I received the
kindest note from a teacher that attended one of my workshops recently. This is why I do what I do!
Your workshop
brought the fun back. The science and logic behind the
singing and
moving is meaningful. Today was the students' first day back
and I used
the cheers, brain breaks, and attention-getting strategies you
taught. I
also started the day out with your music and dances. I had them
do snip-snap
books and write a story about what they got for Christmas. I
had them count
by tens doing patty cake. I used just a fraction of the
things you
taught me, and my class behaved completely differently than they
ever have.
The kids had so much fun, and even my most challenging students
were under
control and enjoying themselves. It was amazingly calm, fun, and
productive.
Thank you so
much for being an authority that advocates singing, poetry,
and fun in
the classroom. Most of the workshops I attend focus so much on
what the kids
have to learn, and they criticize the "old" way of doing
things. What
you teach and support is real and important, and it shouldn't
ever go away.
Thank you so much for sharing that. I feel incredibly lucky
that I was
able to experience your workshop my first year of teaching. It
has changed
my outlook and attitude about kindergarten, and helped my
classroom
management tremendously. My day was fantastic, and I enjoyed my students more
than I ever have been able to. They got to see me have fun, and I was thrilled
to bond with them in that way.
I feel
incredibly lucky that I get to make a little difference in the lives of teachers and
children!
Last weekend I
attended the “Tea by the Sea” which raises money for scholarships at the
College of Charleston. This year
there was a panel of four authors and it was fascinating to hear their stories
about how they became writers. I
was particularly touched by one author who said that he was terrible student. One high school teacher told him that
he was a “good writer.” He said
nobody had ever told him he was good at anything and it was like being touched
by a magic wand. After 27
rejections, he finally had his first novel published and he was on his way to
fulfilling the teacher’s comment.
You just never know! You
never know how that one kind word or glimpse of talent or a little
encouragement can change a student’s life!