At the end of the last academic year, I was fortunate enough to get transferred to a school within walking distance of where I live. This is the final year in which the TDSB brings the Full Day Kindergarten programme into their schools – and I was hired to be an additional teacher on staff to fulfill this obligation. My classroom has recently been renovated to suit the kindergarten programme and boasts new cupboards, new furniture and new boards.
The lack of colour in the classroom suits the new directive from the Early Learning Years department within the TDSB: neutral colours aim at calming the children.
The boards await the contributions of the children to bring them to life – as do the centres.
As I sit in my chair looking at my classroom, I acknowledge that it is not yet fully equipped. However, the space is waiting for us to make it our own. I am grateful for the the opportunity, not only to work closer to home, but also to begin a classroom from scratch.
What have you been grateful for this week?
© Colline Kook-Chun, 2014
(Join me and share something that you have been grateful for in the past week. Link up with my post and feel free to use the badge my daughter created. )
Thank you for last week’s contributions – there were a record number. I enjoy reading what others are grateful for – the posts make me think of other things I am happy to have in my life.
The Gratitude Attitude: The Summer’s Bounty
Gratitude Wednesday: Morning Coffee
Colline's Blog 
Colline, your new classroom is beautiful. How much fun it must be for you to start the school year with a blank classroom. You must be excited about making it your’s and your student’s room from scratch.
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I am. I worked in it a little more today with my ECE and have made a few additions 🙂
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I hope you post when you’ve added your personal touches. I like the idea of calming colors.
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I certainly will. The walls will be covered with handmade posters and children’s work.
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As they should be. 🙂
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“Child calming” sounds very good to me. 😀
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I will see whether it makes a difference. 🙂
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So pretty! How fun to start with a clean slate! Enjoy your new class!! Hope these first weeks go well 🙂
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Thank you so much Annie. I am sure I will be posting more on my classroom experiences 🙂
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How wonderful to start a classroom from “scratch”. And how wonderful to be teaching kinder, I love that age. Have a great year, Colline.
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They are wonderful. They always say and do things to make you smile.
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It’s a lovely classroom, Colline. And large. Having been a teacher most of my adult life — and in so many different venues — I can feel the excitement of this new beginning with you. Hope you have a truly fantastic year.
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Thank you Sandra. As the school building is old (150 years), the classrooms are bigger than what are found in the newer buildings.
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Hi again, Colline. Here is my entry for the gratitude challenge http://angelinem.wordpress.com/2014/09/03/the-gratitude-attitudea-new-home/
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You have a wonderful thing to be grateful for – a new home 🙂
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Best of luck with your new classroom – you’ll be enjoying children at their least self conscious and creative best…hope to see the more colourful version of the room once you and the kids are finished with it!
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I will post pictures as we go along. It will truly be a work in progress 🙂
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That is a really beautiful classroom Colline. 🙂
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We are really happy in it. We have the light shining through so we can use natural light.
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I like your new room – light is good! have a great end of the week and happy back to school to you and the students.
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Thank you so much. I think we are going to enjoy being in the new space.
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Calming good! 🙂 At least it’s not the idea of no windows which was popular for a while. A few schools are stuck with that. 😦
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Thankfully I do not have a room like that. I love the natural light and only use the fluorescent lights when days are dark.
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Empty for now…. but it speaks with great possibility and room for creativity. 😉
I am thankful that my big test is done today. I’ve been cramming to study alll week. I’m so glad it’s finallly over!!!
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It has been a while since I have done that. I am thankful for that 🙂
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With 14 boys in your class, I think you will need all the calming you can get. A lovely room, just waiting for you and the children to add their own colourful touches. 🙂
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They have shown me already that they are active 🙂
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I like the colour scheme in new furniture. I hope the little ones will be at their best behaviour when they enter the new classroom. Break a leg, Colline!
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Thank you Paula. We are still establishing routines and getting to know one another. 🙂
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I am grateful that I have a son who works in the trades as our 15 year boiler died this week and we have had a few days of cold showers! Grateful it is September and not January as well! Tomorrow a new one is going in. Also grateful that my cousin is a mechanic as my car needed repairs this week as well. Kaching!
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It is always a good thing to have family members in the trade. Not only do they save you money, but they also do a good job for you 🙂
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Good to know you have been equipped with a great new school room Colline.
Cant say I agree with the placid calming colours, seems a bit dismal to me, colours are what brightens the emotions in young hearts, colurs are what give excitement and images of adventure to young minds.
Cheers
Emu
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This is the current rage and, as you know, the decor du jour may be different in a few years 🙂
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I do understand the joy of teaching in a clean, updated room. It’s made my semester a joy so far.
As for gratitude, I try to post 5 things for which I’m grateful here each Weds. Your post reminded me that I need to do one this week.
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You have listed some positive things to be grateful for.
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Colline, I had to follow your blog when I say your name. My is Colleen. You have a lovely site here. I adore your Gratitude Sunday! ❤
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And I had to follow too 🙂
Thank you. I hope you join me every week in sharing what you are grateful for.
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Yes I will. I love the positive message. Thank you.
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I am grateful for wordpress!
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Me too. I have met so many interesting people through my blog.
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Wow!!! Kindergarden…You are a BRAVE woman 😉
Congratulations on your new class and best of luck!
I must admit though, I was partial to the half day. It’s my #5’s first year as full day as well. I know she will be fine, she’s not a napper, my #4 would have been horrid though! Poor teachers!
Again, Good Luck and Enjoy 😉
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Half day is easier on both the children and the teachers. This is my second year doing full day and I have leant to find ways of helping them to relax 🙂
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The room looks fab Colline, so spacious and calming. Looks like a really nice place to work. 🙂 I wish I could say the same about social services, the cutbacks are unbelievable and staff moral is at an all time low. Still at least I have a job! My entry is via Instagram this week, nature always inspires me to feel grateful, no matter what else is happening. 😀
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It is difficult to remain positive in an environment where cutbacks threaten your job. The best is, as you say, to be thankful that you still have your job and to make the best of things.
I did see your entry for this week but am struggling to find the link so I can include it in my post. Can you share it please?
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So true Colline, what else can you do in these difficult recession days. It’s my job to inspire my staff, I give it 100% and when I get home I lose myself in artwork! Great coping stratedgy! Here’s the link 🙂 http://instagram.com/p/stvjnuSD8k/?modal=true
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Sorry I am early again but if I wait till tomorrow(here) I am going to forget again to do it. Here is my gratitude one http://scrapydo2.wordpress.com/2014/09/10/animals-on-the-farm-gratitude-project/
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No problem Scrapy. I will just add your link to the bottom of my post 🙂
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Thank you! 😀
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