We Can Cut!

I was brave this week.  Very, very brave!  In only the second week of school I got out the scissors, fit them into my children's little fingers, and placed my hand on the page they were about to cut...

Well, I am pleased to report that I still have all ten fingers, and so do each of my students!  Whew!

I gave a brief scissor safety lesson before arming my three, four, and young five year olds with these TOOLS - they are not to be called or treated like toys in my classroom.  And since weapons are not permitted either, we will call them tools.  My children giggled at this concept.  :-)

Also included in our safety lesson was how to safely hold scissors and walk with scissors - now, this may seem elementary to you readers....but I dare you to put yourself in a classroom full of energized preschoolers armed with scissors.  Bet you go running for the door before I would!  So, hold the shiny part of the scissors with the scissors closed, covering the unsafe part, and WALK.  Never run with scissors.  I believe my children's mouths dropped open as I demonstrated how to hold scissors and proceeded to stab myself in the opposite palm to show how safely holding the scissors would not hurt me or anyone else.  No.  I did not demonstrate this concept on anyone - I happen to enjoy my career choice and do not need accusations of stabbing children with scissors.

Next, how to hand scissors to a friend.  Hold the shiny part (obviously with the scissors closed) and hand the scissors, with the brightly colored handles facing your friend, to your friend. 

Once this brief lesson was completed at circle time (and I perhaps put a true fear of scissors in my children's minds), it was time to cut! 

"My mom doesn't let us use scissors at home!"  My response to this little dear...  "Well, it is your lucky day because this is not your home, it is MY classroom and your mom is not here to make the rules, I do.  And in my classroom we use scissors - safely.  So, here you go!"  This was greeted with a giggle, smile, and excited little boy.  A little boy, mind you, who is not allowed to use scissors (so naturally my thought was oh boy, here we go, I'm going to lose a finger or two), a little boy who was ever so careful and cut so gently along the lines of his shapes that his shapes were nearly cut to perfection - with very, very little assistance.  Maybe his mom should allow him to use scissors at home now. :-)

With each child armed and ready, and the two volunteers, my assistant, and myself strategically stationed to supervise and assist....we set off to cut!  We had children who were naturals - whether it be because they use scissors frequently at home or have attended school before doesn't matter; at preschool age using scissors nears rocket science.  We had children who needed subtle reminders to "open, shut, open, shut," or turn or hold the page, or put their thumb on top while cutting.  And we had others who simply enjoyed snipping the edges of the paper, fringing them.  A few children became frustrated - nothing unexpected.  And a couple needed my special pair of hand over hand scissors. 

Hand over hand scissors.  These are perhaps my favorite thing to use with a new "cutter."  They are child sized.  And have four holes to put fingers in - two (top and bottom) for the child, and two more on the outside of the first two (top and bottom again) for the adult to put her fingers in.  Then, cut, cut, cut....with the chant of "open, shut...open, shut...open, shut..."  My youngest of students enjoyed these as much as I did.  However, he also enjoyed snipping fringes into his paper's edges by using two hands to operate his own pair of scissors...  At least he wasn't going to lose a finger doing it that way!

After each child cut four shapes (square, rectangle, circle, triangle) they glued them to a piece of construction paper to show off their great cutting skills.  They couldn't wait to show them off to their parents at pick up time - luckily no one wanted to take them home right then.  These will be on display in the classroom and then go into portfolios.

Week 1: We'll Call It A Success!

I've just finished my first week of the 2013-2014 school year with my new students!  There have been some tears (by the children, of course), giggles, frustrations, and outright laughs.  The tears have been slowly fading to non-existent.  The giggles became more and more frequent between the children as the week went on and friendships began to form.  The frustrations are being handled more easily.  And the outright laughs have occurred longer and louder each time.  I think it is safe to say we are becoming quite a little family in my classroom!

Either I have grown as a teacher past the first day jitters, or I am just blessed to have such great kids for another year.  This week has overall been relatively stress free.  Routines have been learned quickly, and rules are being enforced by the children.  I will be getting a few more new children next week, and I am sure they will fit right in with us. 

I can't wait to see what this year holds!