LAST DAY!!!!

So what's up? This will probably be the last post because this was the last time I was at site and I'm not really sure what else to talk about. So...Ya...

Today the kids came in as usual and played until circle. They had a music teacher type person come in and teach them a new song and moves along to go with it. They were singing about zoo animals. It was very,very cute. They were sining about the zoo. Elephants, giraffes and something else that I can't remember for some odd reason. Anyways. After music time, they came back to the room only to go outside. I stayed back and cleaned up a bit and wipe off the tables, then I joined them outside. Once they came back inside, one of the other teachers came in and told the "Real Story of the Big Bad Wolf". It was pretty amazing. Then for snack was ICE CREAM AND COOKIES!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was awesome and amazing.



The afternoon kids came in and played and did music and story and went outside. I had to leave while they were outside and when I had to leave, the kids didn't want me to and it made me kinda sad. They all hugged me and said that they loveded me . I got a ride from my boss lady and I cried. That's right. I'm man enough to admit it (even though I'm not a man).

I'll miss the little monkeys. They were so awesome and I hope that they do well in whatever they do. There were a lot of tears and I even got some presents (a shiney candle holder thinger and a card that one of the girls made). It was so sweet and I think that this was an amazing experience that I will never forget. So for the last time.

Peace out
Annie
~Thursday May 22, 2008~

COOKIES!!!!!

What's up! It's been so long! You look great, like you haven't aged at all!

Anyways. Moving on with life.

So today was pretty good actually. The kids came in around the same time I did and they played until it was time to go circle. At circle they talked about how the next time they came to school, it would be the last day . They read one of my most favoritestest book ever, If you Give a Mouse a Cookie. For their projects, they were to make the mouse holding a cookie and a glass of milk, cause when you give a moues a cookie, he'll want a glass of milk to go with it.

So while the kids played, they did their projects. They did it until it was time to go to the rumpus room. When they got back, it was time for the kids to play some more. One of the little boys brought in a goose nest which was awesome. We showed it to all the kids and talked about how geese are birds and how they lay eggs and about baby geese and stuffs like that. Then they cleaned up and did their second circle and snack.



Anyways. The afternoon class came in and played and had fun and pretty much did the same thing. Until I was teenager napped and had to leave. Okay I wasn't really taken, but whatever.

I was getting ready for the last day. I don't think it really registered that the next time I saw them, that it would be the last day I see them, as weird as that sounds. I wasn't really thinking about it too much and that might have been the best thing. So because I have nothing left to say, toodles!

Peace out
Annie Koester
~May 20, 2008~

Be amazed! I'm updating!

So what's up?! Long time no talk! How are the kids? Oh jenny's going to prom? Amazing! *ahem* anyways. I got there around the same time as the kids. They played until it was circle time. The theme of the day was flowers, so they talked about the different types of flowers and the different colors and all that fun stuff about flowers. Then the kids played and did their daily project. The like it when I read to them, so that's what I do. Then it was time to go to the rumpus room. Then when we came back the kids wanted me to finish reading to them, then I helped clean up the blocks. Then it was circle time and time for the kids to go either home or to lunch bunch.

Then the afternoon class came in. They like it when I color with them, so I make them pictures and they make me pictures and it's all just one big picture trade off and it's pretty awesome. Then it was time for circle and time for them to play. I played with them for a little bit before I had to go.

Peace out
Annie
~Tuesday April 29, 2008~

soooo short....

Okay so this was an amazingly short day. You don't even know....I came in around the same time as the kids and I helped to keep an eye on them. Then after all the kids came in, I helped the teachers in the rumpus room. After playing in the rumpus room, it was circle time and while there, they talked about the art show that was going to be Sunday. It was very exciting. Then while the kids were playing, I was teenager-napped and taken to a far away land and....*goes off on some random senseless story*
*ahem*
anyways.

Peace out
Annie
~Friday April 25, 2008~

OMZ Almost Done

Today was the day I took pictures for my end of the year project (be amazed. I'm doing stuff that's...Helpful to my thinger.)

So today was a very nerve racking day. I was to do first circle for both the afternoon and morning classes. I got there when the kids started coming and started getting ready for circle time. Then it was the moment of truth. Would I actually be able to do it? Would the kids be all freaked out about me doing circle.

Suprisingly, it went quite well. Once I got started, it wasn't very hard to keep going. I talked to them about making butterflies (that was the theme) and I set them free. They did the project well and it was awesome. I helped the kids with their projects, then it was time to go outside and then it was time to go back in. Once inside, I read to them and helped them clean up when it was time. I helped passout snack and stuffs like that.

It was lunch and I took that moment to take pictures of the school and the pictures they took for their art show and all that fun stuff. Then the afternoon kids started coming in.

The circle time thinger really seemed to go much better since I did it once before. The afternoon kids seem easier to handle and it was awesome. They got how to do the project and they did it really well. I continued taking pictures through the day and I had to go around snack time.

That's pretty much it. I think I'mall caught up now on my blogs (except for like, two days or something like that.

Peace
Annie
~Thursday, April 24, 2008~

I Might Actually Get This Totally Updated!

So today was a day with the 3 year olds. I came in at the same time as the kids and played with the kids until it was circle time. They were talking about ladybugs and happy or angry ladybugs. Their projects were to make happy or angry ladybugs.

Once circle time was over, I helped them make their ladybugs until it was time to go outside. Then we went inside and I continued to read to them (it seems to be the thing these days). Then it was snack time and time for the kids to go to where ever they were supposed to go. I again, enjoyed my lunch.

The afternoon class came in and I played with them and helped them put on the dresses and stuff like that (they like for me to help them put their dresses on and they look super cute in them). It was a normal day really.

Peace
Annie
~Tuesday April 22, 2008~

Five more!!!

So today was another one of those short days. I went in and chilled till the kids started coming in. The kids don't really want me to play with them inside because they aren't allowed to play games like tag and hide and seek inside. They instead wanted to talk to me (so cute that my cute sensors exploded. It was quite painful). It was time to go and play outside and then circle time.

They were making fire helmets (they were talking about helpers in their communities and fire fighter was the person of the day). It was kind of hard because the helmets had to be adjusted to fit the kid's heads. One of the boys is something like twice as big as he's supposed to be and so his was a little hard to make, but it was fitted finally. The teachers wanted me to cut out the shape of kites for a project they were going to do some other day, so I did that, then I left.

