Friends! Day 4 of 22 Days of Thankfulness

One of the things in my life that I'm most thankful for is friendships.  Over the years, I've come to really value those few true friends. I have one special friend, Becky, that shares my love of preschool teaching. We share thoughts, ideas and great times together. I'm am so thankful that I have someone who gets as excited as I do about teaching early childhood. Whether it is Conscious Discipline, the Twilight Saga (she made me read it ;) or the wonderful, crazy things that go on in our days, we can talk for hours. If it weren't for her, I'd probably drive my husband bonkers! I love her for so many reasons and am so very grateful to have her in my life. 

I am also very fortunate that by the very nature of my job, I get to witness young children's friendships form and flourish. Every year, I have the opportunity and the privilege to help foster these friendships in Pre-K with a new group of "friends". One of the advantages to teaching Pre-K in a child care center is that often, I get to know some of the students and families years before they come to me in Pre-K. There is a very special friendship between two sweet little girls that won't come to Pre-K for a couple of years, yet. I visit them for a few minutes in the morning and get a few hugs and it starts my day off on a great note. I call them my "breakfast club". 

Two of the little girls are the very best of friends. Their families are friends and they've been together forever. They usually arrive within a few minutes of each other. The first to arrive always eagerly awaits the other, often getting special toys out and ready for  them to play together. This special friendship is so amazing to watch, it brings tears to my eyes just thinking of how special their friendship really is. I am so thankful that I get to start my workday almost every day by getting even a small glimpse of this little, but very deep friendship grow!

What are you thankful for in your school or blogging life?

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Ratfink!

I love the dynamics of preschool friendship. In order to foster friendship and a sense of community, I refer to my students as "friends". They all are friends, for the most part. Many of my twenty have been together since infancy. Several friends joined our school this year upon entering into the lottery Pre-K program. Those friends have been graciously welcomed into the fold. It's hard to tell who has been here forever and who is a relative "newcomer". All of my twenty play and interact well together. They stand up for each other, care and empathize with one another and save each other's spot.We don't have a lot of "he's not my friend" whining like I have seen on occasion in years past. Generally, a great group!

Okay, that being said, there is another dynamic to preschool friendship, "The Rat Fink". It always amazes me that the two friends who will defend each other to the death, will rat each other out in a heartbeat! Often, in a very helpful way: "Mrs. Ayn, I saw CULPRIT doing so-and-so, and I reminded him to make a good choice, but look!". And almost always, CULPRIT will turn around and say something like, "Well, RAT FINK was doing it and I was going to make a good choice, but he wasn't, so...." .

The most amazing thing is that after all this, the two friends, aka RATFINK and CULPRIT will go off hand in hand, neither mad or upset that the other has reported his actions! I always tell my assistant that we had better do a great job teaching, because our friends are certainly not cut out for a tough life of crime and deceit! (Thank GOD!!!)