My Kindergarten Day

Kindergarten Day

I love teaching. We all have something we do well. Working in a classroom is the talent God gave me in abundance.

Many of you know I’ve recently made the decision to return to the workforce. I’m looking for a position in the public school system. Until I find that special principal who will overlook my faults, I’m doing substitute teaching. I split my time between the Mansfield ISD and Midlothian ISD. Both are south of Dallas.

I recently spent a day in Mansfield as a kindergarten teacher for Ms. H. I’d like to describe some of the highlights or lowlights depending on your perspective. The names, of course changed to protect the guilty.

I arrived on time, looked over the substitute file, and then consulted with my sub buddy, Ms. M.

Ms. M is a veteran teacher and told me not to put up with any nonsense. I assured her that was my intention. Unfortunately, nobody told the kids in my class.

It took less than 10 seconds for a reminder that I was back in kindergarten.

“Tie my shoes!” said Jane. (not her real name, not innocent either)
I said, “Sure, let me bend down and help.” After 5 knee surgeries this is not an easy task. I’d do this at least 25 more times during the day.

The kids arrived one by one. The last one wouldn’t step into the room until the tardy bell rang. The first set of directions from Ms. H seemed easy enough: Do Math Calendar

What could go wrong?

Me, “Class, let’s do the calendar.”

Class, “No, Ms. H does the days of the week first.”

Me, “Okay, Monday, Tuesday, Wed-“

Class, “Nooooo, we need the song.”

Me, “Well, okay, where is the song?”

Class laughing and pointing, “In the CD player.”

Me, “Okay, let me figure out how to work this thing.”

I turn it on, not the first song, not the second, but finally the tenth song was about the days of the week. We sing the song and I turn off the CD.

Me, “Okay, look at the calendar.”

Class, “No, Ms. H does the months of the year.”

Me, “Okay, January, Feb-“

Class, laughing, “Nooooo, we need the song.”

Me, “Don’t tell me, it’s on the CD?”

Class, clapping, (Either their thankful I finally get it or they’ve figured out I have no idea what I’m doing.) “Yees!”

Now, this means I have to go back through all the songs again to find the one for the months of the year. I do exactly as they tell me. Who could resist those innocent and angelic faces?

We sing about the months of the year. Then they tell me about a song involving five mice. I tell them, “Ms. H said we could skip that one today.” I’m starting to wise up.

I look at the clock. The schedule gave me 15 minutes to do the calendar. It’s been 45 minutes. Ms. H, now you know why I didn’t finish the morning projects.

Lunch went okay; I know how to open milk, plastic utensils, etc…

After lunch, a planning period turned into a blessing. In orientation, they told us to go to the office and ask if we’re needed elsewhere during our planning period. Let them come spend a day with kindergarten kids and then volunteer for other duty during the one break. I hid inside the room.

The other interesting period was computer. It’s been a long time since I’ve spent time with 5-year-olds. How much could they know about computers? We went to the computer lab, no teacher. I thought to myself, jerk! We stood outside the lab for 3 minutes or so and I finally decided to ask one of the students what happened during computer lab.

She said, (teacher’s kid, mom works at the school) “We go in, open the program and play games.”

Who would have thought that kindergarten kids could do this much with computers? I didn’t and it was amazing to watch them work the software.

We finished the day at the library. The librarian showed them how to check out books using a scanner. Amazing, these kids are in kindergarten.

Finally, the end of the day arrived. I sent some kids off to the daycare line, some to walk home and the rest out to their parents. I got hugs, high fives and fist bumps.

It was an amazing day. I loved every minute.

Ms. H, you’re an amazing teacher. The routines you’ve taught your kids allowed them to have a successful day despite the bumbling teacher.

Thanks for sharing your class.

Dan

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