What Kids Want Teachers to Know

Someone posted this video on Facebook and I loved it. Watch the video before reading the rest of the blog.
Top Ten Things You Don't Learn in College about Teaching…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lulUvYfRl_c

When I shared the video with my principal, she challenged me to do a top ten list with my K/1 class about what kids want teachers to know.  Below is the list with an explanation about some of the items following. 

Top Ten Things Students Want Teachers to Know

10. We want treat day everyday!
9. Kindergartners say, “No rest time needed!”
8. There should be Mo Willems books in every classroom.
7. We need longer recess.
6. Every class should have a Speed Challenge.
5. We need to do more plays in school.
4. Let us read at any level.
3. Teachers should not talk in the hallway or when on red in the lunchroom. We don't get to so teachers shouldn't either.
2. Red/Green cups are a bad idea. Have you ever seen a red/green cup in a restaurant??
1. NEVER HAVE SUBSTITUTES!

Some explanation is needed for a couple of the items on the list. 
 #10-The students get a treat day one day a week where they can get ice cream or a slushie with their lunch.
#6-Speed is a fast paced card game they gives the students practice with one more and one less.  Another class challenged us to a competition.
#3 and #2-A committee at our school decided that we needed to do something about the noise level in the lunchroom.  They came up with a red/green cup combination and when the red cup is on top, the students are to remain silent.  When the green cup is on top, the students may talk quietly. 

If you really want to know what kids think, just ask them!