Unexpected Lessons

Beware anyone who may read this lame blog, this post is a tad sentimental. Ok a lot sentimental, but bear with me. I am currently placed in a first grade classroom for two of my methods classes. I never thought that I would want to teach first grade, because I thought it would be like advanced kindergarten, which I'm told it kind of is at the beginning of the year, but the kids now are so amazing. They are so smart and fun and it is great to work with them. My mentor teacher is also incredible, he has a masters in Literacy from the U and it definitely shows with his kids. Anyway, to the sentimental stuff. It is so great to watch these kids interact with each other and with the teacher. They are so full of compassion for each other, I'm suprised everyday with something that one of them will say or do. While there is the standard pulling of hair and throwing balls at each other's faces at recess:), they are so caring! When someone gets an answer right, little voices chirp, "Good job Cecilia! That was a great answer!" etc etc. If someone is hurt, they hug them or rub their back and make sure they are ok. And most impressive, when they say they are sorry, which inevitably happens often when there are 18 six year olds together for 8 hours, I believe they really mean it! I think the thing that I admire most, though, is their ability to say something if they get the urge. They are always telling me that they love my jewelry or that someone's hair looks great. This is true for negative things too, which doesn't always go over well, but all the same I envy the ability to say what they mean! So to wrap this crap up, I went into this thinking that I was going to practice teaching these kids, and they have been teaching me. So if anyone did bother to read this whole dumb post, I guess the point I am trying to make is that we all could learn from the honesty and caring that these kids show to each other. They take their word seriously, and always speak up for what they believe in, even if it is only that someone butted them in the lunch line. I wonder where in the process of growing up this gets lost. If you see someone with great hair, tell them! If you see someone doing something you know is wrong, and it is safe to do so, speak up! Enough from me, next time I'll try to post something interesting to more than just me.