Use ALL the colors in the box of crayons!

One day I wore a skirt that was just a little too big for me to kindergarten. To help keep it up my mom had me wear suspenders. I didn’t like them, so to remedy the look my mom hid them under my blouse. Well, during recess one of the suspenders got undone in the back. I went to my teacher to help me get it refastened. She laughed, and called the other teacher over to look. I will never forget how that felt as they both giggled as they redid my suspender. These were my teachers who I went to for help! Needless to say, I never wore that skirt again. The lesson I learned: Be careful what you laugh at. Be sooo careful to never make fun of those that look up to you – they may not come to you for help again. (You can always giggle later when no one is around and feelings won’t get hurt.)

I still remember the naps we took at kindergarten. I also vividly remember brushing our teeth after our lunch and using the little chew tablets that helped show where you didn’t get with the toothbrush.

I moved across country and had to repeat kindergarten because the age cutoff was different. There were two classes – one was further ahead on learning to read. My mom wanted me in that class but the administration thought she was exaggerating my reading abilities. They changed their minds when I was found under the teacher’s desk with a book (that was truly WAY beyond my ability) and a piece of paper with the words I didn’t know written on it. I was immediately moved into the other class and they told my mom what a genius I was. My mom’s answer “She’s not a genius, she already learned this!”

The Lesson I Learned: Believe in your own abilities and never believe you can’t do something just because someone else tells you that you can’t.

By the way, throughout life when someone has said “YOU can’t do that!” My answer has always been “Just watch me!”

Girls rule…Boys drool!

Cheeky, I know, but in the midst of a nasty divorce due to my husband’s adultery, it seems to be bearing true in my life. Of course, I know this is just a season and it too shall pass. Hopefully, George Clooney is just waiting for it to be finalized before he walks in and sweeps me off my feet.

A girl can dream at least…

Share with others whenever you can.

I’d have to say learning to read was the most valuable thing I learned in kindergarten! I use that daily! And, how to properly use scissors! I love me some paper, it wouldn’t be the same without my scissors!

I learned I can find friends I really like and I don’t have to share them with my sister! Finding friends helps make any new situation much more comfortable. Also being forced to take a nap on a smelly floor with a roomful of other kids is not my idea of comfort. I don’t think I ever closed my eyes–ps I still hate naps! I also learned that a loose tooth can come out if you bit a graham cracker.

Always try to do your best. And my best may be different than your best, but that is still okay. We need to be judged on our own progress and not against everyone else.

You are never too young (or old) to learn new things and be excited about that. Many of us in my class were actually skipped ahead to first grade after just a semester of kindergarten.

Kindergarten was such a long time ago I don’t remember what I learned there. But I do know that I loved it and that it was the perfect start to my education.

Wow, Where would I start? All of the stories above make me think about how my teaching of kindergarten is different or similar. I tell my kindergarteners every day to “try your best and just keep going” So many children put so much pressure on themselves to be perfect, that they can’t achieve success at all (at least in their eyes) Also, I like Leigh Anne’s familiar mantra: Be nice because it matters. It does and it will.

The first thought I had was, “NAP TIME” and now I need to head to my bed!