I was reading through some older posts on here and it seems like I HATE teaching preschool! I really don't complain about it that much in real life. On the contrary, I brag about it! I love teaching preschool. I love the kids *mostly*, I love that I get to play, eat, watch movies, and have little rugrats tell me they love me. I hope I show them how much everyday that I enjoy the company I recieve.
Now obviously it's not all fairy's and sunshine, but 95% of the time it's pretty darn good. Something funny my daughter said to me on the way home today was brought about by TONS and I mean TONS of bird poop appearing on my car this afternoon.
"Mom what if we made the birds a little toilet? How about that? Then they wouldn't poop on the car." LOL I love this kid!
Today in class was enjoyable as well. My co teacher and I got our weeks confused and now I have two weeks of lesson plans to choose from. This weeks lesson is about quilts. I tried to explain to make it interesting, but I just couldn't get past today with anything. So, I've decided to use last weeks lesson plan of Nursery Rhyme's and rhyming period. Tommorrow I'm doing Little Miss Muffet. The kids are going to crack up when they see my yarn wig and HUGE black spider I'm going to use at circle.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
My Child is perfect
She is. Of course yours is not. lol
Okay I'm kidding around, but two of my aquaintances had parent/teacher confrences with their preschoolers teacher today. BOTH girls are very spoiled. I don't know if it is their environment or the child itself, but both girls are having issues with preschool. Following through, staying still at storytime, running off, random crying when they don't get their way. ...
Friend 1: Tried for a VERY long time to have a child. This is her ONLY child and will always be. She just started preschool 2x a week about six months ago. She is very bright, but also sassy, fit throwing, backtalking child. She mostly gets her way since she's the only child and it's fine at home, but I can see this being an issue as 1 child in a 24 child classroom. Her teacher is worried that she will not do well in Kindergarten as she is unable to do her activities required. As I said she is bright, but not a good listener. The mom is all freaked about if it is her fault -> insert TONS o drama here looking for "Oh no, the teacher is dumb your a great mom~!" comments. I think what it boils down to is she isn't made to listen. There is no "punishment" if she doesn't, so why NOT do whatever the heck she wants?
Friend 2: Her little girl is the 2nd child. The older daughter is going to a private school where the mom is REALLY pushing to get her caught up in order to skip to the second grade. Mom is a little OCD and obsessive, but she is a nice lady and I do really like her honest. I just have a different parenting strategy and I eye roll her posts a lot. Sorry, but I do. Anyway both girls were watched by a VERY indulgent grandma until preschool/kindergarten and are spoiled. *Hmm I sense a common theme* In this case I do think it is a case of the teacher and child not connecting. But the way mom will deal with it will get it blown out of proportion and in turn really just make her daughters preschool life more difficult. It would be very easy just to transfer her to a different class.
It is funny because I deal with children like these everyday. Not my aquaintances children, but children like them. I don't really know how to respond. It very well could be the teachers fault, but neither want to put the blame on their OWN child. The child's upbringing, the child's personality, etc. It's all the teachers fault. I find it a bit laughable,but also a bit disapointing because I thought these women were better than "THAT" mom.
"That" mom is the mom whose child is perfect. She never cries, always does what she is asked, knows all her letters, numbers, shapes, and colors, and has for a VERY LONG TIME. Said child would never color on the wall or hit another child. Well that child must have done something to provoke her of course!
I have 3 such kids in my class. Child number 1: Boy, 3 years old, third child of ? whose mother LOVES the baby girl and tolerates the older 3 boys. I can understand where his anger comes from. I don't tolerate his nastiness, but I understand it and reward his good behavior. He is coming around.
Child number 2: Girl, 3 years old, ONLY child of religious folks. They are very concerned about appearance and less so on how her behavior portrays her. She came into my class about six months ago with MAJOR attitude. Miss "I don't have to listen to what you say and if you make me I will cry until I snot and drool and throw up all over myself". Um yeah true story. SHE is getting ironed out and is ALMOST joyful to be around 80 percent of the time.
Child number 3: Girl 4 years old, middle child. ATTENTION HOG. This girl is attached to either me (I don't allow it) or my co-teacher 90 percent of the day. If we have to leave the room to get something she "wants to come too!" With this situation with Gabe over she has stepped up her attention whoredness and cries over EVERY. LITTLE. THING. Her peas touching her salad? Cries. Her bread on top of her green beans? Cries. Her shirt has a TINY bit of water on it and I won't let her change. OH MY GOD end of the world! Excessive drama. If someone else gets the least bit of attention she is right there to say what about me?!?!?!?