Nothing super amazing.

Peace
Annie
~Friday April 18, 2008~

Six More to Go

I actually got there a little bit before the kids started coming in (it's truly an amazing thing). I just hung out and got myself settled in and waited for the kids to come in. When they came in, they seemed pretty happy to see me (I had missed Tuesday because of seminar). The kids seem to really like the fact that I like to read to them. When I sit down, they run off to the library area and pick up some random book and ask me if I would read it to them. After a few books, it was circle time. They talked about their daily projects which were to make ponds (froggies!!!!!). Once they were set free to do their thing, some of the kids wanted me to read them stories again. Then it was time to go outside (it was one of those rare nice days).

Outside, the girls wanted me to play a game where they try and catch the teacher. They get on the slides and I pretend to run away and when one of them grabs my shirt, I pretend that I can't get away. Then when they all have me captured, I tickled them and they run off giggling and the game starts all over again. It's pretty cute actually. And when I ask how I'm supposed to get away, they say that I need to tickle them. Anyways.

When we went inside, the kids wanted me to read to them again. Then after a while it was snack time and time for the kids to go home or lunch bunch or whatever. I just sat and enjoyed my lunch and listened to music (chilled basically). Then the afternoon kids started coming in.

They don't really want me to read to them. Instead, they like it when I color with them and they make me pictures and I make them pictures. While we color, I like to try and start a conversation with them about anything really. How they are feeling that day and why they are feeling it and all that fun stuff. They had their circle time and they did their projects and colored some more with me, then it was time to go outside and I left at snack time.

Peace
Annie
~Thursday April 17, 2008~

Hey Look It's an Update!!!!!

So today was one of those really short kind of days. I got in before the kids and just hung out and helped the teachers get ready until the kids came in. Once the kids started coming in, they were playing and just doing some fun kind of stuffs. It was really muddy so they weren't allowed to go outside, so they went and played in the rumpus room.

When they came back it was time for them to do their circle. They talked about their project for the day, which was to make stop lights. They had fun making them I think. After they were done making them, they showed it to the teachers, who played "red light, green light" with them using the stoplight thingers. It was rather cute actually. After all the kids were done making their stop lights and after a bit of playing, it was time to clean up and do snack time. I decided that was a good time for me to leave.

They actually seemed kind of sad that I had to go, which made me feel super loved. I wish I could stay longer with them, but sadly, I have class.

Peace
Annie
~Friday, April 11, 2008~

Hey This One Happened Today!

Hola!!!

So today was a pretty average day. I got some of the kids to actually talk to me and play with me. Amazing. One of the little girls got hurt while outside so I picked her up and carried her to the teachers and they took her to get a band aid and she was okay after that. Then we came inside and played some more. I was watching one of the little girls. She's one of the quietest ones. She sat kinda away from the other kids during circle and stuffs. But she did have a good friend. Which is pretty cool. So they pretty much did the same things that they do everyday. Then the afternoon kids came in and we played outside and then I left.

These really aren't that long I know. But that's okay right? I'm going to teach a lesson soon, so ya. It's cool.

Peace
Annie
~Thursday April 10, 2008~

OUTSIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DUDES! WHAT'S UP! Long time no talk (only not really).

Anyways.

I got there before the teachers (first time in quite a long time) and I put the chairs down and hanged out until the teachers and kids came in. I played with the kids and helped to make clay animals (the theme: oceans). One of the little boys, the most quietestest one, helped me put toothpicks in the animals so that they could stay up and dry correctly. Then it was time to go OUTSIDE!!!!!!! The kids got their coats on and went outside and then came in and did the normal play and circle time stuffs, then they went off the their either homes or lunchbunch.

Then the afternoon class came in and they pretty much did the same things that the other class did. There was a fire drill that really freaked out of of the little boys who started crying when we were outside waiting for the signal to go back inside. He was okay after that. Then they did the normal stuff.

Then I flew off into the sunset. Okay not really. But still. I left.

Peace
Annie
~April 8, 2008~

Well Poop. I Can't Think of an Interesting Title. pt2

So today was a day that I came in to play with the 5 year olds. I got there before the kids came in and chilled until they started to. They really seem to like playing with me. Yay! I colored with the kids until it was time to go to the rumpus room. I played ball and came back to talk about the day. helped with the project (which again I can't remember). Then I colored more until the spanish teacher type person came in and they did funny stuff and It really really reminded me that I really really need to brush up on my spanish if I'm going to be there again because I took about...2 or 3 years of spanish and I had NO IDEA what she was talking about. But yet the kids knew....Made me kinda unsmart.

Peace
Annie
~April 4, 2008~

Three More to go (WARNING: CAFFEINATED )

Hola amigos y amigas! (That's right I know spanish. What now?)

Anyways.

So I got there before the kids came in and chilled before the kids started to come in. They played until circle time where they talked about all the things they were gonna do that day. They helped with a mural of a sleepy bear (waking up from hibernation because it's spring). Then they went to the rumpus room and came back and did all that fun stuff. A pretty slow day really.

Peace
Annie
~April 3, 2008~

Man I Really Need to Start Posting More Often

What's up ma peeps?!

So today I came in after the kids, so it was a little harder to get past all the kids huddled around the doors, waiting for their friends to come in and all that fun stuff. Once everyone was there, they went on to play and do whatever until it was circle time. They talked about the new month and about rainbows because it was spring and during the spring time there's a lot of rainbows because it rains a lot (makes sense right?). The daily project was to make a rainbow, which they did. They're were really cute too. Then it was time to go to the rumpus room.

I played ball and this one little girl was sad because she didn't think we could play while in the classroom, but I helped her realize that you can play inside the classroom, but you can't throw stuff and be all loud and running around. That seemed to make her feel better and off she went. When we came back, I was sitting in a chair in the front, watching the kids play when I noticed someone singing. I looked around and saw one of the really quiet little boys, playing with a truck, singing. It was quite amazing really. He was also playing with the other boys and interacting and stuffs, which was also, quite amazing. He is usually standing in the back somewhere it seems like. Then it was clean up time, snack, and off to home.

Then during lunch, I got quite a surprise. I usually hang out in the classroom during lunch (it's quiet, they turn the lights off, what else could be awesome-er?) and towards the end of lunch, a woman came in with a little girl. Turns out, there was a new girl in the class ( I don't think anyone was notified). Then the other kids started coming in and they started doing the same things that the morning class did. The afternoon class seems to like playing with me a little more than the other class. So the afternoon went fast.

