Kindergarten Cop Promoted to Sheriff

So, for those of you've who read my blog last week and wondering "So, what's going on?" here's the update! Let's just say there's a new sheriff in town!

1. We walked to our room in 4 minutes and 30 seconds today! (Last week it took over 30 minutes)
2. "Mrs S I like you. You care about me." (Last week, "I want to go back to my class NOW!" and screamed and kicked while saying it.)
3. We read 3 books aloud with discussion! (Last week it took over 30 minutes to try to get through one book and the only discussion was me explaining how to sit and listen to a book!)
4. Each student read out of their book bag and felt like they were readers! (Last week they were throwing their book bags and shouting I CAN'T READ.)
5. They were attempting to write words and stretching sounds on their own with a dry erase board and marker. (Last week they were fighting over the markers and pressing with the tip of the marker into the board while scribbling with the markers.)
6. Words heard from the students today: "Thank you." "You look nice today." "I like your haircut." "Yeah, you can make a lower case e now." "You waited for Mrs. S to call on you." (Last week: "Shut up" "You are stupid" "I don't like you" "I'm going to hit you" "My momma will come after your momma" "I will poke you until you cry with my pencil")

So, how did the cop become sheriff? It wasn't the $$$ I spent on different motivational things. It wasn't the time I spent trying to find the "just right book" that would make the point. No, I think it was the expectation I had for them and the love I showed them "no matter what". Oh yes, there were times I wondered what I had gotten myself into. (After the first day I was asking the entire admin team and otehrs for ideas to survive as I've never seen anything quite like it.) Although these children's home situation is so different from anything I've ever worked with so closely, their needs are very similar--treat me with respect and love and I'll do the same (eventually!)

Being sheriff is so much easier than being cop!