Now I post this in background of what I'm about to say. Not all children fit in with all classes. Not all personalities mesh. I don't do drama, crying for no good reason, or outright defiance. Nothing makes me see red faster. In my class I DO listen to what the child has to say if they say it without whining. There are very few rules in our class, but important ones.
1. When the teacher is talking, no one else talks. ( I don't talk to hear myself and our circle time is very short and fun. Talkers are sent to time out mainly because they interupt rudely, fight with another child, or play with the toys behind them. ANY child should be able to at 3-6 years old sit still for 5 minutes and listen. )
2. KEEP YOUR HANDS TO YOURSELF and be respectful to others. (We have included ALL body parts in this rule. Children were hitting instead of saying "Hey that's mine!" They would just smack him in the head with a truck and that will not do. Also on the playground they would chase, then push and the pushee would get hurt. Constant tattling will wear a person down.)
3. Treat our toys and equiptment respectfully. (Meaning dont't throw stuff across the room, step on doll houses, cut dolls hair etc. Alot of the time I buy alot of things with my meager pay and don't want to see it maliciously damaged. I don't think that's too much to ask.)
4. Naptime is QUIET time. ( They have almost a half hour between lunch and bedtime to use the bathroom, talk quietly with friends, read a book to settle down before they are expected to stay quiet. Anything said after the lights are out, if they are scooting cots around, playing with toys, picking at neighboring cots, asking for water, bathroom, crying over something unecessary. I start with the time outs. They start after nap, after snack for however long the child is doing said issue after being warned. Sounds mean, but it works.) I made this rule after giving the inch and them taking 30 miles route I tried before. Think of bedtime with ONE 3 year old, now multiply that by 24. Yeah doesn't sound so mean now huh? lol
I CANNOT figure out how to say to these women "Maybe your child does not belong there" in a polite manner. Some children do very well in large group environments like ours. I myself prefer a smaller group, but I deal. Many children NEED to be focused on especially if they have been the center of attention all their lives. Smaller classes would do them good. HOME daycare if needed are very nice if you find the right person. Just because a place is accredited doesn't mean it's a right fit for YOUR child. I don't know what to say to my friends to make them feel better. I don't know what to tell them to help them deal with their situation without sounding like a bitch. So I just won't say anything at all. I'll just vent to cyberspace and the zero readers I have right now. lol Thank you cyberspace...
Okay I'm kidding around, but two of my aquaintances had parent/teacher confrences with their preschoolers teacher today. BOTH girls are very spoiled. I don't know if it is their environment or the child itself, but both girls are having issues with preschool. Following through, staying still at storytime, running off, random crying when they don't get their way. ...
Friend 1: Tried for a VERY long time to have a child. This is her ONLY child and will always be. She just started preschool 2x a week about six months ago. She is very bright, but also sassy, fit throwing, backtalking child. She mostly gets her way since she's the only child and it's fine at home, but I can see this being an issue as 1 child in a 24 child classroom. Her teacher is worried that she will not do well in Kindergarten as she is unable to do her activities required. As I said she is bright, but not a good listener. The mom is all freaked about if it is her fault -> insert TONS o drama here looking for "Oh no, the teacher is dumb your a great mom~!" comments. I think what it boils down to is she isn't made to listen. There is no "punishment" if she doesn't, so why NOT do whatever the heck she wants?
Friend 2: Her little girl is the 2nd child. The older daughter is going to a private school where the mom is REALLY pushing to get her caught up in order to skip to the second grade. Mom is a little OCD and obsessive, but she is a nice lady and I do really like her honest. I just have a different parenting strategy and I eye roll her posts a lot. Sorry, but I do. Anyway both girls were watched by a VERY indulgent grandma until preschool/kindergarten and are spoiled. *Hmm I sense a common theme* In this case I do think it is a case of the teacher and child not connecting. But the way mom will deal with it will get it blown out of proportion and in turn really just make her daughters preschool life more difficult. It would be very easy just to transfer her to a different class.
It is funny because I deal with children like these everyday. Not my aquaintances children, but children like them. I don't really know how to respond. It very well could be the teachers fault, but neither want to put the blame on their OWN child. The child's upbringing, the child's personality, etc. It's all the teachers fault. I find it a bit laughable,but also a bit disapointing because I thought these women were better than "THAT" mom.
"That" mom is the mom whose child is perfect. She never cries, always does what she is asked, knows all her letters, numbers, shapes, and colors, and has for a VERY LONG TIME. Said child would never color on the wall or hit another child. Well that child must have done something to provoke her of course!
I have 3 such kids in my class. Child number 1: Boy, 3 years old, third child of ? whose mother LOVES the baby girl and tolerates the older 3 boys. I can understand where his anger comes from. I don't tolerate his nastiness, but I understand it and reward his good behavior. He is coming around.