Peace
Annie
~Tuesday April 1, 2008~

REALLY Overdue....

Hola!

Long time no talk! How are the kids? Jenny's starting college? Wow I remember when she was just thiiisss tall.

anyways.

So they were talking about Easter, which was pretty cool (but it feels weird to write about because it's not Easter anymore...)(Sorry Amy!!).I actually got there before the kids did, which has started to be less rare. Then when the kids started coming in, they played until it was circle time. They read "Happy Easter Little Critter" by Mercer Mayer. I love Little Critter. Then they talked about their daily projects which were to make Easter bunny's.

So the kids went along their marry ways (to play or do the project and then play or whatever order they did it in) until it was time to go the rumpus room. I played ball with some of the girls and then we went back to the room and played until it was time to clean up and do second circle. Then it was snack and lunch.

Then the afternoon kids came in and pretty much did the same things.

This wasn't really a great day for me because I was really starting to feel like I was coming down with something, so I tried to stay away from the kids a little bit. I didn't have a fever or anything, but I still didn't want to take the risk.

Peace
Annie
~March 18, 2008~

Overdue Post 2

Okay so this is the last post that I can make until Tuesday because the preschool started spring break before we did. Anyways. So it was a pretty non interesting day. The kids came in and they played until circle time. They read "Happy Easter Little Critter" by Mercer Mayer. They talked about their daily project. They made their projects and played until time to go to the rumpus room. Then they came back to the room and played until the second circle time and then they cleaned up and ate snack and left. Then the afternoon class came in and pretty much did the same thing. I left at the normal time.

Man this one was short but sadly I don't have a lot to say about it. Sorry!

Until next time
Annie
~Tuesday March 18, 2008~

Overdue Post

Woah so it's been forever since I wrote one of these. Anyways. Well the day started like any other day. I got there just before the kids started coming in. The morning kids don't really seem like they want to talk to me or play with me much, so I just stood in the background and talked to some of them and watched them play. They played until it was circle time.

During circle time they talked about the normal stuff (the month, day, yada, yada, yada) and they talked about eggs (chicken eggs, eggs from other aminals). They also talked about their daily projects, which was to make Easter bags. They read "Chickens Aren't the Only Ones" by Ruth Heller. After circle time, the kids played and did their daily projects until it was time to go the the rumpus room.

I was surprised at the rumpus room because a little girl who normally didn't talk to me or anything wanted me to play ball with her, so of course I did. It was pretty fun. The kids are so cute. Anyways. After they got back to the room, it was time to play for a little bit before time for their second circle thinger. During their second circle time, they talked more about eggs and they read the story "Bunny Cakes" by Rosemary Wells. Then the helpers got snack out and the kids ate it and went either home or to lunch bunch.

After lunch bunch, the kids started coming in. The afternoon class seems to like to play with me a little more than the morning class. I think that it might be because they're more awake than the morning class or something. They played until it was circle time. They read the books and talked about helpers and all that fun stuffs. Then they went and played some more until it was time to go to the rumpus room. They came back and played until clean up and they had their second circle and snack. Then I had to take my leave.

Until next time
Annie
~Thursday, March 13, 2008~

Shiney Raindrops!

Hola! So. Today wasn't really all that amazingly interesting in the morning. I got there before the kids so I got to help out with getting stuff together and hang out. Then the kids started coming in. We were missing a lot of kids either because of the weather or because they were sick. There was roughly about 5 or 6 kids missing in the morning class, which doesn't really leave a lot of kids left. So once the kids got there, they played until their first circle time. When they got to circle time, they talked about the normal stuff like the day and month and pattern and weather and yada yada yada. They read the book, "Peterkin's Wet Walk" by Emilie Boon. The theme was raining, which I found very entertaining because there was still a TON of snow on the ground. They talked about their daily projects which were to glue together an umbrella and put one shiney raindrop on it and some clouds and stuff like that. Then they were allowed to go and play and be merry until it was time to go to the rumpus room.

None of the kids really seemed to want to play anything with me today. They all seemed pretty tired, which i can understand because of the time change and what not. Once they got back to the room, they played until it was the second circle time. Once there, they read the book, "Caught in the Rain" by Beatrize Ferra and Michele Sambin. While they were doing that, the helpers set up snack and then the kids were allowed to go and eat their snack and get ready to go either home or to lunch bunch.

After l;unch, the afternoon kids came in. They like me to play with them. My goal of the day was to get the little girl who is always really quiet (it seems) to talk more about anything I could think of asking her about. And it worked. So wohoo to me. I got her to just go on and on and on and on about her favorite color and if she likes big dogs or little dogs. As I said. Random stuff of doom (it's very doomfull). Then it was circle time, where the kids talked about the month and day and all that other good stuff and read their book and talked about their daily project. Then they went to play and the kids all wanted me to play with them. So I built a rocket with them out of blocks and a tower and a little town and I colored with them and made snowmen out of play dough and played house.

Then, we went to the rumpus room where they wanted to play hide-and-seek and tag. I've noticed that there is a difference in some of the kids. The kids who are smaller and have shorter legs like to play hide-and-seek, while the kids who are taller and have longer legs like to play tag. Interesting little observation I think. Anyways. After we got back, they played some and did circle time and got ready for snack and then sadly, I had to go. But I told them I'd come and play with them again on Thursday.

Pictures: 11
Notes: None really

Peace
Annie
(sort of long one this time)

Time!!!!!

Right so. Today was a short one because it was Friday. When I got there, the kids weren't there (for once this week).. The teachers asked me if I would help them make their science project for Monday, which was making carts thingers. After I was done with that, I just hung out with the teachers till the kids came in. They seemed very excited that I was there. They missed me (makes me feel all warm and fuzzy). They wanted to play with me, which I did, until it was time to go to the rumpus room.

When we got to the rumpus room, they wanted me to play hide-and-seek. It seems like their favorite game. After we got back, the kids played some more and I helped to get the daily project together. They were making clocks. I really wanted to make one, but I didn't. Because I already know how to tell time and stuffs. And I was busy helping the kids get their projects done. After the kids were done, I helped the teachers clean up and get snack time ready. Then, I take my leave (very dramatic, no?). It was a rather short day today.

