About Yesterday
@GardenGerty (169489)
United States
February 18, 2017 8:23am CST
I have touched on some of the difficult aspects of my job. There is no way I could totally explain what goes on and the challenges.
I like to share the fun stuff as well.
Our district counselor is presenting wonderful lessons for the kids. We learn about bullying and standing up for others who are being bullied. With February being Valentine's Month we have been practicing kindness. Not just in our schools.
Our fourth grade students made cards for a seriously ill fourth grade student in a town about twenty miles away.
Fourth and fifth grade students made cards for Seniors in a Nursing Home.
The entire school did a project on one of the "book buddy"days. That is alternate Fridays. Kids get together by class with older and younger students, the aids help them, and the teachers have a meeting. They read, do art, or other fun things. This month they colored flower shaped notes that said "random act of kindness, have a great day." They stuck suckers or lollipops through a hole in the middle.Then yesterday, the district sent enough buses to take all the kids from the entire school
to the middle and high school. Every big student and all teachers and office and other staff were given these little tokens. They had no idea we were coming. None of them.
Our kids learned to do something for others expecting nothing back. In return they were given smiles and hugs and positive feelings about growing up to go to the high school and good feelings about sharing with others.
That was a good part of my day.
14 people like this
15 responses
@GardenGerty (169489)
• United States
19 Feb 17
That is how school was for me as well.
1 person likes this
@besweet (9831)
• Ireland
19 Feb 17
@GardenGerty I liked school but it was up to our parents to discover our talents and do all those extracurricular activities. Now children can have so many nice experiences through school.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169489)
• United States
19 Feb 17
@besweet I know. School almost becomes family as well.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169489)
• United States
19 Feb 17
Over the years I have noticed that at these small schools the children are being taught about values, and it is good.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169489)
• United States
19 Feb 17
@JudyEv Yes, if you are in the school you know the tone of the whole place. Our school is working on funding a new playground. We all collect box tops and labels for some companies, and then the first graders designed greeting cards before Christmas and sold them. The money was for the playground and they will be invested in taking care of it for that reason.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382326)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Feb 17
@GardenGerty They were big on values and kindness at the last two schools where Vince worked. He was business manager so didn't get to interact with the kids but he knew what was going on.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
18 Feb 17
Amazing that this was pulled off. I am not certain that our school district would have allowed such an event to happen.
2 people like this
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
19 Feb 17
@GardenGerty I would rather work in a small school setting. I have worked in larger schools and the politics are so thick. So happy to be out of that mess.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169489)
• United States
19 Feb 17
@ElusiveButterfly Oh, there is still some politics, and ruffled feathers, but also it is much better.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169489)
• United States
19 Feb 17
I think small schools and districts try to allow more wiggle room.Having worked in classrooms in the past I am sure that they had to state the proposal with "educational objectives" and outcomes.
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70020)
• United States
18 Feb 17
Now that is really rewarding to teach the children that lesson in life.
What a great thing to do Heather.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169489)
• United States
19 Feb 17
It is. I am impressed with the service type projects I see in some of these smaller schools. I am also impressed to hear "yes, please" and "no, thank you" even from kindergarteners.
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70020)
• United States
19 Feb 17
@GardenGerty Isn't it so nice to hear manners Heather.
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
18 Feb 17
Being a teacher, or anything dealing with kids, was never something I wanted to do. I have zero to no patience...plus I eucaly plus I hated school LOL
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169489)
• United States
19 Feb 17
I did not really want kids of my own until I met my first husband. I always liked mine better than anyone elses. I was not wild about school and never planned to be a teacher of any kind. Or a nurse. it seems I was wrong as I have done both.
@GardenGerty (169489)
• United States
20 Feb 17
Canton always did great community jobs too, when I was working there. There is a lot to be learned beyond academics.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
18 Feb 17
So nice! Ours do some stuff like that. We are an IB school so the 8th grade has a big community project they have to do every year, like donate to the homeless or volunteer at an animal shelter, or build something for the community. Last year was the first year we did it, and my twins were in 8th grade!
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169489)
• United States
19 Feb 17
That is great. Over the last few years I have seen schools from elementary through college doing community service.
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
18 Feb 17
It is always good to learn how to give and expect nothing back. This must have been a great day for the students involved.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169489)
• United States
19 Feb 17
It was. It made good connections and hopefully something they will remember and continue to practice.
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
19 Feb 17
I love when these things are focused on, and when I see kids in the regular classroom go out of their way to find ways to include special needs kids
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169489)
• United States
19 Feb 17
Working with kids has some very special parts. Our two second graders are autistic, and function in different ways from each other as well. Our fourth graders are Intellectually Disabled (used to call it Mentally Retarded) and function at different levels. I really enjoy J and he has great potential. It may be that his life up to a year ago is what has slowed him down. He was one that got great greetings from some of the HS cheerleaders that may be his neighbors.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
20 Feb 17
@GardenGerty It would help if they could tell me the kids diagnosis, and their IEP and their triggers, and all sorts of things, but they cant, since I am just a sub
@bluesa (15022)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
18 Feb 17
It's good that the kids did learn to do something for others without expecting anything back. Sometimes a hug or smile is the best reward @GardenGerty . :)
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169489)
• United States
19 Feb 17
It certainly made these students feel good.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169489)
• United States
19 Feb 17
That may be why they chose to do it yesterday at the schools.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169489)
• United States
19 Feb 17
I hope that they always carry the good life lessons that we try to instill.
1 person likes this
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36847)
• Pamplona, Spain
18 Feb 17
Very heartwarming gestures on behalf of the Children and its nice that things happen like that.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169489)
• United States
19 Feb 17
Yes. It is good to think about the nice things that go on.
