I Wish...

I Wish…

(When I say “students” or “parents,” I am speaking from 30+ years in education, not necessarily just the present)

I wish that the politicians making decisions about education understood the magnitude of the damage they are doing to the youngest and most vulnerable of our population.

I wish that those who make decisions about curriculum would understand developmentally appropriate practices.

I wish that my students could remain young and innocent.

I wish people would understand the importance of outdoor play and that my students didn’t spend so much time on a screen and more time playing cards and board games with their families.

I wish some of my students hadn’t had the experiences that make them act out and become so angry.

I wish my students could experience family mealtime with no background noise and all family members sitting at the table, talking about their day.

I wish my students were read to every day.

I wish parents didn’t think, or say, “It’s only preschool.” Or “It’s only kindergarten.”

I wish people didn’t think “all you do is play all day.”  There is very important learning of social skills that can only be experienced through play, as well as brain growth through using their imaginations.

I wish none of my students ever had to experience Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).

I wish none of my students had to live in poverty.

I wish my “littles” would never see inappropriate-for-their-age movies or video games.

I wish my students had chores.

I wish my students weren’t “bubble-wrapped.”  Failure is always a learning experience.  Children who are not allowed to fail will never know what it’s like to experience success after working hard to accomplish a task.

I wish my students didn’t have TVs in their bedrooms and were able to calm themselves to sleep.  Reading to a child and talking about their day is very calming.  So is soothing, instrumental music.

I wish my four and five year-olds didn’t know what “the middle finger” was.

I wish parents understood that sometimes the things they see and hear at home sometimes scare their children.

I wish people believed that I know what I’m talking about, and listen to what I have to say.  I do have a double major in Elementary and Early Childhood Education and a masters in Education, plus 31+ years of experience.

I wish that others understood that while I have, and have had, two classes, that I have the largest number of students to impact on a daily basis. At one point in my career, two classes of 21.  That’s 42 students…every day.

I wish the families understood that I welcome the opportunity to see each of them, even after they are no longer in my class.  It is not in my DNA to turn my love for them off at the end of the school year.

I wish my students could know how very much I love them, each for their own unique qualities.

 

Why I Am NOT Counting Down

     Don't ask me how many days of school are left.  I don't know and I don't want to know.  This school year, I made a change.  I left a kindergarten position I had been in for five years.  I also left a building and staff that I was very familiar with and many people that I love.  Why?  I needed a change.  I needed the chance to spread my tired old wings and do something different.  I am so very thankful I was given that opportunity!
     Last Spring, I asked for a transfer to another building in the district and the chance to teach Preschool again.  Not only did I meet AMAZING teachers and support staff in my new building, but I rediscovered my passion for teaching!  I've had the opportunity to partner with many amazing families in helping their children become Kindergarten-ready.  Challenging?  Yes!  Sometimes heart-breaking?  Yes!  Rewarding?  A thousand times YES!
     I feel like the act of counting down to the end of the school year may cause some anxiety in some of my students.  When school is out, their routine and schedule will dramatically change.  They won't have the consistency of our daily classroom routine.  For some little ones, this is scary and they don't know how to voice their concerns yet.
     Selfishly, I'm not ready to know how many more days I have with them.  I have watched them change so much this year.  No longer are they the shy, scared children I got last August.  Now, they are confident, well-spoken people and ready, so ready, for kindergarten, but I don't want them to go.  I'm not ready...even if they are!