Pictures: 4
Notes: None really

Until next time
Annie
~Friday March 7, 2008~

AMINALS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hola! Today was awesome. I got to play with the kids that I haven't seen in like, forEVER (meaning about.....*counts* a week). The morning class was VERY out of it. That's one of the things I've noticed. The morning class is far less playful as the afternoon class and they don't really seem to want to do anything. Especilly today. They were WAY out of hand. Some of the kids were so tired and some of them were angry because they were tired and hungry (or something. That's what happens with my little sister, so I guess it happens with other 3 year olds). Anyways. so I got there roughly around the same time as the kids were getting there. They wanted me to play with them. Some of the kids were excited to see me. Some of them didn't really care either way. The kids wanted me to build things with them and to play with play dough and color and play house with them. After a while of that, it was time for circle time. I've come to love circle time. It's a small break to write things down that's going on and to watch the kids without them wanting me to come and play with them. Don't get me wrong. I love playing with them, but it's also interesting to just sit back and watch them interact with the teachers and fellow students and how they deal with their surroundings.

This week's theme is "on the farm". They talked about the different animals on the farm and what the baby animals are called and what they sound like and what the mommy and daddy animals are called. Then they talked about what they would be doing as their daily project, which was making cows and putting "hay" with them. They were to put all the parts of the cows were they were supposed to go and make a face and spots for the cow. The kids were really whiney during circle time actually, which really stressed the teachers out. So while they were helping the kids with their daily projects, I kind of kept an eye on the kids and broke up some arguments and helped to make things right until it was time to clean up and go to the rumpus room.

While at the rumpus room, the kids didn't really want to do anything with me, so again, I just kept a watchful eye on the kids, taking them to the bathroom and to get drinks of water, comforting some kids who fell. That sort of thing. Then it was time to go back and I stayed behind with a little boy who needed to go to the bathroom before we left and I took him upstairs to the room and played some more with the kids. While I was making some notes in my notebook, two of the kids came over and wanted to talk to me. They sat next to me and asked what I was doing and all that other stuff. And I told them that I was making some notes for school and they asked why and I told them so that I could tell my teachers about them. They seemed to like that idea.

After that, it was time to clean up and get ready for circle time and for snack. They read the story "Barnyard Banter" by Denise Fleming. The kids really seemed to like the book. Then the helpers helped to get the snack ready and the kids went to eat their snack and get ready to go home. Then it was time for the lunch bunch.

After lunch bunch was over, the kids started coming in. There was a little girl who came in first, before the teachers came in even (I like to eat in the room that I'll be in during the afternoon classes so that I can get there on time and so that I can have my time to look at the stuff that I wrote down and yada yada yada). Her mother seemed very pleased with the fact that I was there (judging on the "Thank goodness you're here!"). Apparently, her daughter had talked about me constantly for the last 3 days straight. She wasn't the only one. The twins wanted to play with me too. And another little girl who seems to have grown an attachment for me (she is small, but when she hugged me, she almost knocked me off my feet). They wanted me to color with them and play with the play dough and do all kinds of stuff with them. And me being me, I couldn't deny. Then it was circle time.

They talked about the month, day, pattern (shamrocks and kites) and the helpers and all that other good stuff. They talked about the baby animals and the fact that goats have twins. This brought up that there where twins in the class and that one of the little girls had twin brothers or sisters or both or something. There were twins related to her. Anyways. After all that, they talked about what they would be doing for the day and how to do the project and then they were sent on their marry way. The kids who weren't doing their projects wanted me to come and play with them. I loved it really. The littlest girl who has grown the attachment for me wanted to do everything with me. She was telling me about what she was making and how she was making it and what color she liked the best and why there was a sticker on my jacket (duct tape). Then it was time to clean up.

The littlest girl asked me to help her take off her little play dress thing (she was a pretty princess like Cinderella and Ariel). Then she thanked me and walked off, saying something about "Ms. Annie". Now I mention this because it leads to something I found very interesting. When she walked away, one of the teachers was asking if she was talking to me and if she had been talking to me all day. I told her that she had been talking to me a lot (because she had) and she just gave me this "hm." look which, of course, made me ask why. She said that the littlest girl didn't really talk to anyone. She's the youngest of three and everyone talks for her or something, so she doesn't really talk. But it's interesting that I've only been there a few weeks and she's already talking to me and interacting with me a lot. That got me thinking what would make her comfortable to be talking to me so soon. But I didn't really have time to ponder this because she came back and gave me a huge hug (I'm feelin the love dudes and dudettes). Then it was time for the rumpus room.

The kids wanted to play the normal tag and hide-and-seek and tackle Ms. Annie. But while I was playing with them, I was keeping an eye on the other kids because the teachers seemed a bit frazzled and I wanted to be actually helpful to them other than entertaining the kids. After that, we came back and got the snack ready and I had to say good bye. It was very sad. The kids all said good bye and I got a lot of hugs. The littlest girl made me promise to come play with her again, along with some of the other girls and even some of the boys (the boys seem to be really warming up to me, now that they know I like more than just playing with the house and princess dresses and stuff).

Pictures: Um....*counts* 20....woah!
Notes: When finished, put pictures on the site thinger of doomfull doomness

Until next time!
Annie
~Thursday March 6, 2008~

Day of Learning Amazement

So. Today was different than all of the other days that I've been in to the preschool. First off, it's Wensday (A.K.A Annie's day of getting much appreciated sleep). I did not go Tuesday, so I decided to go in on a day that I normally don't go in to help out with the kids. Today, was not a play day. It was a learning day where the kids were to learn things and stuffs that would help them someday to be mature, responsible, intelligent adults (or something along the lines of that). When I got in, the teachers told me about what I was going to be doing with the kids and how I could help out at all the different centers.

Now I'm sure that you're asking yourself, "Self. What is Annie talking about with all this talk about "centers" and "learning" and "mature young adults" (maybe that's just for the teachers and kids of TGS)." Well allow me to explain. You see, there are 5 learning centers. At each one, the kids are to do something different. They revolve around either the thing that they learned how to do that day or around a letter (for their little folder things). The letter of the day was "S" so the kids brought things that starts with the letter "S" and they do little activities in their folder things that involve the letter "S" and all that other "S" related things (it's very fancy. I tell ya).

