the beginning of the end

I officially have two days of school left. Well to teach that is, then report cards and conferences. The end of the year is such a odd time. There is so much anxiety on the part of teachers because changes are happening; New staff, staff moving grade levels or schools, having to place kids into their next year classes.

I find myself reflecting on this year of teaching. It has been quite the learning experience. I have two classes that are vastly different in dynamic. I have muddled my way through the curriculum, figured out how to manage a whole room of 5 year olds by myself. I am still a firm believer that children learn through discovery and play. I am glad that I allowed for there to be times of unstructured play. I saw some of the most amazing insight into children and their thinking when I played with them or observed them playing.

The place that I would like to improve in is art. I realize that I need to know more craft projects and I would also like to incorporate more art literacy. I think that it is a powerful way for students to learn and express themselves. Plus it is relaxing and a good open ended activity.

I love teaching science. I really didn't expect to have a strong reaction one way or another to science. But I found that it is engaging, demands higher level thinking, incorporates many different learning styles, and can easily be integrated with math and literacy. When I talked about what they will remember most about kindergarten about half the answers were either PE or recess and the rest were some of the science and art we have done. Not one child said the testing or the alphabet. Now don't get me wrong those are important and the children need to know their letters and sounds to be ready to move to first grade but the learning that is making lasting impressions on the students is definitely not the alphafriends!

I was not a perfect teacher this year, but not a total failure. I love that teaching will never be stagnant. I have the opportunity again next year to learn two new classrooms. See what they know are interested in and to learn and grow professionally. I will continuously be stretched and though it can be painful and cumbersome, I wouldn't want it any other way!