The hustle and bustle of the holidays can create a feeling of anxiety and despair.  At times we forget the purpose of the holiday.  What does Christmas mean to you?

Here is a list of my top 10 favorite things about Christmas!

1.       Christmas, first and foremost, celebrates the birth of baby Jesus!

 

2.       It is about spending time with FAMILY and friends. I love playing Christmas music, lots and lots of Christmas music.

 

3.       It's about counting your blessings and being grateful for what you have! 

 

4.       It's about loading the kids in the car and getting the perfect tree and decorating it together.

 

5.       It is a day of laughter and fun.   There is a peacefulness to the season. 

 

6.       It is a time to forgive.  Say a prayer for those who have been unkind to you, (whether they realize it or not).  Maybe they need it!

 

7.       It is a day about giving, not receiving! (But, I would really like to get that zebra print chair at Pier One.)  Santa, I have been really good this year!

 

8.       It is the season where everyone is a little nicer and kinder.  "Peace on earth and good will toward men!" Yes, that about says it all!

 

9.       I love seeing the look on my kids face as they open their presents!  Priceless!

 

10.   I love listening to them when they first wake up Christmas morning.  They run down the hall and wake each other up! They run down the stairs to make sure Santa arrived and then run up the stairs to wake my husband and me.  We are already awake, but never let them know!  If only I could bottle that excitement.  I replay the morning over and over in my mind, understanding that someday my children will be living away, perhaps at college or married.  I understand that each and every moment counts and the beauty of my family is an awesome thing to behold!
 
Merry Christmas Everyone and a Happy New Year!

My passion has always been in the Learning Process.  I love those "a-ha" moments where a light bulb goes off in a child's head and you can see in their eyes when they finally understand that difficult concept.  That understanding gives new meaning to the world around them, and brings an awareness of how this concept interrelates to other concepts, because after all, as teachers we understand that "knowledge builds upon knowledge."

 

Children learn through consistency, repetition and imitation.  Each day a child must go over and over the concepts being taught.  I basically accomplish this without the child even knowing.  I create a fun, engaging, hands-on environment.  A hands-on environment is one that encourages and provides opportunities for learning by doing.  It gives meaning to a concept and helps to apply this learning to real life situations.  My classroom is a place where real learning takes place. (Not a lot of rote memorization - only when necessary. i.e multiplication tables, etc.) Children are exploring, they are inquiring, they are curious, but most importantly, they are excited about learning. 

 

It is important for children to learn at his or her own pace.  I strive for each student to feel that even their smallest victory was acknowledged.  I find that praise works wonders in accomplishing any part of learning.  It is when a child feels a sense of belonging, a sense of worth, and a sense of "I can do this," that children thrive and grow in the learning process.

 

Also, equally important, children need to understand the rules of the classroom.  The most important rule is that each member of the classroom community will be respected.  Respect will be given, and respect will be received.  I am empathetic to students, but I am also tough.   I have high expectations and if children aren't giving me 110% I will let them know in a nice way!  I am respected within the community, not simply because I have been doing this a long time, but because I know what children are capable of and I create an atmosphere that encourages them to excel to their fullest potential.  We work together as a team, and as a team we have triumphs, but we also sometimes hit road blocks and have small hurdles to overcome.   As a teacher, I know that we must go back to the drawing board, regroup, and continue to work hard until my students have mastered that concept and I feel they are confident enough to move on to the next!

 

Enjoy your day! 

 

The Adventures of Scuba Jack is expanding to offer educational materials for Kindergarten aged children.  We are beginning to post worksheets and activities that will help Kindergarteners learn sight words, recognize and count money, tell time and more!  Check back frequently for new materials.