Reasons I Smile

There are Many reasons I smile...if you know me at all, you know that is true. But one week ago, I found 18 (and today a 19th) new reasons to smile! 

I love my students! If you catch me at 1:30 (after 5 and half straight hours with them) on any given school day, it might not seem like that's the case. But by 1:40 (after dropping them off at specials) all most has been forgiven and I love them once again!

Today was full of smiles! It was a great day in room 205! Tuesday was bad. Tomorrow might be bad. But Today Was Great! And Full of Smiles. Here are some reasons why:

• All Full. My last student finally showed up! I have been dreading this, expecting her to be super behind and lost since she missed the first 5 days of school! Thankfully, she is a native English speaker (smile #1). Smile #2 came when I saw my other 18 students following the routine and starting their warm-ups while I was welcoming Maria to the classroom! They did such a great job (especially compared to yesterday!). We started the day off with lots of praise and some cubes in the reward jar! 
• Total pros. I thought having a new student show up today would be a small pain. Instead, I barely noticed! She caught on quickly which helped, but my students were all thrilled to help her! She knew the routines, procedures, and what was going on before I could even open my mouth! They helped her find her things, get her lunch, go to the nurse, they shared their snacks and supplies...I was so surprised and pleased!
• Tricky Letters. I  have noticed lately that Zineb labels her papers Zine. Today I asked her why she doesn't write the b and her response was "Ahhh! Miss, I always forget that!" She went back and wrote the b.  This afternoon she came up to turn in her paper. At the top it said Zine. She really does forget!
• Multi Cultural. Hanging around the lunchroom are flags representing our different students' nationalities...there are a lot of flags! My freckly, fire-red hair, French accent girl asked me which flag was mine. Then she acted surprised when I pointed to the USA's flag...even though I have told them where I from at least once a day! Then she pointed to a flag and said that one's mine. I didn't know which country it was exactly but I did know it was a Middle Eastern country and she, of all my students, doesn't look Middle Eastern. I looked at my little red head and asked what country she was from. Her response...Syria. Syria? Didn't see that one coming at all! 
• Food Envy. The student lunches here are interesting. I can't really tell you what they eat but it doesn't look that bad. most days. However, they do get teeny tiny portions and ask to get more multiple times! They also use real bowls, real forks, real plates, and each child (200+) is given a 16oz water bottle each day...actually I don't smile about any of those points; I just find them interesting. I smiled when the music teacher walked by after buying a hamburger from the staff line and I watched each and every one of my students spot the hamburger, look at their food, and look back at the hamburger...actually this made me laugh a little! One of them turned to me and asked "Miss, if I bring money can I have a hamburger?"
• Dance Party. We had a dance break- yes, it was in My classroom despite my feelings towards dancing. Yesterday, we were discussing respect (like I said, Tuesday was rough) and I may have busted out a little Aretha thinking they would catch on and follow. Nope. Not at all. They had no idea what I singing! So today, we listened to Aretha sing it! And we danced a little. How can you not? They sang that song for the rest of the day!!! Bonus: Now they can all spell 'respect' too! 
• HIGH-FIVES and fist bumps! I told my kids the first day of school I love High-fives. Most of them give hugs, which are nice too, but I also love their high fives. And fist bumps. And hand shakes. It's a little insight to how they are feeling. I have a little guy who will give me a high five followed by a fist bump but ONLY if it's a good day. Today, I got three high-five/fist-bumps. All Before Lunch! I would call that a successful day! 

I can only hope that tomorrow is as great and smile-filled as today was!!!