Writing With Abandon

Reflections and ramblings about life as an educator, writer, reader, knitter, and over-thinker. Trying to do the writing only I can do.

Tag: kindergarten

  • Full Circle

    In May, a post on the TWT blog caught my eye, as it started by quoting a teacher, Julie Diamond, from her book, Kindergarten: A Teacher, Her Students, and a Year of Learning.

    Wait a second, I thought. Julie Diamond? Could it be that Julie Diamond?

    Sure enough, when I googled the book and the author, up popped my own kindergarten teacher from decades ago, with her short, gray, cropped hair. I immediately ordered the book from Amazon and patiently awaited its arrival.

    On Wednesday, I went to a dog park with Phoebe while P taught a private soccer session, and began reading.

    The gorgeous cover with Estelle’s bookmark gift peeking out.

    I couldn’t put it down. I read, wishing I’d brought a pencil to underline and take notes in the margins. I reluctantly dog-eared the pages, swearing I’d unfold them as soon as I got home and write the notes I’d been meaning to (which I did).

    In a serendipitous way, I discovered, through reading Julie’s words, that my first elementary school teacher had a teaching philosophy truly aligned with my own. Progressive, project-based, child-centered, Reggio-inspired.

    How much of my educational career, both as a student and now as a teacher, can I attribute to that first year of my schooling at PS 87 under her tutelage?

    As Julie explains how she (and you, the teacher-reader can) truly listens to children and lets them guide their own learning, providing practical advice for setting up and running a classroom, I find myself affirmed, inspired, and impassioned. I am a sponge, soaking up as much teaching as she has left to share with me, some 28 years later.

    Kindergarten me

    I feel more excited about heading back to work in August than I have been in years, and I’m curious about setting an intention to write about the upcoming school year: “a teacher, her students, and a year of learning.” What a beautiful idea.

    Perhaps the SOL community is a good starting place to hold me accountable.

  • Rihanna’s “Croch”

    Today I got to see my older sister, Tillie, for the first time since Thanksgiving! She’s here on a “moms getaway” weekend with 3 of her best friends, resting and relaxing by the poolside. We met for breakfast and when she told me a story about my nephew, John Henry, I knew it was perfect for today’s slice.

    Apparently, my niece and nephew are obsessed with Rihanna’s halftime show (I mean, who isn’t?) and have requested for my sister and her husband to play it for them a million times.

    “And he’s been drawing so much lately,” my sister told me. “Every holiday, he makes a new drawing for our front door. On Thanksgiving, it was a turkey. On Christmas, a tree. On Valentine’s Day, we cut up a bunch of hearts. And this weekend he even made a St. Patrick’s Day drawing of a leprechaun with the belt and the pot of gold and everything!”

    Super cute, I know. He’s also been writing a ton, thanks to his amazing kindergarten teacher who teaches him writer’s workshop.

    Recently, they’ve learned that writers label their drawings.

    Here’s where Rihanna comes in.

    “So he drew a picture of Rihanna in her halftime outfit,” Tillie said. “And—wait, I think I have the picture on my phone, hold on.”

    And that’s when she showed me the detailed drawing — with labels! — of Rihanna in her halftime show outfit.

    “He labeled her crotch!” Tillie exclaimed.

    John Henry’s drawing of Rihanna

    And he sure did.

    “What does that say at the top?” I asked.

    “Rihanna,” Tillie laughed. Ah yes — Reeona. Gotta love phonetic, inventive spelling.

    “Wait — is that her baby?” I asked, pointing to the stick figure in a circle inside Rihanna’s tummy.

    “Oh my god, I didn’t even notice that!”

    Man, do I miss my nephew!

    Day 18 of 31