Anyways

So. After attempting to absorb all that information, the kids start to file in. They remember me. They pounced me. Apparently, they missed me (I found this out while attempting to stand upright because they all attacked me). Anyways. So after they all got there and, they talked for a little bit and then it was rumpus room time (this class has first dibs on the rumpus room). After returning, they went to circle time and they talked about the day and month and pattern and all that other good stuff. they talked about the author of the daily book. The author was Dick Bruna. All of Dick Bruna's books are small and square and the same size and whatever. The books are called "Miffy" who is a bunny or a kitty (I can't remember which one. I think it's a bunny). The Miffy book they read today was about Miffy counting.

After they were done talking about their month and stuff, they talk about the centers that they're going to do. At center 1 and 2, they were to make little abacuses using 5 beads of 5 different colors to make a total of 25 beads. They talked about what abacuses are and what people use them for and when they were used to most and all that informational stuff. Then they talked about centers 3, 4 and 5. Center 3 was where the kids did their "S" things. Center 4 was the computer and center 5 was where they used abacuses to add things together.

While sitting with the teacher and helping her sort beads out, one of the little boys came over and wanted to talk to her because he was very upset. Apparently, he wasn't able to make a perfect "S" and that made him all unhappy and he had spent a lot of time working on doing just that. The teacher told him that, at his age and what grade he's in, he shouldn't be able to make a perfect "S". Even teachers can't make perfect "S"s. He seemed okay with that and he went along with what was going on. I had to leave then because of classes and whatnot.

Pictures: none. It was a learning day silly.
Note: When pictures are done being scanned, put them on the site or something

Until next time
Annie
~Wensday March 5, 2008~

The Day of Flower Pictures

Hola!

So today was a pretty short day. I actually had to go to school today. I came into the 5 year old class like I did yesterday and I was waiting for the kids to come in when Dr. Matthews (the boss lady of the school) came in and asked me to keep an eye on one of the kids while her parents were doing a conference. They were finished as soon as I got there though, so I went to the other 4-5 year old class and watched the kids there until Dr. Matthews was done helping to get the kids into the building. Then I went to keep an eye on triplets. They were really cute. There was two boys and I girl and the girl wanted me to read her a story while the boys wanted to build. They didn't really want me to help them, so I read the books to the little girl while her mother did conferences, then I went back to the class I was at to begin with and they all seemed pretty happy to see me. It was pretty sweet. They attacked me. "Ms. Annie! Ms. Annie!" I felt loved. Anyways.

So the little girls wanted me to color with them and so I did. They were so funny. The boys played on the computer or played with the cars and blocks. They also were getting into trouble. Apparently, the boys have a tendency to take the lego guy's heads off and throw them. Ya it's not fun. When one of them hit a little girl, the teachers decided to take action. I hadn't noticed them doing it earlier, or else I would have said something, and I felt kind of bad for not noticing it sooner, but the little girl seemed to be okay so. Ya.

After they had played for a while and picked up, it was time for their circle time and to share their nursery rhymes. They did things like Mary Had a Little Lamb, Jack be Nimble, and Hey Diddle Diddle. I watched most of the little things that they did, but unfortunately, I couldn't stay long enough to watch them all. Ms. Annie had to go to school. Bleh. They wanted me to come play again on Monday, So I might just do that.

Pictures recieved: 10 (man that's a lot!)
Note: Seriously. SCAN SCAN SCAN SCAN!!!!!!

Until next time
Annie
~Friday February 29, 2008~
Not very long, but oh well. It was a short day.

Well Poop. I Can't Think of an Interesting Title.

Okay. So. Today was the second day in the new room, but this time I was in the morning class. They're a totally different bunch of kids. When I got their, I helped to gert stuff ready for future classes. For example. i put rubber bands on the ends of used paper towel rolls for a science project that the kids are doing on Monday and I added "Snow" and a sticker to their journal thingers that they keep. Anyways. After I finished that, I just kind of hung out and waited for the kids to start arriving. Not too long after, they did just that. I was all little nervous at first because it was a new group of kids and the last group that I helped out with didn't really seem to want to warm up to me. But I soon found that it was quite the opposite. These kids really seemed to like me. They wanted to play with me and asked me questions about who I was and what I was doing there and all that other good stuff. After a while of playing, it was time to go to the rumpus room.

When we got there, the kids seemed to just ignore the fact that I was there except a group of about 3 girls. They were watching me and every time they caught me watching them watching me, they would all giggle and look away. Finally, they walked up to me and asked if I would play hide-and-seek with them. And, of course, I did (how could I say no?). We played for a while and the kids really started to warm up to me. Before we left the rumpus room, one of the kids asked if I would come and play with them tomorrow, the other kids quickly agreeing. I told them I would.

When we got back to the room, the kids sat on the rug for circle time where they talked about the theme of the week (fairy tales and nursery rhymes) and what they would be doing today. They also talked about the helpers and the day and the month and what the weather was like outside. They also talked about the fact that there was a new teacher there and the kids said hola (which is of course, spanish for hello) and just to check to see if my name was Ms. Annie or Mrs. Annie, they asked if I was married. That of course sent me into a fit of giggles because it was pretty cute actually. A bunch of little 5 year olds asking if I was married. I'm not really sure why I found that so funny actually....>.>...anyways. Moving on. After all that was said and done, they started to talk about the differences between nursery rhymes and fairy tales (fairy tales don't rhyme) and they talked about the nursery rhyme, Humpty Dumpty. They then talked about words that rhyme and about the daily project. They were going to make their very own Humpty Dumpty. They were to cut his yolk into three pieces, like a puzzle, then decorate their Humpty Dumpty and then they were to put it in their school bags and then they could go and play.

While the kids were playing, on of the little girls wanted me to come an color with her, so I did. She wanted me to help her make lots and lots of flowers. After a little while, more kids starting coming over to color with us and they wanted me to help them make things. I felt pretty happy about this because this meant that they actually liked playing with me. And some of the kids even made pictures for me. YAY!

After a bit, it was time to clean up and get ready for snack time. They got in their circle time thing and the teacher read them "Humpty Dumpty" by Rob Gilbert and Kim Eagle. Then, they talked about what they are going to do tomorrow. They will be saying nursery rhymes that they picked out to share with the rest of the class and they can bring a costume of a prop or something with them to help tell their rhyme. They talked about the rhymes the kids want to do, then it was time for snack. One of the kids had brought muffins and orange juice, so the helpers got the cups and napkins and muffins all out and the kids were called, one at a time to get their hands washed and to sit and eat their snack. Then they were to go and get ready for their families to come and pick them up.

