Go Fish & Frog Eggs

Ok, this week, I began teaching Kindergarten summer school with some kiddos heading to 1st grade.  They are a group of One Way Dual Language kiddos from a variety of campuses in my district, and so sometimes, coming from 5th grade where I taught Science last year (among other roles), I find myself thinking they can do all the things my 5th graders could, but I've learned (well, re-experienced) some valuable lessons through Go Fish and Frog Eggs this week.

Go Fish: It still amazes me that kids don't know what this game is, so I take the time to teach them, using animal cards that go with our Science units.  So, not only are they learning and saying the names of the animals (a LEP skill), they are learning to take turns, use others names, instead of "Hey, you!" or "Teacher!".  They are learning strategy skills, to hide your cards from others eyes.  They are learning to listen, because someone might say an animal that you need to match.  They are learning to win and lose gracefully.  And the one lesson that just hit me hard today, and I don't know where their thought line came from, was that just because you win at the game, does not mean you cheated.  I had a few small groups say that to the winner, so we had a learning moment, that just because you win, doesn't always mean you cheated.  It just might mean that you were listening better than the others or that you just got lucky and next time you might not win, so to be kind and gracious and congratulate them.  I've also been reminded that when presented with a game vs a paper/pencil task, they are much more attentive and alert to what's going on.  They want to find out how to win!

Frog Eggs:  So, we've been working on our Rainforest unit this week.  Monday, we talked about the layers of the rainforest and all the variety of animals that lived there.  Tuesday, frogs!!!  Today, Wednesday, sloths, and tomorrow, Thursday, alligators and crocodiles.  Well, during our frog day, I presented the kiddos with some jelly marbles, we talked about the frog life cycle, we did a craft, where we made a book mark that had pictures of the cycle, and we talked about how the jelly marbles were like the frog eggs and how we had to be careful with them, because if they break, we would kill the baby frogs.  Today, I sent each student home with a tray of jelly marbles of their own.  I reminded them that they had to be VERY careful with their frog eggs (jelly marbles) and how they could break if they squish them too hard, and to treat them like a baby brother or sister.  I wish I could have taken their picture to show you how careful they were.  Going to buses to go home this afternoon was a hoot, watching them hug their trays to their chest and put their sloth paper over the top so they wouldn't drop them, and then how they all pitched in and helped one little boy who was in tears because he dropped his right before we left class.

Now, I know every day won't be so lesson filled, or rather experience filled, but today, was just one of those days that is right in your face, reminding you of why we do what we do, and how important we are to kids!  I matter!  You matter!  There are kiddos that need us!  Don't give up!