I am participating in Alphabet Thursday today. This week the assignment is the letter S. On this last day of the school year with the children, S represents sniffles and sadness for me. Every year I marvel at the new group of Students put in my care. I always wonder how I could possibly get a better group of students ....but I always do. I can't get over how leaky the ceiling gets at this time of the year. We have a special moving up ceremony for each grade level and give out awards. The parents come back to the room to get their child's report card. I had a terrible case of the sniffles as I stuffed these in each report card envelope with the letter below for each student. I also included a letter for the parents. Any of you teachers out there are welcome to copy it.
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Lindsay,
You're a very special person,
And we wanted you to know.
How we loved to be your teacher,
How fast the weeks did go!
Please come back to visit us
As through the grades you grow,
Try hard to learn all that you can
There is so much to know!!
Remember all the fun we had
in all the things we did,
But most of all remember...
You're a very special kid!
Thanks for the memories!
Love,
Mrs. B and Mrs. K
Kindergarten 2009-2010
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Dear Parents,
I give you back your child, the same child you confidently entrusted to our care last fall. I give her back pounds heavier, inches taller, months wiser, more responsible, and more mature than she was then.
Although she would have attained her growth in spite of me, it has been my pleasure and privilege to watch her personality unfold day by day and marvel at this splendid miracle of development.
I give her back reluctantly, for having spent nine months together in the narrow confines of a crowded classroom, we have grown close, have become a part of each other, and we shall always retain a little of each other.
We have lived, loved, laughed, played, studied, learned, and enriched our lives together this year. I wish it could go on indefinitely, but give her back I must. Take care of her, for she is precious.
Remember that I will always be interested in your child and her destiny, wherever she goes, whatever she does, whoever she becomes. Her joys and sorrows I will always be happy to share.
Much Love,
Mrs. B
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I also make a CD of all of the pictures I take for the school year and give it to the parents. This year a parent offered to do the CDs for me which I thought was really sweet.
What a beautiful stop on our little journey through Alphabe-Thursday's Letter "S". Our middle Grand graduated from kindergarten yesterday and she was given these poems, too.
They made me cry.
As did watching all the innocent little children singing "Inch by Inch, Row by Row".
What an important task you have molding these young minds and spirits and how luck the children are to have such a caring, compassionate, creative teacher as you to start their journey into school with!
Thanks for a wonderful post!
A+
Such a nice and heartfelt post...MrsC is a teacher...I'll make sure she sees this...way cool...Namaste
You nearly made me cry. Beautifully written.
Wow, what great memento's for the children and their parents. That is a wonderful thing to do. It is such a great age to get to know them.
Very cool. I really should do something like this. It is really sweet.
Your kids are so lucky to have you as their teacher.
Awww, how sweet. It's so nice to "meet" another kindred spirit who feels the same way about their students that I did. So many of today's younger teachers are only teaching for convenience of the teaching calander. They come late, leave early, and say "thank goodness it's over, bring on summer" at the end of the year. The last two years that I worked with my teacher, we made scrapbooks for each child using the photographs that we'd taken all year of our activities and parties. We also inserted samples of their work from throughout the year to show their progress. The parents and students loved it. I hope you have a great summer!
I know exactly how you feel, I never, ever wear mascara on the last day of school or it will be running down my face. Especially now since I have taught for 10 years at the same school. I have had some many siblings go through my class! Many of my parents cry as well. It is a sad but at the same time, a joyful day!
You must be a great teacher! I always thought that the stars should be the kindergarten teachers so that the little one would have the best when they are so young and just starting out. I can't imagine being with all those kids all day long! I was blessed to have a "star" kindergarten teacher for one of my kids! Joni
My son graduated Kindergarten last night! It was so sweet and cute and I was just amazed at how much he has grown up this year and how much he has learned.
Bless you for all of YOUR hard work. I'm sure there are hundreds of parents out there now who are blessed by all you do for their children.
(((HUGS)))
Oh i just loved your post ... the letters back to the students and parents will be cherished. What a wonderful gift you have given to both students and parents!
I have a feeling I'll be sniffling next week! My girl is finishing Kinder. They do a program at the end of the year and sing "Watch me grow".
I can only imagine what would happen if teachers in middle school did this, or even high school. It's easy in kindergarden when they are small and cute, but things get trickier when they are older, thinking for themselves, and expressing themselves sometimes inapropriately. Big kids need the affirmation even more when the pressures to conform to the crowd are so strong. Well done, Teachers. Keep on loving and affirming our children. Rosemary
You are an amazing teacher. I wish I had kids and you were their teacher. Keep up the good work and go out and enjoy your SUMMER.
What a wonderful thing to do, which teachers here were more like you.
Hugs RosieP x
What a beautiful letter - I so hope that when my daughter is in Kindergarten she gets a teacher as wonderful as you.
Aww..sweet poem for children and parents. I went to my granddaughters preschool grad. yesterday. There were only 3 in the class that have been together the last two years. And when we got ready to leave one of those three was crying because she would not see my granddaughter next year because she will be going to a different school for kindergarten. I almost cried too.
So sweet! I got chills reading the letters. You are one special kindergarten teacher. I'm a little jealous that neither you nor Richard Halpern from "Look at my Happy Rainbow" didn't teach my children when they were in kindergarten.
After nine months of watching them grow, it's almost like giving birth and putting the child up for adoption.
What beautiful letters! I bet they love them.
My 4 year-old's preschool teacher cried when she told him good-bye today. She told me that she loves him so much.
