Kindergarten-Ready: Erin Chomas' Dedication to Preparing Students for Success

In this episode of The Hornet Hive, Dr. Christopher Lewis, a member of the Williamston Community Schools Board of Education, sits down with Erin Chomas, a kindergarten teacher at Discovery Elementary. They discuss Erin's journey to Williamston, her experiences as a teacher, and her love for working with kindergarteners.

Erin shares how she and her family moved to Williamston due to their desire for a different community and more space. She later transitioned from being a stay-at-home mom to working as a paraeducator before becoming a kindergarten teacher at Discovery Elementary. Erin speaks highly of the welcoming and close-knit community, her colleagues, and the students.

Dr. Lewis asks Erin about her preference for teaching kindergarten over first grade and how she appreciates the unique challenges and joys that come with teaching the youngest students. Erin emphasizes the importance of working on students' independence, not only in academics but also in daily life skills like putting on coats, shoes, and asking for help.

They also discuss the community involvement in the school district, such as the tradition of seniors and fifth-graders marching through the halls, building strong connections and positive role models for younger students.

Erin offers advice to parents preparing their children for kindergarten, focusing on life skills, independence, and self-advocacy. Dr. Lewis highlights the importance of preparing children for a successful transition to first grade and how they grow and change during their kindergarten year.

The episode highlights the supportive and nurturing environment within Williamston's schools, with dedicated teachers like Erin helping students develop essential skills and make meaningful progress.

TRANSCRIPT

Christopher Lewis [00:00:19]:

Welcome back to the Horned Hive. I'm your host, doctor Christopher Lewis, one of the members of the Williamston Community Schools Board of Education. Really excited to have you back again this week. Every week, I love being able to sit down with you, talk to you about what is happening in our schools. It is always a great time to be a hornet, but it's Always a great time to be able to talk about the amazing things that are happening in our schools and the amazing people that are working with our kids. Whether you have kids in the district or not, it's so important as members of the Williamston community to be aware of all the things that are happening And be actively engaged in ways that you can be. And this podcast is here to be able to help you to do just that. So whether you have kids at Discovery Elementary or Williamson High School or your kids have graduated, grown, flown, And now you don't have kids in the district, we want you to know what's still happening in the district because there are some amazing things happening and some amazing people in our schools too.

Christopher Lewis [00:01:17]:

Every week, I love being able to sit down, talk to you, share different things, but also share people. This week, we've got another great guest with us. Erin Chammas is with us today, and Erin is a kindergarten teacher at Discovery Elementary. He's been with the district for a few years now, And I'm really excited to be able to get to know her a little bit better and for you to get to know her as well. Erin, thanks so much for being here today.

Erin Chomas [00:01:38]:

Thank you for having me.

Christopher Lewis [00:01:39]:

It is my pleasure having you here today. One of the first things that I always love doing is turn the clock back in time. I've got the power to do turn time back, and I'd love to be able to Understand what originally brought you to Williamson?

Erin Chomas [00:01:53]:

So my husband and I used to live in Lansing, so we live kinda by, like, where the new hospital is. And we meet we want we knew we wanted to have like more land, like more area to live on and we kinda wanted a different area. So Every time we'd drive out to Williamson, we just really liked the feel and like the community and like, we'd go to the D and W and like walk the downtown. And We liked how all the schools were, like, close together and I don't know. Just like the coziness of it. And so we've always just kind of as soon as we saw it, we liked it. We said this would be a good place to live.

Christopher Lewis [00:02:26]:

And what brought you to the schools?

Erin Chomas [00:02:28]:

So I have 3 kids. They all go to Williamston. My youngest isn't in school yet, but next year, he will. And I, before I had them, I was teaching 1st grade at a school in Lansing. And then when I had my daughter, I decided to be a stay at home mom. So I stayed at home for the last, for 6 years with them. And then I just missed it so much. I love being able to stay home with my kids and raise them, but I went from that fast pace of being a teacher and like doing stuff all the time to being at home.

Erin Chomas [00:02:58]:

And I just like felt that need to want to go back to the classroom. So I reached out to Cassie, our principal, and I started as a para just part time A few years ago. So I was able to, like, get into the school and it was nice because my daughter was in kindergarten, so I got See her, and I just really liked all the people, and I liked the environment. And I knew that I wanted to go back to teaching, and I'm really lucky and happy that I got to come here.

Christopher Lewis [00:03:26]:

So being a para after being a teacher, talk to me about that. What was that like being in that type of a role of being instead of being in the class room leading the classroom in in the way that you are now.

Erin Chomas [00:03:37]:

It was really hard actually, because like I said, I was so used to being in charge of my room and doing stuff, but like doing that, it was weird because it was like a change of pace. But I think it actually was really nice for me to, like, do both sides because When we have paras, it's like, you appreciate what they do for you so much and realize like how hard they work and That they're like a really big part of your classroom community and being able to see both sides was actually really cool. And I'm glad I was able to do it.

Christopher Lewis [00:04:09]:

Now as a teacher in our district, you have been here now for a few years. Just like you said, you started as para, you moved into this role And you stayed. You you've continued on in working with our our youngest students in in discovery. Well, maybe not the youngest because we got DK as well, but They are youngins down at the elementary level. So for every teacher, there are things that sustain you. So what for you has sustained you over the years in our district. And what makes Williamston a great place to work?

