My day with Ms. Gedvilas!

So for switch day numero dos I got to spend the day with my soon to be sister in law Leigh! I must be honest in that going into this Leigh has been what I imagine a really close to perfect teacher is. And part of that is simply my sisterly love for her and the other part of it is because I've often seen the hard work that she puts in. So needless to say I was nervous to be around this perfect idea in my head. It didn't help that I got a little lost on my way to her school. When I got there and settled in, I realized something so cool, that Leigh really is an amazing teacher. Her ability to manage a classroom of 25 some odd little kinder babies truly left me speechless a few times. Since it has been a little while since I spent time with that age group I was honestly intimidated by the kids. However, the wonderful little community that Leigh has created welcomed me with open arms. Leigh is an incredibly thoughtful teacher, from the pictures on the walls of the Alphabet with the kids to the schedule with little moving breaks, she truly has thought of everything. I also loved how many elements of BP were infused into the classroom. I felt at home in B108 despite not having ever (shamefully) been there before. At the end of the day the kids were so cute in asking me to come back and visit again. I desperately wish I could!

One of the many lessons I learned from visiting is that the little mini-communities that teaching creates are fairly similar and that good teachers make good classrooms. I have been fortunate enough to see so many good teachers and Leigh is definitely one of them. Her patience and understanding of her students was so clear. She could tell when they were getting antsy and would simply play a song and have them dance it out. Leigh is truly a gifted and skilled teacher. The students are so luck to have such a thoughtful and caring person leading their little group. I hope that someday I can be as good a teacher as she is.....

Dearest Leigh, thank you thank you thank you again. I am blessed to have you in my life for so many reasons AND because you'll be my go to person next fall when I am alone in the classroom and terrified!