500th Post!

I cannot believe this is my 500th post on Sneaker Teacher! I have really reconnected with my love of writing through blogging and I just can't get enough. I have also connected with lots of readers that I can't wait to share stories about teaching with! It's funny how I feel like I have relationships and friendships with people I have never met, yet blogging creates that sense of community and familiarity. We talk about all the details of our lives, jobs, families etc. and because of that, I feel like I know many of you through what you write on your own blogs and what you say in your comments here! Fun stuff!

When I first created this blog, I decided to call it Sneaker Teacher because two important parts of my life are teaching and staying fit. The sneaker part also has to do with the fact that Mr. Sneaker works for adidas and I have lots of cool sneakers. When I taught first grade we dedicated a day to each color and had a special song to sing about each color as well. I would always make sure to wear sneakers that matched our color of the day--and yes, I really have sneakers in almost every color (almost!). I left a lot of my fun sneakers in Germany, but I did bring my very favorite pair with me because they are special. Mr. Sneaker gave them to me last Christmas and he said the BWE stands for best wife ever. I love my husband!

Yesterday, I happened to be wearing these because we were asked to wear our new school T-shirts and since I was going casual, I wanted to wear my fun shoes. We also happened to do an activity where the kids were asked to draw a picture of their teacher. Check out these super cute pictures two kiddos drew of me, right down to the BWE kicks!

Cute, right?

Although I was totally exhausted after the first week (really only 3 days) of school, I am loving Kindergarten. I honestly thought that I was totally in for it when I got assigned to teach Kinder at a different school than I was at prior to Germany. I did not think that Kindergarten and me were a match at all. I recalled how little my first graders seemed when they first started and how much I loved the end of first grade because of all the independence they had gained and how much they had blossomed academically. I felt like Kindergarten was just not going to be the right fit.

After three days, I know that those initial reactions were wrong. I love it! Yes, it's hard and there is a lot of repetition with asking for the little wigglers to sit still and to listen, but so far it is going really well and I am super happy with how everything worked out. I know that the year will be full of challenges, but it will also be filled with hugs, smiles, and lots of success. 

I love how my PM class asked if they could hug Chester the stuffed Raccoon again at the end of the day yesterday. I love how one of my students who got picked up came and found me as I was putting the other kids on the bus just to give me a hug before he went home. I even love how one student was so excited about the book Marley goes to School that he Literally interrupted after each sentence to ask a question. ( I may have to fix that behavior, but I love that he was interested and asking questions to understand what he was not sure of). I love how even after just 3 days, most of my kiddos know exactly what to do when they arrive at school. I love how they hear the morning song and join me on the carpet. I love how one little girl points out every mistake that I make (she is one sharp cookie!). Even though I feel pressure to be actively teaching each precious moment of the day, I realize that it is so much fun and so rewarding just to watch and listen to the kids as they work and interact with each other.

And my favorite moment of the week...I asked one little guy what he wanted to learn in Kindergarten this year. He replied, I want to be a superhero. I want to be a Kindergarten Kid! I sure hope that learning to read and count and do all of the things that they will learn this year truly will feel like having super powers to them! 

Here's to 500 posts and 500 more!