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Principal Moment

So much has changed since I was a kid.  When I was the students’ age, we turned the dial on phones, found books in the card catalog, waited a whole year to see The Sound of Music on TV, unfolded car maps to find directions, and painted typing mistakes with Liquid Paper.

We dropped the needle on the spinning record and hoped we’d hit the beginning of the song on the very first try, waited for the cassette to beep before turning the knob on the filmstrip projector, and changed the due date in the librarian’s stamp when she wasn’t looking.

Principal Moment

There are certain things that a teacher must never do:  Never pour Plaster of Paris down the sink.  Never stand on a bathroom scale when teaching your students about pounds and ounces.  Never throw a wilted flower away in front of the child who gave it to you no matter how droopy it is.  And never forget to wear green on St. Patrick’s Day. 

Principal Moment

Principal Moment

I have read in the news that some schools are starting to ban sugar from Valentine’s Day celebrations.  I’m all for healthy eating and watching what we eat, but I wonder what schools without holiday treats would be like.

“Happy Valentine’s Day, kids.  Here are your cupcakes.  They’re frosted with avocado.”

“Happy Valentine’s Day, boys and girls!  I dropped celery sticks into your boxes.”

“Happy Valentine’s Day, students.  What do you mean you don’t like tofu sugar cookies?”

Principal Moment

Last night I participated in a Principal Panel.  The panel was held to help BYU Interns and students teachers as they prepare to interview for upcoming jobs.  It caused me to think about the time when I interviewed for my very first teaching job.  It’s hard to believe that it has been almost thirty years ago. 

I can still remember my interview questions: What is your philosophy of education?  What is your classroom management system?  What is your discipline plan? 

Principal Moment

Did you ever wonder where the Boy Who Cried Wolf went to school?   About ten years ago, he was in my first grade class.  He usually talked with his fingers crossed behind his back.  About once a week, he would walk up to me and point to the sky, or my shoes, or my hair and scream, “Mrs. Killian, look!”  I would look and he would shout, “You looked!”  And laugh.  It was the highlight of his day.

Some days, I would refuse to look and this would drive him crazy.

Principal Moment

To celebrate the hundredth day of school, young children all over the country sing songs, shout cheers, read books, count numbers, chant poems, make murals, and string Froot Loop necklaces.  When I was a kid, no one celebrated 100th Day.  Now it’s huge.  On Monday, January 29th, Riverview 1st-6th grades will have been in school for 100 days.  

Principal Moment

When I was in teacher school, I learned a lot about how to teach the different subjects.  But most of what I know about teaching reading, I’ve learned from students.

My students taught me that when inviting children to the reading rug, it is much more exciting when the teacher hides a book behind her back than when she pulls it off the shelf.

They taught me that after gathering kids on the carpet – no matter how many times you say crisscross applesauce – someone in the front row will always sit on her knees.

Principal Moment

Principal Moment

Today is the first day back from Christmas Break; sounds like most had a Merry Christmas.  Legos were a hot item, so were Hover Boards, hatchimals, RC cars, drones, smart watches, and the flu.     

This morning, most kids said they were glad to be back but there were some who were “kinda yes and kinda no.”