Child number 2: Girl, 3 years old, ONLY child of religious folks. They are very concerned about appearance and less so on how her behavior portrays her. She came into my class about six months ago with MAJOR attitude. Miss "I don't have to listen to what you say and if you make me I will cry until I snot and drool and throw up all over myself". Um yeah true story. SHE is getting ironed out and is ALMOST joyful to be around 80 percent of the time.
Child number 3: Girl 4 years old, middle child. ATTENTION HOG. This girl is attached to either me (I don't allow it) or my co-teacher 90 percent of the day. If we have to leave the room to get something she "wants to come too!" With this situation with Gabe over she has stepped up her attention whoredness and cries over EVERY. LITTLE. THING. Her peas touching her salad? Cries. Her bread on top of her green beans? Cries. Her shirt has a TINY bit of water on it and I won't let her change. OH MY GOD end of the world! Excessive drama. If someone else gets the least bit of attention she is right there to say what about me?!?!?!?
Now I post this in background of what I'm about to say. Not all children fit in with all classes. Not all personalities mesh. I don't do drama, crying for no good reason, or outright defiance. Nothing makes me see red faster. In my class I DO listen to what the child has to say if they say it without whining. There are very few rules in our class, but important ones.
1. When the teacher is talking, no one else talks. ( I don't talk to hear myself and our circle time is very short and fun. Talkers are sent to time out mainly because they interupt rudely, fight with another child, or play with the toys behind them. ANY child should be able to at 3-6 years old sit still for 5 minutes and listen. )
2. KEEP YOUR HANDS TO YOURSELF and be respectful to others. (We have included ALL body parts in this rule. Children were hitting instead of saying "Hey that's mine!" They would just smack him in the head with a truck and that will not do. Also on the playground they would chase, then push and the pushee would get hurt. Constant tattling will wear a person down.)
3. Treat our toys and equiptment respectfully. (Meaning dont't throw stuff across the room, step on doll houses, cut dolls hair etc. Alot of the time I buy alot of things with my meager pay and don't want to see it maliciously damaged. I don't think that's too much to ask.)
4. Naptime is QUIET time. ( They have almost a half hour between lunch and bedtime to use the bathroom, talk quietly with friends, read a book to settle down before they are expected to stay quiet. Anything said after the lights are out, if they are scooting cots around, playing with toys, picking at neighboring cots, asking for water, bathroom, crying over something unecessary. I start with the time outs. They start after nap, after snack for however long the child is doing said issue after being warned. Sounds mean, but it works.) I made this rule after giving the inch and them taking 30 miles route I tried before. Think of bedtime with ONE 3 year old, now multiply that by 24. Yeah doesn't sound so mean now huh? lol
I CANNOT figure out how to say to these women "Maybe your child does not belong there" in a polite manner. Some children do very well in large group environments like ours. I myself prefer a smaller group, but I deal. Many children NEED to be focused on especially if they have been the center of attention all their lives. Smaller classes would do them good. HOME daycare if needed are very nice if you find the right person. Just because a place is accredited doesn't mean it's a right fit for YOUR child. I don't know what to say to my friends to make them feel better. I don't know what to tell them to help them deal with their situation without sounding like a bitch. So I just won't say anything at all. I'll just vent to cyberspace and the zero readers I have right now. lol Thank you cyberspace...
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Update
Wow since my last post Gabe's behavior has done a 180. His mom stopped his sugar intake and the doctor upped his Adderall. The difference is amazingly impressive. The only downfall I see is that he knaws on his fingers now. Knuckles, fingernails, etc. It's extremely disgusting. But it's MUCh better than the behavior. He's ALMOST enjoyable to be around.
Another bad part about it is that since he isn't acting out all the other kids ARE! OH man are 3 or 4 of them trying my patience daily. Luckily it's not behavior like his, but just as annoying. Oh well I'll deal right?
The last two weeks I've just been doing fun crafts. The census has been low and I've been pulling out some artwork to make up for the lack of forethought on my co-teachers part. I don't mind mostly, but it's annoying to have to pick up the slack all the time. Examples?
1. I get the kids ready to clean up and circle
2. I get the story she reads in circle
3. I get the kids started on their activities most days
4. After they are done with her activity I'm usually the one monitoring them. If I don't they start
to act out and it gets crazy in there.
5. I'm the one who gets them cleaning up and at the tables for quiet time before lunch.
I could go on, but I won't. I'm feeling bitchy today lol.
