Student teacher

So, I have a student teacher this semester, and I am just figuring out how to help her learn all about being a teacher of 5 year old children.  It's great to have an extra person in the room -- math stations go so much better with a teacher at every station!  And I let her read the story after lunch this week while I pulled individuals for assessing.  But the problem is -- I really LOVE teaching, and it's a little hard for me to let someone else have all the fun!!  I teach so many things that are NOT in the lesson plans -- and I will probably drive her crazy if I interrupt her lesson every time I think of something else to squeeze in.  So it looks like it will be a balancing act for a while as I help her get ready for taking her own class someday -- and still make sure that my children are learning everything possible to get ready for first grade.  I am excited about the possibilities this semester -- it will be great to have three reading groups going at the same time -- but I need to write more detailed lesson plans since she probably won't be able to read my mind.  It should be an interesting semester!

Penguins!!

One of my little boys came in today and asked,"Is this the day we are going to learn about penguins?" YES!!  I love teaching this unit -- not only are penguins incredibly cute -- and interesting -- but it gives me a chance to get my kids excited about reading and writing non-fiction.  I found this little penguin on Pinterest, and I've been collecting toilet paper and paper towel rolls so we can make them. We stopped at the Barbeque place for supper last week -- the one with a roll of paper towels on the table (not too classy, but great barbeques).  Luckily for me, there was an empty cardboard roll that I grabbed and stuck in my purse.  Sam started to say "Why..." and my son said."Don't ask!"  It's going to be a fun week!!