When their parents came, I had to wait outside of the room that I'm in for the afternoon because there was still a conference going on inside. I just kind of hung out until the kids got there. when they did, they seemed pretty excited to see me. And I was excited to see them really. I missed not being able to hang out with them on Tuesday like I normally do. Anyways. One of the little girls wanted me to come and play princess with her and I did. We were flower princesses because we wore these flower hat on our heads (it was flower petal looking things connected to a hair band). When it was time for circle time, the kids all quickly did their thing of getting there and being good. They talked about the day and the month and yada yada yada. They talked about feelings and what makes them happy and sad and excited and mad, then they read to story feelings and talked about the daily project.

The daily project consisted of doing marble art (dipping a marble in pink paint and another in purple paint and rolling the marbles over a piece of paper that's shaped like a heart by shaking the box that has them in it side to side. They turned out pretty good actually. After the kids had done that and played for a while, it was time to go to the rumpus room where the kids played hide-and-seek and "tackle Ms. Annie". They seem to enjoy the last game the most. Anyways. After we came back, it was time to just relax and get ready for snack time. While they were getting ready, I was getting ready to leave. When I was ready, the kids all hugged me at once. I was almost knocked clean over (makes me feel loved! *sniffle*). Anyways. Another great day.

Total number of pictures: 7
Note: Seriously. I need to scan some of them.

Until next time
Annie
~Thursday February 28, 2008~
Yay another long one!

-Insert Interesting and Mind blowingly Fascinating Title Here-

So. It's conference week this week and I was in the normal class this morning, but not in the afternoon. I got there super early so I got the chairs down and put the play dough and the other stuff out (paints and marbles for some reason that was unknown to me at that moment). Then I just chilled, listening to music and doing some sudoku puzzles until one of the teachers came in. She seemed surprised that I was there so early and seemingly had been there for a while (which I was). She got some other stuff that the class would need for that morning and I helped to get the stuff. I was introduced to DUN DUN DUUUUUNNNN!!!! The Magical Storage Closet Area Thinger.....Okay so it's really like a basement, but whatever. Not the point. When we came back upstairs, I hung out in the room, enjoying my loverly coffee and an addictive sudoku puzzle. Not too long after, a women came in with her daughter and it turns out that she was a substitute while the other teacher that is normally there was doing conferences. After talking with her for a while, the kids started coming in. They did their normal free play with the play dough and painting (with orange and yellow paint) and what not and I played with some of them. Then it was circle time.


They did their normal thing of naming the day, color, month, and talking about the helpers and all that other good stuff. Then they got into today's lesson. Feelings . They talked about happy feelings and sad feelings and what makes the kids happy and what makes them sad and what makes them excited and all that other good stuff. Then they read a story called "Feelings" by Joanne Brisson Murphy. It was about how this kid feels things in the day (happy because of the sun waking him up and sad cause it's raining). After the story, they were allowed to go off and play, but they had to do the daily project.

The project of the day was they had a marble in pink and purple paint. There were to use a box type thing and roll the marbles over a piece of paper shaped like a heart by shaking the box around. It actually turned out to be pretty cool. The pictures where really awesome and pretty with cool designs and stuffs. After all the kids did that and after some playing, it was time to go to the rumpus room. While in the rumpus room, there was a little girl who fell and bit her lip really hard and she left, so it was just the substitute teacher and I there, watching all the little kids. It wasn't really all that hard actually. Just pay attention to what the kids are doing and make sure that they're playing nice and taking turns and yada yada yada. It was actually pretty cool to do that because I felt like I was an actual teacher and not just a visitor here to play with the kids, which is how I feel sometimes (speaking of feelings). The teachers really include me in the things that they do, and I help out with getting things ready for the kids. It's like I'm a teacher, but at the same time, it feels like I'm just there to play. I don't really think it's anything the teachers can help with, it's just something that crosses my mind sometimes. Anyways. After the rest of the kids played for a while and after they had come back to the room, they played some more, then it was time to clean up and do their second circle time.


This time, they read a book called "I Was So Mad!" by Mercer Mayer. It was about creature and how when he wanted to do something, it seemed like every time his mom or dad or grandma or grandpa would say no. Then it turned out that he was allowed to do something at the end. A cute story really. Then, they talked about what sad faces and happy faces and excited faces looked like and the kids were allowed to come up to the front of the circle thinger (if they quietly raised their hands) and make a face and the other kids had to guess what feeling was being portrayed (again, raising their hands quietly). After that, it was snack time which was pretzels and water (quite good really). The little girl who had hurt herself before couldn't eat the pretzels because they hurt her lip too much. She just sat in my lap until her mom came to get her.

There wouldn't be any afternoon class in the room I'm normally in because of the conferences, so I went into the room next door which was kids who's birthdays were just after school started or where for some reason unable to move on to kindergarten (so like, 4-5 year olds). I stayed there during the lunch bunch and met the teachers and talked to them about what I was doing there and why I was doing it and all that good stuff and I helped them get ready for the afternoon class. I was to put cloak faces on these pieces of construction paper that were the cloaks (like grandfather cloaks) and I helped cut some paper for a different project. After lunch bunch, the kids started coming in. I was nervous. I wasn't sure if they were going to like me or if they were and what if they don't and all this other stuff (did I leave the toaster on...).

The kids seemed a little unsure of me (being new and all, they were weary which is normal). There were a few kids that were okay with me right off the bat and talked to me, which was nice. Like in the room I'm normally in, the kids were allowed to play and interact with the other kids until it was circle time where they talked about the helpers and the date and month and what their theme was for the week. It was nursery rhymes. They talked about their favorite nursery rhymes and then they were allowed to go off and play. Then, to the rumpus room!

While in the rumpus room, I noticed something interesting about this group of kids that I didn't really see with the other group. They had picked best-friends and who would be in their little play groups. There were two boys who are both only children and they are the best of friends. They're always playing together, sitting together, all that good stuff. Also, there was a group of girls who were all playing together and there was an almost leader type person of the group. One of the little girls was very smart and she seemed to be the main leader of the pack of girls.