I was tearing up, too. We've been blessed to have her this year. She was exactly what he needed.
Very nice post! I always wonder...what do teachers do during summer vacation? And do you choose rather or not to teach summer school, or are some teachers assigned?
That is so sweet. We need more teachers like you. xoxo
We still have 7 weeks of term to go here in England. I enjoy teaching, but I am looking forward to the summer break. My class have been hard work this year.
So sweet. Your letters to the children and parents must be treasured :).
Bless you for loving all those little ones that enter your classroom.
Catherine :)
What a wonderful teacher you are!!! I know that the parents of your students feel so blessed to have you love on their children!!! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Awwww! That is SO sweet! Those are letters to cherish forever for sure. You, my friend, are what being a teacher is all about! :)
this is a perfect way to end their school year for them. i hope they do come back and say hi, and often. :]
Absolutely loved your post! It is so hard to send them on and you're right, we think we'll never have another class as cute as that one.
But the next year comes along and sure enough, I find myself saying, all over again, they are the cutest class ever. :)
Thanks for visiting my blog! I appreciate the comment! As it turned out, the family of the lost boy is a frequent flier with the school. They'll be keeping a close eye on them for sure!!
Hope you don't mind if I follow along with your kindergarten adventures!
What a sweet blog. Stop over at See Foxes tomorrow for an award from me.
what wonderful things you do for your families, I am sure they adore you! Teachers are the most important people in our kids lives (besides us of course!
what a lovely gift you give to your students and their parents.
I'll bet each of those parents had a case of the sniffles too, on receiving that note - what a lovely memento of the first year of formal schooling.
I am sure you had more than one student who was hoping you were moving up with them!
thanks for caring for our children!
I hope my son someday gets a teacher like you. What a neat post!
Sara
Oh, you are too wonderful.
Why are teachers like you so scarce????
The parents must just clamor for you there...
From one Mrs B to another this is a great post!
Thanks for coming to see me in Normandy, I wish you a wonderful summer in NC.
We'll be in SC this fall at our home away from home in Hilton Head.
We love the Carolina's.
~Maggie~
Wow. Your kids are so lucky to have you as their teacher. I am sure they will be back someday thanking you for all that you've done.
Those are beautiful words to give to kindergartners---I bet they'll always remember you because you took the extra effort to make them feel special. And I know that if I received a letter like that from one of my children's teachers, I'd be leaving with a few sniffles and sadness in me, too!
That is really so beautiful! What wonderful teachers!
Those little momentoes teachers give at the end of the school are such cherished treasures. I know my children love going back and seeing their former teachers - teachers make such an impact on our lives!
Wow, what a terrific idea! I am sure the parents AND the students love getting this poem. The CD with all the pictures is a great way to remind them of their kindergarten teacher and their classmates - something they can hang on to forever! I am currently in school obtaining my masters in elem ed for K-6 and would like to use this for my class. T is for Thank you!!!
This actually made me teary eyed Pam! You're so wonderful!!
Stop by and snatch your well deserved award when you have a moment:
http://boobiesbabiesblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/you-guys-love-me-and-i-love-you.html
Love your blog. All our children were blessed with amazing Kindergarten teachers that I believe set them on their paths to successful adulthood.
In addition, I need to let you know that you, VKT, are the winner of our $25 gift certificate for our blog contest. My email attempt to contact you failed, so I'm hoping to reach you here. Please contact me for details & to claim your prize!
Enjoy your summer break!
Norma
That is so sweet! It is easy to tell what an amazing teacher you are and how much you enjoy doing what you do.
I'm sorry I haven't been by lately. I was REALLY sick last week with Strep, plus we were trying to get ready for Morgan's graduation. It is definitely that crazy time of the year. I'm sure you are all too familiar. :0)
Have a wonderful day!
Blessings,
Teresa <><
WOW! All teachers make a difference in little one's lives but WOW you are one of those teachers that people remember growing up even when they are 30, 40, 50+. Loved reading this post and so glad to know these little ones are in such good hands!
I echo everyone's sentiment: You are SUCH A SPECIAL teacher!
xoRobyn
What a devoted and caring teacher you are. Have a wonderful summer - you deserve it.
Just catching up on my blogging friends because we have been away.
What beautiful letter and poem. It certainly is something for the parents to cherish forever. You are such a very special kindegarten teacher and I know your children will remember you always, special teachers always are.
Take care.
Enjoy your summmer.
I hope you will still be blogging!
Oh what a bittersweet day for you! Sending you lots of hug :)
That letter is a powerful, moving tear jerker. Wow.
Have a great summer I wish I had awesome teachers like you for my buggy every single year ...then my life as mom would be easier!
I know how you feel about the end of the year…I do, too.
Hope your summer is full of new adventures and times to recharge you for the upcoming year.
What a great letter - thanks for sharing. You are such an amazing educator!
Wonderful! new follower
That is beautiful!! {sniff}
I would absolutely bawl if I got a letter like that from my kids teacher! What a nice idea...
And I have to tell you, I STILL have a little picture my 1st grade teacher made me. She made us all a snoopy picture of Snoopy doing whatever it was we said we wanted to do when we got older....mine was a teacher and when the kids are older I still want to do that!
Oh that is adorable! :D
I was wondering if you'd be willing to let me post this letter up on my website when it's up? You'll find it linked to my name. It's not finished yet but it's for teachers who do things a little differently and keep trying to make their teaching better and better. Teachers who care.
This letter would make a great article, and of course I'd link back to your blog.