She is a nice woman, she is a fun person to do class with and talk to, and when it really counts she's there. It would just be nice to have someone there ALL the time.
Anyway I found a nice teacher worksheet template site that I thought I'd share.
Here:
http://www.printablepaper.net/category/teachers
Good day. I said Good day!
Another bad part about it is that since he isn't acting out all the other kids ARE! OH man are 3 or 4 of them trying my patience daily. Luckily it's not behavior like his, but just as annoying. Oh well I'll deal right?
The last two weeks I've just been doing fun crafts. The census has been low and I've been pulling out some artwork to make up for the lack of forethought on my co-teachers part. I don't mind mostly, but it's annoying to have to pick up the slack all the time. Examples?
1. I get the kids ready to clean up and circle
2. I get the story she reads in circle
3. I get the kids started on their activities most days
4. After they are done with her activity I'm usually the one monitoring them. If I don't they start
to act out and it gets crazy in there.
5. I'm the one who gets them cleaning up and at the tables for quiet time before lunch.
I could go on, but I won't. I'm feeling bitchy today lol.
She is a nice woman, she is a fun person to do class with and talk to, and when it really counts she's there. It would just be nice to have someone there ALL the time.
Anyway I found a nice teacher worksheet template site that I thought I'd share.
Here:
http://www.printablepaper.net/category/teachers
Good day. I said Good day!
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Valentines Day
Unfortunately our preschool/daycare doesn't celebrate holidays of out trying not to offend anyone. <--- Insert eye roll here. But I found a cute craft for older kids to do on Valentines day for their friends. I thought I might do one for each child when I give them a sucker to take HOME. lol
Here it is:
http://jas.familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=11581
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Is it Friday yet?
So far it's been a shitty week. I get called into the office Monday with some of my fellow co-workers. Our boss tells us that Saturday night at a dinner she finds out indadvertantly we have been given a stay of execution for six months. The powers that be were going to shut down our center without letting anyone know. wtf?!
Apparently some of the money we recieve is from the hospital and since we aren't mandatory for children to get well it's the short end of the stick. The six months was given for her to redo the budget and see if we can at least break even. Starting next week parents are getting a 10 percent increase in their fees. This is on top of the 5 percent that was given over the summer. Alot of misinformation was given at the top, but luckily someone thought to tell Leanna my boss so she could let them know the facts. I th ink they believe that our center is expendable, but 90 percent of the kids there belong to the workers of the hospital. Workers that are not getting raises and may have to pull their kids out of care, workers that may not bother to keep a job they are paying to do. One wouldn't think 20 extra dollars a week would be alot, but 80 a month times however many kids you have and it's enough.
Everyone has been sort of in WTF mode. After finding out that news Monday my dear friend Gabe acts like an asshat ALL. DAY. LONG. I've never hated someone so much in my life and the kid is only freakin FIVE! He pushes everything to it's extreme limit. I've got to exude 199% percent patience so I 1. Don't kill him 2. Don't let him know he's getting to me or he does it even more. Seriously I'm tired of playing mind games with a freakin 5 year old. He's recently decided he doesn't want to nap. Fine, he doesn't have to nap. He does however have to stay quiet which he doesn't do. After 30 minutes of playing around I finally had his nose in the corner and my knees at his back so he couldn't turn around, kick, hit, bite, pinch, etc. He then tells me his mom is going to hit me in the face. I don't answer. Then he says he's going to poop his pants. Do what you need to I tell him. So the little fucker does it! Well the last laugh was on him because I still didn't let him up. Sadly I have to admit him crying gave me a bit of pleasure. Scary isn't it? This is how far to the freaking edge this kid has pushed my sanity. While he was wailing at the top of his lungs he woke all the other kids up about 40 minutes early. I could feel the blood rushing in my head I was so pissed.
After I let him get cleaned up he got to sit at a table until nap was over and until his mom picked him up. Which thankfully for him it was about 3 hours earlier than normal. Last night he was put on additional meds to control his outbursts, but my boss still had to sit with him at naptime. For every minute he chooses to do something wrong is a minute of timeout for him after nap. He sat for a good hour and a half. Kept whining to me he wanted to get up. I was able to pretty well ignore him until he said, "But I don't want to sit here anymore!". Oh really!?!?
You know what I don't want to do? I don't want to have to watch you all day hit, kick, pinch, bite, cuss, mouth, start fights, or intentionally do something I've asked you not to do. I also would like you to stay quiet at naptime so the other kids can sleep instead of scooting around your cot, making loud noises with your various body parts, and generally being a pain. When you can do that I said, THEN you won't have time out anymore. He started crying again. The fake wailing crying until he realizes no one was listening or cared. He's even got the other kids desensitized to his ridiculousness.