After they had to come back to the class room, they had another circle time and sang their morning song and I was introduced and they talked more about nursery rhymes and which ones they liked and what nursery rhymes sound like (they rhyme). They they talked about their daily project. The kids were to make a mouse that would go up the cloaks that I had put together during lunch bunch and they were to add ears, a tail, eyes and a face to the mouse, as well as make the cloak look like the cloak in the story. They were to write the number 1 ("the cloak struck 1"), and they were to add the hands of the cloak. Then they were to put the cloaks in their bags and then they could go and play again.

I was impressed by this because when I was their age, I'm not sure if I would have been able to stay focused long enough and remember what to do with the mouse thingers. These kids are pretty smart. Some of them don't really want to do things when they're told to and they don't really listen to the teachers to much, but all in all, they seem like a pretty sharp bunch of kids. After they did their projects and played, they sat on the rug carpet thing and listened to some nursery rhymes out of the book, "Mother Goose" (classic kids book). During their circle time, the teacher from the other class who wasn't there came in and asked about how I was doing and what I thought of working with kids this age. Then she asked me what she should say to some of the parents about what they should do with their child to help them more. Which I found odd and kind of random, but none the less, it was slightly entertaining. She had also come to give me a copy of the flyer she handed out to the parents about me being there. It says...

"Dear Parents,
We would like to inform you that we have a student from the Graham school helping in our classroom for the rest of the school year. She is a senior doing her "walk-about" this semester. She has an interest in early childhood education. Her name is Andrea Koester ("Annie"). You may have heard your child talking about her. She started with us last week. We are happy to have Annie in our classroom; she is a lot of fun and has been enjoying her time with the children, When you see her, introduce yourself, she already knows all the children's names!"

I thought that it was pretty cool how they sent that out and the fact that they spelled my name right (extra cool points!). I really enjoyed today, being able to work with the older kids and see what it would be like teaching that age group.

Picture total for the day : 4
Note to self: scan some.

Until next time
Annie
~Tuesday February 26, 2008~
Yay another long one!

4th Day!!!! (man I gotta start thinking of new titles)

PAJAMA PARTY!!!!

And Ms. Annie forgot to wear pajamas that actually look like pajamas. I helped get the room set up and talked to the teachers about letting me work there for 4th quarter (which would be totally awesome). I want to work there 4th quarter because I've grown quite attached to the little kids and they seem to like me and I can't even think about leaving them. When the kids came in, I read to them and played house and fun stuffs like that, then it was circle time and rumpus room time. The kids mostly wanted to play hide-and-seek. I was fine with that.

Then, when we came back we played some more, then cleaned up and ate snack which consisted of apple juice and Teddy Graham thingers. One of the little girls gave me 2 pictures and they were so cute. Then they left and the lunch bunch came and left and it was time for the afternoon class. They read "Goodnight Moon" and talked about the moon and made picture of a bunny looking outside at the moon. Then it was time for a snack (trail mix thing) and then Ms. Annie had to go. One of the little girls asked where I was going and I told her that I had to go to school and she said she didn't want me to go and she gave me a picture. So apparently, I'm doing something right. The kids like me and all.

That's all really. Kind of lame it seems.

Until next time
Annie

~Thursday February 21, 2008~
This one seems kinda short...o.o

3rd Day!!!

So today I actually had something to do while waiting for the kids to come in. I had DUN DUN DUUUUNNNN!!!!!! Homework! (oh snapple). So just as I was finishing that, the kids starting coming in. The first thing they wanted me to do was to come and color with them. Who am I to deny? I made a picture of my bunny Bun-Bun (don't laugh at his name. I was 5. What do you want from me! STOP STARING AT ME!!!!!). We talked about the kinds of foods that bunnies like to eat and what color they are and all that other stuff. Then, it was time for circle time. They talked about the day, color, who would be doing what, and they read a story called "Just Go to Bed" by Mercer Mayer. It was about Little Creature who didn't want to go to bed so he pretended to be all these things and finally he went to bed (I remember reading it when I was a little kid). Then, they talked about quilts, what they are, how people make them, then they were to make quilts out of construction paper and glue and stamps. They were all very cute and the kids seemed to love making them.

Then it was time for the rumpus room. I stayed behind at first to take down the projects from before so that the quilts could go up. Then I joined to kids in the rumpus room. We played basketball and tag and all kids of fun stuff. Then back to the room where the kids wanted to play with the play dough with me. Again, who am I to deny them? so we played until it was time to clean up and then circle time before snack. it was one of the little girl's birthday, so her mom brought in dough nuts and milk. After that it was time for the kids to go home and for lunch bunch.

Then the afternoon class came in. I was pounced by small children. They seemed to like playing with me the first day and were excited to play some more. We drew pictures and I talked about my bunny and what bunnies eat and all that other stuff. Then it was circle time, play time, then rumpus room time. More tag ensued, as well as more hide-and-seek (they're very good hiders). It was one of the little boy's birthday, so his grandma brought in rice crispie treats and juice, but unfortunately, I had to go, so I took one for the road. One of the little kids asked if I was going to come play with them everyday and I told her I was and she seemed very happy about this (I felt the tear coming).

Another great day!

Until next time
Annie

~Thursday February 19, 2008~

2nd Day! OMZ!

Okay so the second day. TOTALLY different room. TOTALLY different teachers. SLIGHTLY worried. There were a few things that worried me about this room.

1 ---> don't know what to expect because I'm working with younger kids who just turned 3
B ---> First impression of one of the teachers, scary
and 3 ---> Nerves are getting the best of me here

So after meeting the teachers and helping to set up the room and all that good stuff that I help with the last time I went to site, the kids started to come in. These kids were even smaller than the class last time and they were sooooooo cute! There wasn't any activity really to help break the ice, so I just walked around and tried to talk to some of the kids. They didn't really seem to want to talk to me, except for a few of them. They seemed to like to talk to pretty much anyone who would listen. I noticed after a while there were some similarities in the structure of the classes. they had circle time and they talked about their new friend and everything like that. After that, the seemed to warm up a little bit and they let me play with them. One of the smallest little girls really seemed to warm up to me because she had a tendency to follow me around and hold my hand and all that stuff. The teacher said that she had a tendency to do that ( get attached to someone) ....(I like the word tendency).

