Deans get pizza!

While it was unfortunate to be working on the fourth of July, it was also a great reminder of the work that we are doing for our country. FTK is an acronym that we came up with to remind us that no matter how tired or exhausted we may be, it’s not about us; it’s “For The Kids.”

A group of us went to Galveston, Houston on our Friday off to head to the beach. While it was definitely not the crystal blue water of the Bahamas, it was nice to relax and talk about things other than the TAL rubric and behavior narration.

My collaborative and I just finished our last full week of teaching our first graders. After moving them up and down on our college themed thermometer, they finally earned their way to the top “Deans!” We have instilled a love for higher education in the lives of our kids. When introducing the lessons for the day, we always ask our students “Why do you think it is important to learn this?” Rather than respond with the casual, “So we can read and write,” our students scream, “So we can go to college!” Every time my face lights up just thinking about how they will forever remember learning about college in the first grade and the work we have done.”

In our class we do an activity called “community circle” in which we pass around a flower and share our thoughts and feelings with other classmates. The other day we passed it around and asked our students to tell us something that they have learned. Several of our students responded, “I learned that I am smart and can go to college” or “I learned what college is.” I thought right then about the many times I have been asked in an interview, “what is your greatest accomplishment?” Well… this is undoubtedly one of them.

When we brought in the pizza for their party, we still had a lesson to teach before the party would start. We quickly realized that when all the students had to randomly “get a tissue” they would walk over to the tissue box and stare at the pizza. After moving the tissue box across the room, it was amazing to see how many noses were miraculously better.

It was finally time to bust out the pizza and our kids were absolutely thrilled. They usually have to eat cafeteria food so it was no surprise when they told us that this was the best pizza that they have ever tasted. I reassured them that I never liked the cafeteria food either, thinking back to my elementary experience when I wrote a petition about the gross food and got sent to the principal… luckily for a good reason. They each gave us a huge hug and thanked us for being teachers. Best $40 I’ve spent in my life.

Our students of the week, so proud of our scholars! :)