This past week was teacher appreciation week, and even though I have told the kids time and again that I am not a teacher, the student council included me in their round of gift making for the teachers. Of course, I was beyond touched and happy. My favorite has to be “best book mommy” and #book.
Nico’s teacher is so, so supportive of my goals to read to the kids and has really done a lot of great things with her class. We’re working on a book report where the kids are going to do a video “book review” of their book. The 8th graders will edit the videos as part of their final computer class project. It’s should be so cute!
In the meantime, I’m still reading James and the Giant Peach to the first grade. The other day I got to the part where the centipede sings a song bashing Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker to Miss Spider, who is sad because the aunts flushed her dad down the drain. At the end of the songs the narrator says the audience (James, Miss Spider, Earthworm, etc.) all clap in appreciation. When I said that sentence, the first grade started clapping! Nico’s teacher and I shared a look and laughed. So stinkin’ cute. When they left for PE, one girl came up to me and said solemnly, “Mrs. Kendall, you are a good librarian.”
This could not have come at a better time because lately I have been feeling so tired, so run down. I’ve been doing too much, eating too poorly, and not sleeping nearly enough. Summer vacation can’t some soon enough, though I will miss interacting with the kids.
A homemade present from a 7th grade girl! I will treasure it for the rest of my life. I’m using it as a bookmark for Island of the Blue Dolphins and the other day when I pulled it out of my bag to read she looked surprised and pleased that I was using it. As if I wouldn’t use it! She’s lucky I didn’t parade around the school waving it like a flag of victory.
Have a happy, happy weekend, friends.
p.s. I’m so excited book club is back in business! THANK YOU for the push. :)
It’s such a warm feeling to get this kind of return on investment.
:) :) :)
I love the homemade bookmark! The stitching makes it look high quality. And “The Mrs. Kendall”? Awesome. No mistaking who is reading that book, LOL
I know you’ll be missing the school & interactions but I’m glad summer is coming to give you some rest. You’ve really taken that library under your wing and I know they’ll benefit even stronger from your ideas & research next year after some greatly deserved time off!
I swear it is your library posts that provided the critical push to accept the opportunity to go back in the classroom for these last weeks of school. Now I have a big decision to make. I love working with kids. I have felt jealous of you all year. But the exhaustion. I know it and feel it. So wish we could have one without the other.
So glad to hear you are ending your year with so much gratitude from the kiddos! You totally deserve it after all the hard work you’ve put in over the school year!
wow, I love that bookmark! Do you think she could do a guest post with a tutorial on how to make those? Kidding….sort of.
How are you liking Island of the Blue Dolphins? I loved that book when I was a kid, I think I read it in 4th grade? And James & the Giant Peach is another fave, I love all Roald Dahl (especially his adult stuff, so creepy)!
Island of the Blue Dolphins and a handmade bookmark? That’s a great match! Each time you post about the work you’re doing in the library/school it reminds me why we continue to push through the exhaustion when it comes to our children (and when I say ‘our’ I mean all the kids we interact with in our communities of school/church/neighbors). It does pay off in so many ways – win/win! *and, yes, summer IS coming. that doesn’t change my work schedules, but not having to handle homework & extra activities in the evenings? Heaven. Happy Friday!
Of course you are a teacher. A librarian is the best kind of teacher. These kids will be reading books long past the time when they’re doing algebra problems. You are doing a really great job. You deserve summer vacation though
Lump in my throat, tears in my eyes. Best book mommy, indeed. Happy Mother’s Day!
Oh… Island of the Blue Dolphins! My favorite childhood book. What a great read!