Seriously, you have to vote. You especially must vote for politicians who support funding preschool programs like Headstart. It will just make life so much easier for us Kindergarten teachers. Because, these kids know literally nothing! I'm about to pull out my hair!
I have seventeen little people toddling into my room each morning. They are a sweet group of kids, eight girls and nine boys. They came to school with fresh haircuts, new shoes, smelling of Johnson & Johnson No More Tears and carrying their cartoon inspired lunch boxes. But they know nothing.
Of my seventeen kids, only six write their name. A few more try, but mix up letters, use all capitals, or write them backwards (really?!?) The rest sort of scribble on their papers. I am constantly writing their names on easel paintings, coloring pages and workbook sheets.
We've spent the first couple of days of school writing our names. And reading our names, and recognizing our names. Holy shit! Isn't that what preschool is for??? We name the letters, sing the alphabet song, spot the letters around the room. You'd think if your name is Lisa, you'd know the letter L by now, right?
And none of them write their numbers- at all! We worked on 1-5 today and it was fucking torture. That and making sticks with 5 unifix cubes. And combining those and making sticks of ten unifix cubes. Counting has been fun. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9 10!
And no one ever taught these children to hold a pencil. They hold the things like Jason, from Friday the 13th with a knife. You'd think they were about to kill the paper! Scissors... Jesus Christ! I had them cut out a circus face shape to decorate, and the faces ended up looking more like road kill than lions and tigers and bears, oh my!
Most of them have never sat in a circle- some don't even know what a circle is. It takes 10 minutes just to find their spots (and I marked each spot with a lovely little clown face on the carpet, with, stupidly, their name on it!) And lining up takes me physically moving them into place and specifically telling them "don't move yet." I need some kind of little song for standing in line. I'll check on Pinterest later!
Holy Fuck! And why the hell are they not potty trained? These kids are five, some are six years old! I had four accidents in two days! I think they just get too busy and forget to go.
Anyway, this land of Kindergarten is a whole new world! I am shocked and surprised by how little school experience some of these children have had! I'm sorry I am completely rambling. I am in shock from what I have to do this year. It's completely new and they are basically starting at zero.
So, when it comes time to cast your vote, please think about voting for people who support early childhood education. Every child should come to school able to sing the ABC song, know their colors, know how to hold a pencil and do their times tables. So, if you haven't registered to vote, please do! You can click here to get started! If ou already are a voter, please keep yourself informed and make sure the person you are electing is someone who cares about our youngest citizens!
Okay, I'll get off my soapbox. I have felt alphabet pieces to cut out and better get working!
