10 Things I Learned in Kindergarten

This past week I spent time in a kindergarten classroom. Y’all know I am gearing up to teach middle school so kinder is not in my wheelhouse! ⠀⠀

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However, getting out of my comfort zone is one of my favorite parts of subbing. You learn so much from each grade level and their teachers! I did not expect to fall in love with those little kiddos but I sure did! ⠀⠀

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In seven days we celebrated birthdays, learned about reindeer, conquered how to count syllables, and read lots of Judy Moody. I learned so much about who I am as a person and educator thanks to this class! ⠀⠀

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I wanted to share with y’all my top 10 things I learned while being a kindergarten teacher for a week...⠀⠀

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1. Kindergarteners are honest. They will let you know exactly what they think. It’s never coming from a bad place, but they give you clear feedback and genuine compliments that help you adapt and grow. I LOVE their honesty. ⠀⠀

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2. Kindergartners are kind. They effortlessly show kindness to others. Don’t get me wrong we had our not kind moments, but overall kindness came easy to them. ⠀⠀

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3. They LOVE to help!! They want to help each other and they really want to help the teacher. When they saw someone struggling, they were so quick to jump up and try to help them out. It was never because they wanted something in return either. They found pure joy from helping others. ⠀⠀

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4. They are so welcoming. They welcomed me with open arms. They welcomed every student and teacher who walked in the door. They wanted to know their name and made sure to tell them they were happy to see them. They welcomed each other with open hearts and open minds.⠀⠀

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5. They celebrated each other all the time. They celebrated when their classmates mastered a new skill, created a cool art project, did a cool trick at recess, or knew how to write a full sentence on their own. Anything and everything was met with genuine excitement and celebration. ⠀⠀

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6. Kindergartners forgive. I have decided that showing that everyone makes mistakes (even teachers) helps students see that mistakes are ok too! So, I messed up a few times. I was honest and told them I made a mistake. They immediately told me it was ok and that they forgave me. They were forgiving with each other too. They accepted apologies and moved forward without any lasting anger or grudges. I think this is one thing adults could learn from kindergarteners. ⠀

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7. They enjoy every. Single. Moment. I was reminded to take it all in. You only get 24 hours in a day so we better make the most of it. Make each moment fun and find joy in the little things. They radiated pure excitement whether we were reading, coloring, dancing, or picking up our messes. This is one way I want to be more like kindergartners. ⠀

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8. Kindergarten teachers- y’all are super heroes. Through my subbing experience I’ve come to see that each teacher is made for their level and they are so needed. I’ve always appreciated the younger level teachers, but this game me a different perspective that has deepened my appreciation. These teachers are teaching the necessary foundational skills for the students both in and out of the classroom. These teachers spend every day preparing these students to be confident and respectful learners. Thank you for all you do. ⠀

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9. Kindergarten teachers are so creative. Another shout out to all our kinder educators because your lessons are so fun and engaging! I was even enjoying the crafts and stories! Y’all do an incredible job at teaching skills through activities that 5 and 6 year olds thoroughly enjoy. I was truly blown away by their plans!⠀

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10. I know all teachers are passionate and patient. If you weren’t, you wouldn’t have become a teacher. However, these kindergarten teachers overflow with passion and patience . Every day you show up excited. Every day you show up with an abundance of patience . Every day you show up with the determination to build a strong foundation in every single student. Kindergarten teachers, you have a special kind of passion and patience. It is something I can’t even explain. Thank you for showing up every day for these little ones even if you’re tired and burnt out. These kids need you and they appreciate you. I know you aren’t told it enough, but you are important and you are making a difference!!!⠀

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There are a few things in here that I think some of us can learn from. If 5 & 6 year olds can love each other well, so can we. Keep that in mind! So thankful for the chance to learn new things every day & I can’t wait to share more of my substitute top 10s!