appreciation for the half-alive flower

the appreciation that comes when you SEE a child loving school.

Today is "national teacher appreciation" day.

School communities come together in a chosen way to say 'thank you' to their teachers.
Certainly, a lovely gesture overall.

Over the years, I have absolutely appreciated being appreciated by the families in my class.

It has often been a dear, sweet gift of TIME out of the classroom for a hosted lunch. Or, perhaps a collective gift made by the children during some "top secret" project time that the teachers didn't know about (we did, but we said we didn't :)

"Oh, wow, look at that...!"

painted vases, colorful murals, scrapbooks of amazing photos, magical wands, artwork and letters and songs and dances...

My favorite part is saying Thank You back to the children and families to see their delighted faces that THEIR efforts to appreciate me were truly appreciated.

 

Here's the thing, though:
I have never needed this exact, planned appreciation from the children and families.

I have always received appreciation daily from them
in the moments that are just flickers: 
1.  the hand on my arm to check in about something
2. the half-alive flower brought by the student from their garden that morning
3. the "good morning" hug, and even more wonderful -
4. the child who says HELLO and just strides right past me to get to their friends who are already playing in the classroom.

I am very appreciative of my job because it is actually my life.  

I am appreciative of the families that have given me the stories that have made up my school memories and, in turn, the content of this blog.

Cheers to 

being grateful, appreciative and thankful for the FLICKERS of wonder that make up a teacher's day.

Hope YOU have a day with flickers and moments...

from, zella.

four stories

Teaching means meeting amazing invented characters..

April First.
Only been blogging for four months.
Has changed my perspective, my writing, my connections globally with early childhood educators. Has changed my life. 
Wanted to re-introduce four stories that are favorites of mine from each month I have been blogging (just in case you missed them and Zella wasn't part of your blog life yet :)



Cheers to...

December 2010:   
"I need dirty water"
making friends, planning, joining into a game.

January 2011:  
the umbrella hat
writing a full story, listening to children.

February 2011:   
math sightings
authentic math, materials, explorations.

March 2011:  
parachutes and hula hoops
get outside.










Thanks for reading and supporting Zella Said Purple. cheers.

places to find hope

The school I worked at for many years was affiliated with a church.
The families and children attending the school didn't have to be of that particular religion yet we did speak of god and holidays associated with a variety of religions.

What I especially loved about being a teacher at this school was witnessing how young children could connect with a spiritual side of feeling and knowing, seemingly deeper than perhaps how adults connect.

There are so many tough things that happen in the world and we all need some form of connection for support and HOPE.

The paintings in the post today are paintings that the children made for one of the church staff who - ironically - had her birthday on Christmas. This staff person had shared so many wonderful stories with the children of how you can find God - HOPE - everywhere, not just in a church.

 

The children made a collection of paintings to share where we thought we could find God ...where we could find HOPE when we need it. 

The original water paintings were made into a book of HOPE.
The book was given to the staff person to thank her for helping us think about the beauty of the world - the beauty of HOPE everywhere.