So Much to Learn, So Little Time

Today was probably the loudest day in Mrs. Barger's class. It was surprising to see how rowdy they were being after having seen them act like angels, but I just had to remind myself that, well, they're six. They are going to behave like children because that's what they are. And despite the volume and jitters of the class, they are still so adorable! After lunch we did more math rotations, the game that I had helped them learn how to move forward and backward with their numbers. They also have been working on writing all of their numbers from 1 to 100, and they enjoyed their other games and activities, at least that's what I got from the exuberant exclamations I heard all around the classroom. 

Throughout this short time that I've had to volunteer, I've learned how important it is to know that each of the kids are so different that the other, but that it is so easy to love each of them for their individuality. I can tell when I get to talk to each child that they have their inhibitions or are completely confident, or that they shine in some areas of learning but struggle in others. I know that you cannot teach all of these children in the same way, that they need us to teach them individually and be so specific in the ways we teach. 

But I think that the most important thing that I've learned through this experience is that each of those students want to learn and are completely capable of learning. Education has always been important to me in my life, and I believe that it should be and is so important to those children. Often times children may be discouraged because they are having difficulty with a certain subject, and they may feel like they can't learn it. Teachers need to keep encouraging them to try hard and not give up. We need to let them know that they can do it, whatever it is, and that they can be amazing at it. 

I love these kids so much, and feel so blessed to be able to see their smiling faces and be the recipient of so many small, affectionate hugs! These students are our future, and to me, the future looks bright!

Bonus Word: School

Today I came in to class and had about 26 pairs of eyes all look at me, and lots of shy smiles. I hate to interrupt the class when I come in, but it's really sweet to see all of those bright shining eyes look up at me. 

I graded some homework and spelling tests, the bonus word was appropriately school today, they are really good at spelling, and with a few of the kids, I had them tell me who the characters and what the setting, problem, and solution of a story was that they had read in class. During lunch Mrs. Barger stayed in to talk with me. She asked me about my family and how they were doing, she's in my ward so we get to see her a lot. She is such a sweet lady, and you can tell that she really cares about her students and makes them feel comfortable in the class.

I had a few minutes to walk around the empty classroom so I looked at all of the things that Mrs. Barger has on the walls. She had class rules and other ways to behave on the walls, and the clothespin chart I mentioned in the previous entry to help the kids see where they stand, if they are being good. She had four main rules for the class:

1. Raise your hand to speak
2. Be nice
3. Be honest
4. No talking in the hall

She has them on an erasable poster so that she could change, amend, or add rules as necessary. She also has a card system, where green is good, then yellow, orange, and red are the other card they can get if they are being bad. There was only one that wasn't green today, so I believe that they really like this system.

Other things that she had posted said thing like, we will be nice, we will help others, we will listen. These are more permanent rules for her class. Mrs. Barger can point these out to the students when they are misbehaving, but overall, her kids do a good job of following these rules without reminders. 

This is such a sweet bunch of kids, and it's so fun to volunteer with them. As I was getting ready to leave, Mrs. Barger asked the kids what they say to Ms. Becca. I got the loudest thank you from all of those kids. It was by far the best thank you I've ever gotten. I hope that they all actually like having me there, because I sure as heck love it :)