Last week when I was walking to church one day I saw a rainbow walking in front of me! It was a kindergarten/preschool class/es walking somewhere. They were super cute! I thought I should protect their privacy and just took a picture from the back when I was quite far away so that I wouldn't scare the teachers. I did catch up with them before I had to turn, of course, since my legs are a bit longer than theirs! The teacher being the caboose told the kids to say good morning to me-which they did in English. They seemed very excited to be going somewhere. The kids were walking in pairs, just like we always did when I was a kid. Each class/section had a different colored hat, the cause of the rainbow effect. When I was teaching elementary school each class tie-dyed t-shirts, my class's color was purple, when we went on field trips. It sure made it easy to find the kids from your own class quickly!
Anyway, as I was watching them walk down the street I was thinking of that poster, everything I need to know I learned in kindergarten. Besides the stringent academics of kindergarten, we did learn some important lessons. Things like: take a nap every day; always hold hands with your buddy; tell the teacher your tummy hurts right away; take time to read every day; etc.
I loved kindergarten and have a few good memories. Those of you who were there with me will have to let me know if I remember correctly! I think probably my most vivid memory, which is not necessarily a good memory, is when Steve Barker threw up in the classroom. The good thing was that we got an extra recess! I remember laying on our little carpets for nap time. I remember that I got to go to school with my friend, Signe, who then had to go to the rest of elementary school at Garfield. Was that the year we went to the zoo? I remember being scared to death of the 'big' kids, anyone over third grade.
Speaking of third grade, I had a wonderful teacher, Mrs. Thayer. She is retiring this year. Thank you for your commitment to educating children. What a blessing you have been to so many!
What do you remember about kindergarten?