It ticks me off that I have to spend a majority of my day disciplining this boy when I could be spending that time doing fun things with the kids who aren't like him. I'm tired of feeling like I need to go on a freakin bender by the time his mom picks him up. I know she is doing the best she can do and he can't help it that he has this stuff, but COME ON!! A little cooperation goes a long way you know? I'm scared of the reactions this kid invokes in me and I hate it. I hate feeling this way toward a little kid.
Apparently some of the money we recieve is from the hospital and since we aren't mandatory for children to get well it's the short end of the stick. The six months was given for her to redo the budget and see if we can at least break even. Starting next week parents are getting a 10 percent increase in their fees. This is on top of the 5 percent that was given over the summer. Alot of misinformation was given at the top, but luckily someone thought to tell Leanna my boss so she could let them know the facts. I th ink they believe that our center is expendable, but 90 percent of the kids there belong to the workers of the hospital. Workers that are not getting raises and may have to pull their kids out of care, workers that may not bother to keep a job they are paying to do. One wouldn't think 20 extra dollars a week would be alot, but 80 a month times however many kids you have and it's enough.
Everyone has been sort of in WTF mode. After finding out that news Monday my dear friend Gabe acts like an asshat ALL. DAY. LONG. I've never hated someone so much in my life and the kid is only freakin FIVE! He pushes everything to it's extreme limit. I've got to exude 199% percent patience so I 1. Don't kill him 2. Don't let him know he's getting to me or he does it even more. Seriously I'm tired of playing mind games with a freakin 5 year old. He's recently decided he doesn't want to nap. Fine, he doesn't have to nap. He does however have to stay quiet which he doesn't do. After 30 minutes of playing around I finally had his nose in the corner and my knees at his back so he couldn't turn around, kick, hit, bite, pinch, etc. He then tells me his mom is going to hit me in the face. I don't answer. Then he says he's going to poop his pants. Do what you need to I tell him. So the little fucker does it! Well the last laugh was on him because I still didn't let him up. Sadly I have to admit him crying gave me a bit of pleasure. Scary isn't it? This is how far to the freaking edge this kid has pushed my sanity. While he was wailing at the top of his lungs he woke all the other kids up about 40 minutes early. I could feel the blood rushing in my head I was so pissed.
After I let him get cleaned up he got to sit at a table until nap was over and until his mom picked him up. Which thankfully for him it was about 3 hours earlier than normal. Last night he was put on additional meds to control his outbursts, but my boss still had to sit with him at naptime. For every minute he chooses to do something wrong is a minute of timeout for him after nap. He sat for a good hour and a half. Kept whining to me he wanted to get up. I was able to pretty well ignore him until he said, "But I don't want to sit here anymore!". Oh really!?!?
You know what I don't want to do? I don't want to have to watch you all day hit, kick, pinch, bite, cuss, mouth, start fights, or intentionally do something I've asked you not to do. I also would like you to stay quiet at naptime so the other kids can sleep instead of scooting around your cot, making loud noises with your various body parts, and generally being a pain. When you can do that I said, THEN you won't have time out anymore. He started crying again. The fake wailing crying until he realizes no one was listening or cared. He's even got the other kids desensitized to his ridiculousness.
It ticks me off that I have to spend a majority of my day disciplining this boy when I could be spending that time doing fun things with the kids who aren't like him. I'm tired of feeling like I need to go on a freakin bender by the time his mom picks him up. I know she is doing the best she can do and he can't help it that he has this stuff, but COME ON!! A little cooperation goes a long way you know? I'm scared of the reactions this kid invokes in me and I hate it. I hate feeling this way toward a little kid.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Sick Sick Sick
I wanted some days off but this is ridiculous! I woke up at 330 am Wednesday morning barfing and having severe gastrointestinal issues. Which pretty much lasted until 330 this morning. All of yesterday was a blur where i went from my bed to the bathroom. I had a bath and shower in there somewhere to try to warm up because I was so cold. Bleh. Now my eyes just hurt. May go back to be awhile.
Preschool news: This coming week we are studying penguins. I have a whole lot of fun things lined up which I will discuss when I don't feel like I have vertigo.
Preschool news: This coming week we are studying penguins. I have a whole lot of fun things lined up which I will discuss when I don't feel like I have vertigo.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
"Gabe"
Today was good this morning, but after refusing to nap and being a little punk about it as well he earned some time out. Seriously if I'm not watching this boy every second he's testing! It drives me crazy!
All in all it was a good day, but my patience are had by the time he leaves.
All in all it was a good day, but my patience are had by the time he leaves.
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