Erin Chomas [00:04:37]:

Although definitely the people I get to work with every day and, like, the, our leadership at school, like we've got a really good group of people and other than like when I wake up and I feel a little under the weather or just tired, I've never not wanted to come here because being here with my colleagues and the people I get to work with really make it A really special place. And then of course the kids too. I mean, that's a really good community and good group of kids to work with, but I'm really lucky in the fact that I've built a lot of friendships with the people I work with, and it's really good to be able to see them every day.

Christopher Lewis [00:05:14]:

So kindergarten, you said you were in 1st grade In another district, and now you're teaching kindergarten. So what is it about kindergarten that you love the most?

Erin Chomas [00:05:23]:

It's funny because when Cassie called me when this opportunity opened up and said it was kindergarten. I was kind of hesitant at first, like, Oh, my gosh, I'm used to 1st grade. Don't know if I want to do kindergarten. Like that's going to be really hard. But it's funny, and it actually shows that you can't judge something until you've done it, Because I love it so much more than I did when I did 1st grade. And I just love that they come in, like, Knowing they don't know how to do school. They, you really have to like simplify every aspect of your day and everything you do with these guys and repeat yourself a 1000000 times, but It doesn't bother me, and I love it. And I like to see their growth from the beginning of the year to when they're when we're done with the school year.

Erin Chomas [00:06:09]:

It's like they're different people.

Christopher Lewis [00:06:10]:

They definitely are different people. And and I think for you, I mean, I would guess that it's it's actually a good opportunity for you because you You've taught them in 1st grade, so you know what they're going to be seeing next. And you can prepare them very well for that as well. So So that's that's a lot of fun as as well. Now every teacher that I've ever met is a storyteller. They've got stories. There are good stories. There's stories that make you probably pull your hair out some days too.

Christopher Lewis [00:06:37]:

But for you, so far in our district, in the years that you've been here, Can you share a story for us that epitomizes the experience that you've had as a Williamston staff member?

Erin Chomas [00:06:49]:

Like I said, with the community involvement and just How everyone's involved here and how everyone's like such a close knit community. I love it with, at the end of the year when they get to do like the 5th grade. When the 5th graders I had an off to 6th grade, and we all get to go down and get to watch them march through the halls. And then they do it with the seniors. And then The year that the basketball team won the championship, like, that was really cool to be a part of all that and get to see it and just to see the excitement with the kids and Get to see, like, just the youngest ones, like, how much they, like, idolize those older kids and get to see, like, wow, like, I could do that someday too. So I don't know. Just like that big involvement with the community and everyone is really nice.

Christopher Lewis [00:07:33]:

Now for someone that is looking at Our district that have really young ones and maybe are thinking, okay, what do I need to do? This might be their 1st kid going to school, And it's been a long time since they were in kindergarten. So what are some hints or tips that you might share with a new parent that's preparing their own kids or starting school for what what their child should expect, what they should expect, and how best they can support their child.

Erin Chomas [00:08:02]:

Yeah. No. That's a really good question because a lot of People, like, ask that and they're like, well, what do they need to know? Like, with their letters, with their sounds, with math, all that stuff. And that stuff's all good too. And we always hit on that. But the biggest thing that we're working on a lot in kindergarten is independence. So being able to put on coats, being able to put your shoes on, Being able to ask for help if you need help. So it's like those daily life skills that you wouldn't necessarily think that you'd have to work on a lot, but even just like opening up snacks, learning how to, where does trash go? Just listening and following basic directions.

Erin Chomas [00:08:40]:

So it's like a lot of people think of the academic side, but then that's the side that I feel like they need the most help with, especially at the very beginning. Especially being able to advocate for yourself if you need help or if something is wrong, like being able to know that you can trust your teacher and the adults at the school and Ask anyone for help.

Christopher Lewis [00:09:00]:

Well, I appreciate you sharing that. And as the kids are getting ready for moving on to 1st grade, are there certain things that you look for For knowing that a child is going to be successful in that transition to the next level?

Erin Chomas [00:09:13]:

Yeah. Mostly like Kind of same thing. Like the independence aspect is a big thing. And then it's funny that you say that because I'm thinking of some of my Students that I see now, like who came back from last year and like how much more mature, even though they're just like went to 1st grade, like for me. And then Like when they come down to see me in the morning and say hi, and I see him in the hallways, it's like, wow. I remember them when they first started in kindergarten and I'm like, They're like, like I said, totally different kid and it's amazing how much they changed and what they've done. So, and even like the summer, They get, they grow and like they mature over just like a few months. And so I know that all of them are gonna be great because all the 1st grade teachers are amazing too, but It's just like that process being able to watch them is really cool.

Christopher Lewis [00:10:03]:

I really appreciate you sharing that. I appreciate all that you're doing with our kids in kindergarten because They definitely need the support and especially coming out of a pandemic. It's definitely a different world and knowing that the kids Have to really learn a lot about social skills and there's a lot more there that that we don't always think about, I think as parents or that we don't always think about as we enter a new school year, we're getting kids that may never have had that Because they were very young when the pandemic hit. So I know that that's definitely a challenge point, but it's definitely something that I know that you work That all of you on the kindergarten team worked really hard with to get them ready to move them forward. And I just wanna say thank you for that, and thank you for all that you do. And I wish you all the best.

Erin Chomas [00:10:51]:

Thank you. I appreciate it.