancher and she will also let you have a snack on daily 5.


*I want to tell you about my teacher Ms. Johnson.  First of all she is very nice and sometimes she plans fun activeties like making chalk and doing fun stoff with white shaving cream.  She has a dog named bella.  She knos a lot of cool spanish Because she used to take spanish class.  her favorite color is green.  she likes the team green bay pakers.  She likes pokadots too.


*These are some things you should now about Ms. Johnson.  She's nice, she likes spring green, she likes her moms oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, she is a really good teacher, she is funny, and she has a puppy named Bella.  Thats what you should now about Ms. Johnson.


*Dear next years class do you now something crazy abowt Mis. Johnson her dog is name Ball tahts the same name as my uncl's dog.  She loves poladots she is alurgic to diry so make sure she dosit drink it.  Shes allsow a sweet-hart if you behave. Sometimes she'll call you funne names when she is doing the friday folders and tats my pal mis. Johnson.


*My sekent grad techer Mis. Johnson has a dog named bella.  Mis. Johnson loves cookies and wader.  Mis. Johnson loves her class.  She likes pokadots.  She us to live in minusoda.  She dus not like bugs.


*Dear Class,
     Ms. Johnson lafs like a hiena and she eats cookies like the cookie monster.  She yous to pot a ginny pig on a leesh and take it for a walk.  She got Bella her puppy from a barn.  Remember to be wonderful.


I just LOVE my little polka-dots!!  It's amazing how well they know me! :)  How sweet are they??

Today I read the book, Oh the Places You'll Go.  I got the book from my grandma for graduation and just love the message in the story.  It also had a dual purpose since I wanted it to inspire the students for their future, and it helped explain more my purpose in leaving my job.  We all need to take the chances and go down the paths we feel lead to discover!  I cried at the end, and I think I had the majority of the class in tears as well.  I can't describe the bond that we all feel.  We are more than a class.  We are a family.

a time for everything.

I'm wondering what my time might be right now.  I'm torn with what to do for this next season of my life.

Ecclesiastes 3
A Time for Everything

There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven:

a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep ad a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

Do You Have a Dream?

Well, we sure have dreams in our class!  We have been reading about Martin Luther King Jr. and learning TONS from him.  We watched part of his "I Have a Dream" speech and then we wrote dreams of our very own.  I was so uplifted by their dreams for the world, and I hope you are too!

Here are some of the dreams they wrote down:
(I kept their cute little spellings :) )

*I have a dream that I will help Ms. johson so the calss can work hard.   ~yay!!! :)
*I have a dream that evrybudy had enough money for evry one to have a home, food, and stuff they need.  (we learned about putting commas between lists and it was even carried over into social studies work!!!!!!!)
*I have a dream that one day I could be a scientist that makes medison to help lots of people.
*I have a dream to get money for the school so that more kids can learn more.
*I have a dream that the school were three store (stories) tall so ever one that has no skols can come to this school adn get wellcomed.
*I have a dream that the weld (world) will be a better place because we want less liter.
*I have a dream that one day there will be more hosbitls so that ever one that gets sick can go to a hosbitls.
*I have a dream that there is lese candy in the world because you won't to be helfe.
*I have a dream that I code help the hole wolde and save people in the fite.
*I have a dream that nobody will be a bully in the world.
*I have a dream that evey one has a house, mouny, clothing, and food, and people could help eacher read.
*I have a dream that every one in the world wold get FREEDOM!
*I have a dream that one day no one will liy.
*I have a dream that they wold give a home to people that do not have them so they wote diey in the cold or hot.
*I have a dream that everyone whod be safe for the unightidstates of ameraca. and never get hert.
*I have a dream that the hold world new marton's BIG word's. 

It's amazing the impact that MLK Jr. has even on such young kiddos.  They have been so interested in the work he did.  We read a book called, Martin's Big Words which talked about Martin's fight with words.  One student brought up the point that we don't want to fight, even with our words.  This lead into a great discussion about how this fight was different than using hateful words; it was about taking a stand for what you believe in and following your dreams.  We talk about how Martin used words like love, peace, freedom and equality for his fight.

We did an egg demonstration that I found on Pinterest that I loved.  The lesson they learned was fairly obvious, but it was such a good visual of the fact that no matter what the outside looks like, the inside is the same.  We couldn't find a single difference between the two eggs' insides.  Here is a picture of what we did:

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!