101 Things I Love About Beansprouts

As I approach my 1 year anniversary of working at Beansprouts, I have been reflecting on the many things I have loved about our amazing program!  So for this blog post I offer you: 101 Things I Love About Beansprouts!
 

1. Love.  I wanted to be somewhere there was love and I found it at Beansprouts.
2. Dancing.  There is always dancing at Beansprouts.
3. The food is amazing.  And healthy.  And so delicious. 
4. Holding babies.  The babies in our care are so well loved and cared for.
5. Children who play the piano for me and sing from The Sound of Music.
6. Hugs.  I am hugged all day long.
7. No bleach.  We use natural cleaning products with no toxins.
8. Children telling me they love me before they leave for the day.
9. We can do our morning meeting outside when it’s nice out.
10. Pre-K reminds me every day that we are a family.
11. We use real glasses for water.  It teaches us to be calm and careful.
12. That reminds me: We drink water.  No juice.  And we have milk with our cereal.
13. My children call me by my first name.  It's personal and I love it!
14. A child once asked me “Why don’t deer want to eat us?”
15. Some parents walk through my room just to say hi.  I'd miss it for sure.
16. During my breaks, I get to rock babies but I don’t have to change diapers.
17. All of our rocking chairs belonged to someone’s grandmother or mother.
18. Siblings in different classes stop and hug each other in passing.
19. A year later, the “new” playground is still so much fun.
20. The moose.  I’m told every day that it is “Gigi’s Moose”.
21. The number of parents who came to help with the new playground.
22. The clever t-shirts: “Give Peas a Chance” and “Lettuce Be Friends”
23. Taking field trips with Pre-K. 
24. Learning philosophies centered around child interest and play based learning.
25. The learning philosophies are everything I have believed in for the past 15 years.
26. It’s one of my favorite places to be.
27. Starbucks is right down the road.  I like hot chocolate.
28. If you enter the building after 11am, it smells amazing because lunch is ready.
29. The Director is one of the best I have met.  I said yes because of her.
30. The staff is like family.
31. We take care of our space and it teaches our children to do the same.
32. A fellow teacher gives me hope. I feel honored to work with her.
33. The new gym on rainy days. 
34. The new gym on sunny days too.
35. Pre-K celebrates birthdays. 
36. Beansprouts celebrates every staff member’s birthday.  We love birthdays!!
37. The overall program is one of the most unique programs in the business.
38. Dance parties. 
39. Checklist Friday.  Pre-K makes a checklist of things to do and they’re all fun!
40. We have a Facebook page.  I am a devoted social media fan.
41. We have a male teacher who is nurturing, caring, attentive, and fun.
42. Angela Garrison.  I would have said yes the moment I met her.  She’s got “it”. 
43. The absolute amazing families I have come to love over the past year.
44. Most kids call me “Lissa” and I love it.
45. Their laughs are contagious.
46. When I didn’t feel well, Pre-K set up nap mats so I could rest.  It made me cry.
47. The children remind me to dance like nobody is watching.  And to shake it.
48. One teacher walks on releve because she’s a dancer.  So do her kids.
49. I get the middle classroom.  It means I get to say hello to everyone.
50. Our neighbor shares natural treasures she finds (like walnut shells!).
51. Did I mention the love?
52. I’m pretty sure one of the parents is my super-secret-best-friend.  #besties
53. Pre-K goes on super-secret missions to make it under cover before it rains.
54. One of the assistants offers to do my dishes every day. 
55. When my grandmother died, one of Pre-K told me she was still in my heart.
56. One child comes all the way back in if she forgets to give me a hug goodbye.
57. We use Handwriting Without Tears.  I am a huge proponent of this program.
58. Baking cakes from scratch taste so yummy.
59. I can focus on each child’s potential and individualize their learning.
60. The amazing amount of cupboard storage in my room.
61. We do Spirit Weeks.
62. The Polar Express movie day was a highlight of the year.
63. Centers are labeled at the child’s level.
64. We have a policy that allows appropriate technology in our classrooms.
65. My supervisors nod when I say I have an idea.  It usually involves video-making.
66. We have walkways in the front of the building.
67. We encourage our nursing mothers to come anytime to nurse their babies.
68. In fact, we have an open door policy to ALL of our families.
69. We are open during vacation weeks.  And during the summer. 
70. Our food is nutrient rich, balanced, organic, and made fresh every day.
71. Orange and green go so well together. 
72. My grandmother’s rocking chair sits in my classroom.
73. We have developed a perfect balance of play and learning activities.
74. Daily sheets have made a comeback.
75. Old Pre-K children come back to give hugs and tell me about their days.
76. We laugh every day.
77. We are part of an amazing community in Freeport.
78. Our mission: Nourish the mind…
79. Nourish the body…
80. And Care for the environment.
81. During the school year, we offer enrichment specials: yoga, dance, and tumble.
82. We are handicap accessible.  That means my Dad can come visit my classroom.
83. Wolfe’s Neck Farm is right down the street.  We love to visit the farm!
84. The classroom environment is recognized as an important tool in learning.
85. Everyone seems genuinely happy to be here and be together.
86. We have staff training days.  These days are some of my favorite.
87. My classroom has a full wall of windows.
88. Our toys and learning materials are natural and non-toxic.
89. We facilitate a love and curiosity for learning about our world.
90. We educate and care for the whole child: social, emotional, cognitive, physical.
91. I get a lunch break.  I usually spend it visiting other classrooms.
92. In Pre-K, our rules are inspired by kindness, courage, responsibility, and honesty.
93. We encourage independence but are here to help when needed.
94. We keep our learning materials in woven baskets on wooden shelves.
95. We are inspired by the educational philosophers of the past.
96. There is something magical in what we are doing here.
97. Our teachers are leaders in the field of early childhood education.
98. There is a window out of which children can wave to their Moms and Dads.
99. Special family events like the Harvest Lunch and our upcoming Tea Party.
100. I feel like I am an important part of something really special.
101. Oh, and one more thing:
102. LOVE.