SNOW

Snow Day!!

Our footprints in the snow :)sledding fun

Bailey's first snow!

I Love You More Than A Popsicle!

Working with children you never have a dull moment or a boring conversation. As a kindergarten teacher it amazing me sometimes what their little minds ponder and what funny things come out of their mouths. Their perspective is so innocent and their love so unbiased. Their thought processes are so simple. It is their 'simple' thoughts that sometimes stop me in my tracks the most.

Lunch time seems to be the time where they feel the most free to share their thoughts and stories. Everyday I find myself surrounded by the 13 boys in my class while my aid who sits at the opposite end of the table is calmly enjoying her meal with the 9 girls. This is not by our design but how the children have naturally placed themselves. The other day we were having lunch and several of my students had earned an ice pop from a contest that was held the day before. I had prepared my class for lunch by explaining that not everyone would receive and ice pop (not by my choice) and that in our heads we needed to say "Maybe next time." They were champs and there were no tears (thank goodness!). However, as we were sitting there with some of the boys enjoying their ice pops and some not... one of my boys looked at me with a half smile on his face and said... "Mrs. Baggott, I love you more than a popsicle." Of course my heart melted. Now to put this in perspective... in my class, my students will do anything for just one little jellybean. A popsicle is a big deal. I could tell that he had gone through the whole process while we had been sitting there:
First being disappointed inside that he was missing out on the ice pop. But then coming to the realization that there were other things that made him happy. To say to me that he loved me more than a popsicle was so simple yet meant so much!

I am very blessed to teach young minds everyday. What I love most is that they teach me so much.

BUGS! What Bugs?!?

The joys of working in public school.

Going into a kindergarten classroom you never think about all of the dangers that lurk around every cubby and chair. This year I thought my biggest enemy would be the swine flu. Who would have guessed I would be having this conversation this week:

Student: Ahh! Itchy! Those darn bugs!

Me: BUGS! What bugs?!?

Student: The bugs in my hair.

Me: To the nurse... straight to the nurse.

No doubt... there they were. little, black, gnat looking bugs in her beautiful blond hair. I felt so bad for her.... but I began to itch all over at the thought of what this could mean for me and the other children.

Upon returning to my room, I began stuffing rest blankets and jackets into plastic bags hoping to suffocate any little creature that dared to linger.

So far, everything seems clear... only time will tell.

Laughs from Mrs. Baggott's room

So many of you know that I am a kindergarten teacher. I love my job because I enjoy watching their first steps in their academic journey. They are fresh and excited about learning and I love their energy. I also love my job because they say the darnedest things! Here was a conversation I had with one of my 5 year olds at the lunch table.

Student: Mrs. Baggott I have a girlfriend.
Mrs. Baggott: You do? You are too young to have a girlfriend.
Student: No, its okay because she is older. She is 14.
Mrs. Baggott: My goodness.
short pause...
Student: Mrs. Baggott... I have to break up with my girlfriend.
Mrs. Baggott: Why?
Student: Because she is my cousin.
Mrs. Baggott: O yeah? Well you can't be boyfriend and girlfriend with your cousin.
Student: Nope.... (pause) I use to want to marry my sister, but then I found out you can't marry your sister. So now I need to find another girl to be my girlfriend.... And she can't be my mom, my sister or my cousin.
Mrs. Baggott: I think maybe you should just want a while to have a girlfriend.

You never know what will come out of their mouths. I hope it made you smile, I sure did.

Farmer Alex

Alex planted a huge garden this Spring. While some of the crop was a sad disappointment the melons have been a huge success. We have never tasted such sweet watermelon and canteloupe in our lives. Food really is much better when it is vine ripened and straight from the garden.

One Man's Trash...

Saturday I stopped at my local Salvation Army to look for an old rocking chair I could use in my classroom. Instead I found this sad and lonely chair. I was instantly drown to it but was sold when I saw the 99 cent price tag on it. I decided it just needed a little love and it would be a great chair. Here are my before and after pictures.

Before

After

I think I have found a new hobby. This was really fun to do. I painted the wood, recovered the seat, added a little ruffle to the bottom and made a pillow to match. The chair was 99cents and the fabric was about $8. So total I spent $9 for a really great chair. Doesn't it just look happier?

The Summer is Coming to an End

This has been the first summer that Alex and I have not moved into a new house. We have been married for three years and have already lived in three different places. It has been really nice this summer to not have to unpack a house. I wish I could say the same for my classroom. It has been a nice, relaxing summer but it has flown by. I have about 2 weeks before I have to report back to school. I have a few things planned for my two weeks.

*Meet my mom and sister at the Outlet Mall for tax free weekend.
*Drive to ATL for a haircut. (extreme, I know...I haven't found anyone I trust to cut my hair here)
*Drive back down to GA for a quick visit with my mom and dad.

I am excited about starting this new school year at a new school but I hate to see summer come to an end.