Wow! All I can say is Wow!

This week was my first full week with ALL 19 kiddos. It was 20 until Monday morning when one withdrew already.
I seem to have a great class, but man oh man can they talk. And it's not just one or two, it's like 15 out of the 19. We did nothing but practice rules and procedures this week. We had lessons on manners and lessons fairness and lessons on responsibility and lessons on respectfulness.

Bad News: I had to really use my mean teacher voice the first week of school. 
Good News: It seemed to get somewhat better as the week progressed, so maybe we'll get there.

I remember a time when the kiddos came in looking like they had seen a ghost. So scared of what was about to happen, wanting to do their absolute best to impress the teacher. Uhhh, not so much anymore. These kiddos are fearless and it's ME that has that scared look on my face - okay, not really, like I said, I had to pull out the mean teacher voice this week.

I know that next week will be better. We will start getting into the structure of things. They'll start learning when and when not to do things (i.e. talk!). And it will be a GREAT year.

And I must say, I really seem to have a WONDERFUL group of parents this year and that makes me VERY happy. I've already seen great support from some whose kiddos have already come home with sad colors on their behavior chart.

So am I really worried? As Pete the cat says.."Goodness NO!"

There are some other things that I am thankful for, besides my wonderful parents (I know some of you are probably reading this right now!).
1. I don't have any fit throwers - you know the ones that get so mad they look like they are about to punch you or another child or the ones who get so frustrated they throw supplies across the room. What you've never had a kindergartener do that?  I have...more than one time too.
2. I have SEVERAL great helpers who will do their absolute best to impress the teachers. *Cute side story - at naptime this week, one boy wanted to sleep by the door so that he could watch the other kiddos who went to the bathroom, just to make sure they were doing right. And if another teacher was coming, he would warn me, yes, he actually said, "I'll warn you when they're coming"*
3. Our new PBIS system seems to be going quite well and my kiddos are loving the positive reinforcement.
4. We read Pet the Cat all last week and this week and now anytime I give a problem scenario, everyone of them pipes up "Goodness No, because It's All Good" <--- LOVE IT!
5. All but 3 can write their names. I can work with this and they will get it!

There's a lot more, but I don't want to bore you with the ramblings.

Oh, another BAD NEWS: I made the CUTEST things for them to line up on and completely ran out of the room Friday without taking a picture.
GOOD NEWS: I had to run out for date night with my hubby. We finally saw The Dark Knight (twilight price!) and my dear teacher pal gave me a treat to J. Alexander's so we had a lovely dinner. So yum!

Oh and one more thing - I know, I have random brain today - I got an email Thursday that I am a Top 50 Early Childhood Educator! I even got an award!!!  Yay me! Made me feel good after being a bad blogger these past few weeks.