Aday in thelifeofaLittlejohnkindergartenclass

By KATIE FINLON

Upon theirreturn from spring breakrecently,severalkindergartnersatLittlejohn Elementary School met their teacher Tracy Paszotta at the classroom door and hugged her, one by one.

As they embraced theirteacher, some students exclaimed, “I missed you!” Paszotta returned the hugs with ajubilant, “I missed you, too!”

One childtold Paszotta before class that Monday morning that he had learned how to tie his shoes, which earned him ahigh-five from Paszotta.

“That makes my heart so very happy,” Paszotta told him.

The school day with Paszottabegan with carpet time, when kindergartners took turns sharing one fun thing they did during their weeklong break. One class- mate, who entered the room late after atwo-week vacation, was met with cheers and applause from his peers.

The students then broke into reading and writing groups before heading off to music class. At Littlejohn, music classes are taught in amobile classroom, aseparate structure adjacent to the school building that requires students and teachers to bundle up for awalk across the blacktop on cool mornings.

Although Paszotta’s class was afew minutesearly –keeping them outside awhile longer –she kept her kindergartners busy with an impromptu game of “Follow the Leader,” using cracks in the blacktop pavement as her path.

Littlejohn paraprofessional Jenni Keller, who works in Paszotta’s classroom, said that’s not uncommon for Paszotta.

“Just to get the wiggles out,” Keller said.

With her students safely in music class, Paszotta returned to her classroom to organize student folders at atable surrounded by child-sized chairs. It’s her 30th year teaching. She said she loves it because she gets to set students’ expectations for how they shouldbehave in school and build afoundational model for their education.

The things her studentssay is alsoafavorite of her job, Paszotta said.

She recalled one timewhen she toldher students about traveling to Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C., where President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in 1865 while watching aplay. It was alessonfor the kindergarten teacher in language,she said. She quickly learned to phrase her words more carefully but for the ears of children.

She said she later heard achild tell their mom, “Mrs. Paszotta was there and saw the whole thing,” referring to Lincoln’s assassination.

“It makes me laugh,” Paszottasaidwithachuckle. “Their energy is fun.”

As Paszotta’s students returned frommusic class andtheir kindergarten day continued, Paszotta’s colleague came to visit. Littlejohn special education teacher Mary Lynn Buckner said she agrees when others say that watching Paszotta teachis“watching a master at work.” Buckner called the kindergarten teacher aconsummate professional with the patience of asaint.

“If there was amodel for aperfect teacher,” Buckner said, “it would be her.”