It's official!
Taylor's last day of school for the year was yesterday. Woo hoo! Kids all across the schoolyard were chanting, "No more teachers, no more class, just fun and playing in the grass!" I'm sure the teachers had their own version of this chant running through their heads. I can only imagine how theirs goes...
While most of the kids were celebrating and kicking up their heels, Taylor had her arms wrapped around my waist and was trying very hard to keep from sobbing. Even though she returns next year to the same classroom with the very same teacher at the very same school, she was upset about the change and about not seeing her teacher for 10 weeks. Such a sensitive, emotional soul she is.
As always, her wonderful teacher Kelli came to the rescue. Extra hugs, tons of reassurance, patience and understanding. A brilliant and generous idea to give Taylor her home address, phone number and e-mail address, with the sincere invitation to use any (or all) of them whenever she wants to. 5 minutes of magic and Taylor is smiling and playing with her friends instead of spending the next two hours distraught (she has been known to do this at airports and when leaving family get-togethers). Have I mentioned how much I love this woman?
Here's a short list of my reasons why, although the list really does go on and on:
Kristin
Taylor's last day of school for the year was yesterday. Woo hoo! Kids all across the schoolyard were chanting, "No more teachers, no more class, just fun and playing in the grass!" I'm sure the teachers had their own version of this chant running through their heads. I can only imagine how theirs goes...
While most of the kids were celebrating and kicking up their heels, Taylor had her arms wrapped around my waist and was trying very hard to keep from sobbing. Even though she returns next year to the same classroom with the very same teacher at the very same school, she was upset about the change and about not seeing her teacher for 10 weeks. Such a sensitive, emotional soul she is.
As always, her wonderful teacher Kelli came to the rescue. Extra hugs, tons of reassurance, patience and understanding. A brilliant and generous idea to give Taylor her home address, phone number and e-mail address, with the sincere invitation to use any (or all) of them whenever she wants to. 5 minutes of magic and Taylor is smiling and playing with her friends instead of spending the next two hours distraught (she has been known to do this at airports and when leaving family get-togethers). Have I mentioned how much I love this woman?
Here's a short list of my reasons why, although the list really does go on and on:
- As my grandma once said, "That woman could teach a pig to howl at the moon." Why attempt to expound upon pure brilliance? :)
- Kelli is the kind of person who loves what she loves with her whole heart. She loves teaching. She loves children. She loves teaching children. She loves teaching my child. And as a parent, I know this is ever constant with her.
- Nothing is too much to ask when it comes to my child's learning. Seriously. Confused about Rocket Math? Here's a list of great resources. Let's go over them together. Need more practice materials? Here's a whole folder full. Recommended summer reading? Here's a list of my top100 picks for Taylor. She's never refused a request, never been too busy for questions or explanations.
- Kelli has hugs for each kid at the beginning and end of each school day. A personal message for each kid, always positive no matter what, at the end of the day. Exuberant praise. Gentle discipline.
- Kelli invests so much of her own personal time, finances and resources in the classroom. She is committed to providing the optimal environment for her kids to learn and it shows. Her classroom is a visual wonderland. There are hundreds and hundreds of books at all reading levels. Snuggle buddies to read with. Growth charts and lost tooth charts for every kid. Pictures of the kids and their success stories. Fun pencils, wacky erasers, colorful book covers, art displays. All provided by her. A far cry from the austere and often dull schoolrooms I remember from my own schooling. It's wonderful.
Kristin