During their circle time, they read the "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" book and talked about stars and talked about who would be helping and who would be the leader and follower and blah blah blah. Then, the kids got to go to the Rumpus room (again, the rumpus room and I are becoming very good friends). There, they weren't really allowed to play with the see saw thinger because some of the kids were too small and might get hurt (not fun really). But they liked to play hide-and-seek the best it seemed like, so we played hide-and-seek until they had to go back upstairs for snack time. They had a 1/2 banana and some guppies crackers (like gold fish only...guppies shaped). I helped pass out the napkins and cups and all the snack stuff.

After the snack, the kids were allowed to play some more. They wanted me to play picnic with them, so I did and I pretended to get so full I fell over and they thought that was pretty funny. Not too long after that, I had to go back to school for class (Friday is a short day at the preschool) and just before I left, a little girl who hadn't really said anything to me, walked up and gave me a picture and a hug and ran off, grinning really big and giggling. I was so touched.

I have the picture hanging on my wall where everyone can see it.

Until next time
Annie

~Friday February 15, 2008~

1st Day! So Exciting!

Okay so today was my first day at my walkabout site. I'm working at a preschool (working with the 3-4 year olds) and it's right by my house (A.K.A- really easy to get to). When I first got there, I was really slightly nervous. I got there before the teacher I would be working with got there and that was a little unnerving. What if the teacher didn't get there? What if I was all alone with a bunch of kids that I don't know! What if I left the iron on! The principle showed me around, introduced me to some of the other teachers (quite a calming thing really. Annie is not all freaked out!) and then when the teacher that I was supposed to be working with that particular day got there, everything was better. I helped to set up the tables, put everything out for the kids to play with and was getting ready to meet the other teacher I would be working with (I ended up working with 3). When she got there, we talked about the things that they liked to do with the kids and what time the kids would get there and all that other good stuff.

When the kids first got there, they seemed very...not liking of me (because I'm someone new and they didn't know what to think of me). That day was Valentine's Day celebration when the kids got to pass out their Valentines and make their Valentine's Day bags and all that other good stuff. After they were done making their bags, they were to give them to me or "Ms. Annie" as I was called. I was able to play with some of the kids and got to read some stories and play with some play dough (coolest stuff ever) and played house and all that other fun stuff until circle time.

Circle time was when they all met on a mat carpet thing and talked about the month, the day, the color of the day (the pattern is green, purple, pink), who was the helpers (who passed out napkins, who passed out cups, who brought the snack, who helped with recycling, stuff like that) and what they are going to be doing today. Today was very special because the kids got a new friend, Ms. Annie (me).

During circle time, they read a book called, "George and Martha" which is about these hippo friends and they like to do all kinds of things together. In this particular story (as Kid #1 told me) "Martha had a dance to do and George went to see it cause George is Martha's friend" (it was much cuter than you'd think). The other book they read was called "George and Martha and Pea Soup". In this one, Martha loved to make pea soup for her friend George, but George hated pea soup. But because Martha seemed to love making it for him, he ate it anyway. In the end, Martha finds out that George doesn't really like eating pea soup and Martha doesn't really like making it. I think it ended with them eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or something. I was distracted by all the stuff going on. Anyways. Back to the topic.

After the kids read and talked about the stories, they took turns washing their hands and helping to set up snacks. This day they had cookies and apple juice. The teachers even got a spot and some of the kids wanted me to sit with them, so I sat with them and ate the snack, then I helped with clean up. When that was all said and done, the kids got to go to the rumpus room. That's like an indoor play ground with bikes, balls, a jungle gym thing, and some other fun things. They were to stand in line behind the leader and walk in a single file down to the rumpus room while "holding a bubble" (poofing their cheeks out like they have a bubble in their mouths). There is a kid who is the "follower" who stands at the end of the line and follows everyone. They are to use the hand rail when going down the stairs and waiting until they get into the room and then they can run around and be slightly louder (but not screamingly loud).

The kids wanted to play games like tag, ring-around-the-rosie, hide-and-seek, and they wanted to play ball with me. I loved playing with them actually. During tag, the kids tackled me and piled up, which was more fun than you'd think (especially since 3 and 4 year olds don't weigh much). After that, the kids went back to the room and played a little more before having snack and waiting for their parents and guardians to come and pick them up.

Then started, the lunch bunch.

The lunch bunch is where the kids who stay long enough to eat lunch at the school and kids who come in just in time for lunch, meet in a room and they eat their lunches and play in the class room quietly until they go to the rumpus room (the rumpus room and I became very good friends). There they played until the afternoon classes started. Then it was time to start it all over again. The afternoon kids seemed to warm up to me and wanted me to play with them and asked me what my name was and stuff like that. The one little girl (lets call her...Sally) took my hand and wanted me to come with her and play with her and all this other stuff. It was quite fun really. The teacher introduced me to the afternoon class and we made the Valentine's Day bags and the passing out of the cards and the play dough and the merriment and the kids tackling Ms. Annie and piling on her.

All in all, it was quite the experience. I had a lot of fun playing with the kids and I got to see what it would be like if I persued this kind of thing in the future. I have decided that this would be something that I would want to do in the future because...

A ---> I love little kids (they're so cute!)
2 ---> Child care is almost second nature to me (being the motherly person I am)
and C ---> ....I don't think there is a C actually....>>

Anyways. I think that the first day went well and I hope that this will continue on in the future (with the kids liking me and the random hugging and all that fun stuff).

Until next time
Annie

~Thursday February 14, 2008~
(Man I wrote a lot...o.o)

Mid-Year Senior Reflection

I have not completed any of the walkabout assignments because I do not have a walkabout anything. I've been having issues with trying to find out what I want to do with my walkabout.

I think that the whole idea of walkabout is exciting. It seems like something that would really give people oppertunities that they would not normally be able to get. I really helps people to get a taste of what life is like outside of the whole high school scene. I'm not really sure how I'll be taking risks during walkabout because I do not have one planned yet.

I think I did alright for my 1st semester seminar. I was there on time (except for like, twice), I payed attention, but I didn't really say anything. I commented at times, but not really anything else. I didn't do a lot of the papers because I didn't have anything to write about.

My 1st semester experiential site was a really awesome one. I worked at Patty Cake Vegan Bakery and it was very enjoyable. I had a lot of fun working with the other people who worked at the bakery and I think that it was a great chance to work with people who I normally wouldn't really talk to in any other situation. I would definately be getting an EE. I was on time and I was there pretty much everyday that I was supposed to be there. I followed directions and I even learned how to be independent in a work place. Plus I got to make cookies. That was really a plus.