finishing.

The end is near!!

I have just Thursday, Friday, Monday and Tuesday to spend time with my students and finish strong.

That was our motto in group last week: FINISH STRONG. Easier said than done in so many ways (ie - paperwork, closeouts, ISL's, cleaning my classroom, etc...). But in other ways, I find myself savoring every last second with my precious kids!

• Me: "What has been one thing you've learned or enjoyed about coming to group this year?" All the other kids say their answers, then the little, tiny blonde haired kindergarten boy who has become unusually shy for the moment says super fast: "Because...um...you'resoprettyandiloveyou." Then he covered his head and turned bright red. Do I have to even say how adorable he is?
• A rumor was going round with my students that one boys mother had cussed me out (entirely untrue by the way - and I put an end to it). This bothered one of my favorite little girls so much that when I passed through her classroom, she saw me, dropped everything, ran to me and gave me the biggest hug and said "I'm so sorry she said those mean things to you Ms. Staats. So sorry! You deserve better. You deserve so much better than that!" Took everything in me not to look her in the eye and say "So do you."
  
• The little 1st grader who looked at me and said "I'm on GREEN today. Did you HEAR that?"
• Talent show: need I say more? Favorite act by far is the first grader dancing his heart out to Never Say Never. I'd totally post a video if I could!

I love them. I do.