Hey Kids! Wish you were here!

Hey Kids,
I am at Disney World now and am reading all of your Teddy comments. They are really nice, and I can see your writing progress. I have a balcony off my room that overlooks the Magic Kingdom. At 9:30 we saw a fireworks show in the sky above Cinderella’s castle and listened to music that was synchronized to the fireworks. Wish you were here!

Tomorrow I will present at the conference. I am a little nervous. It’s harder to talk to adults than to kids. Plus, I am little out of my element not being in my own classsroom. However, I am speaking about a topic I really like: writing, a.k.a. blogging!  This is like an oral report for me!

Have you ever done something that was exciting but a little nervewracking?  How did you overcome your nervousness?  Did your event go as planned?

 

 

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72 thoughts on “Hey Kids! Wish you were here!

  1. Dear Mrs. Donofrio,
    Glad to hear you’re having fun in Disney! Don’t be nervous, you’re a great speaker! One thing I have done that makes me nervous, but I love to do, is playing piano in front of people. I just take a deep breath and somehow I get through it. It normally works out just fine! Good luck today and have fun!

    -Erin

    • Hi Erin,
      Thanks for your words of wisdom. You are right; as long as you are well prepared, it does usually work out fine. My presentation went smoothly, thanks in large part to all the great advice and nice messages I got from you kids. The teachers at the conference were very impressed with your writing and with your thoughtfulness.
      See you soon,
      Mrs. Donofrio

  2. Dear Mrs. Donofrio,
    Sorry to hear that you are feeling nervous but I think you will do great! One of my exciting yet nervewrecking moments are my dance recitals. Even though I do them every year, you can’t help but feel a little bit nervous. Honestly, I’m more nervous at rehearsal than the actual show. But I knew that I had done it before and I would do just fine so I took a deep breath and tried to not think about the people who would be watching me. By the end of the number it took me a couple minutes to realize I just went on and did fine! I hope you have a good time!

    • Thanks, Daniela! We just read your comment. You are great!
      Daniela, I am now in my hotel room and wanted to respond at greater length. Thank you for sharing your story about dancing. You are right; the build up is harder than the actual event. Once I started showing everyone the blog, I settled right down and it was as though I were with all of you kids. Thanks for coming with me through your comments. We all enjoyed your story, and it was so well written, too. You rock!
      ~Mrs. Donofrio
      P.S. Did you notice I spelled your name correctly? 🙂

      • Haha! I did notice that as a matter of fact! I am glad that your presentation went well and that my story helped you out. 🙂 I knew you would do a good job. Can’t wait to see you back in school!

  3. Dear Mrs Donofrio,

    Wow! Fireworks and a birds-eye view of Magic Kingdom! Music that is in sync with the explosions sounds facinating! Hope you have fun but it already sounds like you are so have a great time!
    ~Jace

    • Thanks for your nice note, Jace. The hotel was lovely, and I was telling some other teachers about another magnificent hotel in Orlando at Christmastime, the Gaylord Palms. I know you have been there. That was a great little vacation for you, too, I bet. Did you see the ice sculptures there? See you soon.
      ~Mrs. Donofrio

  4. That nerve wracking feeling is always excitment! I love it whenever I get butterflies in my stomach, which let’s me know I’m ready. My butterfly moment is when the 30 second card is turned sideways at the motocross gate. ( Which means the gate drops at any second. ) However the butterflies do give me the urge to back off, but I know after I let go of the clutch after the gate drops. My nervousness turns into pure adrenaline!

    • Thanks, Nick. What a great positive spin on nervousness. I like the imagery of butterflies, too, and then the surge to adrenaline. The butterflies almost turn into rocket ships. Thanks for your words of wisdom.
      ~Mrs. Donofrio

  5. One time I was playing baseball when I was 8 years old, and baseball games are usually only six innings. But this time we went to the 14th inning! The score was 11-11. I was up with 2 outs and runners on second ant third if I got a hit we would win and go to the championchip. I ended up hitting an inside the park homerun to win it (even though we only needed one run) we dog piled. It was so much fun!

    Mitch

    • Hi Mitch,
      I often wonder if you are nervous during your baseball games. The game you were talking about was especially nervewracking, but I know there have been quite a few times when the spectators were on the edges of their seats watching the game. When you are in a tough situation like that in baseball, I am always in the stands praying to your guardian angel to and to St. Sebastian, the patron saint of athletes for you. That is also a good suggestion to help people calm down when they are nervous about something new. Pray.
      Thanks, Mitch!
      Love, Mom

  6. Hi Mrs. Donofrio
    I was 10 years old and I was at a friends house who had a mini dirt bike. He asked me if I wanted to ride it and I did. I didn’t know to drive one so all I did was turn the throttle and it went fast so I press the brake. It stop so fast the back wheel left the ground and I went forward into the street, but I was ok. In the end my friend and we were laughing.

    • Hi Donovan,
      Your experience on the mini dirt bike does sound both exciting and nervewracking! I’m glad you are okay. After reading the stories of all you kids, I think it is safe to say that just about any new experience we have brings us some excitement and some nervousness. I’m glad you didn’t get badly hurt on the bike. Did you ever try it again?
      ~Mrs. Donofrio

  7. Hey Mrs Donofrio!
    Don’t worry Mrs D. you’ll do great! Well my nervewracking experience happened last month with my cousin. We went to Gatorland in Orlando, and they had just put in a new zipline that was 40-50 feet above the ground, and there were 7 stations that you would go to. So like 1 to 2, 2 to 3 and so on. And on the 6th zipline I got really nervous because you would zipline over an alligator lake with 10 to 13 foot alligators! I was excited, but nervous at the same time. But, I eventually jumped and I survived. It was really fun though!

  8. Hi Mrs.Donofrio!
    I hope you’re having fun at the conference! I play in a lot of tennis tournaments, and no matter what, I always get a bit nervous. But when I actually start playing, I feel good again. For me, playing in tournaments is something I enjoy and I am not sure why I get nervous at all. I hope you get over your nerves and just think about having a good time and doing what you enjoy, which is teaching.
    ~Michaela

    • Yes! Today we have our schools’ winter concert and I have 3 parts in it! I am playing piano for our school song and our class song,and I’m doing the greeting at the very beginning of the assembly! So the total amount of times I’m performing in front of the school and all of the parents is 6! We have both an evening show and a morning show. I deal with nerves with positive self talk, after all, if we don’t ever face our fears, are we really living?

      -Nicole, your friend at Huzzah!

      • Nicole,
        You are a philosopher! I love your question and your way of dealing with new situations. I am a big fan of positive self talk. I also make sure I have done my best to be prepared. One thing about facing fears is differentiating between overcoming fears that will lead to growth and fears that are designed to protect you from something harmful. I don’t think I am the type to ever bungee jump from a high bridge, but I would like to continue to speak to teachers about blogging! Thanks for the very insightful response.
        ~Mrs. Donofrio

  9. Hi Mrs. Donofrio!

    I hope you are having fun in Disney World! Even if you are nervous, all of us here at school KNOW you will do a fantastic job at the conference! If you are nervous, just pretend all of your 7th graders sitting right in the front row and imagine you are in Language Arts class telling us about the blog like you did in August. When I went to the Jr. National Young Leaders Conference in Washington D.C., I was chosen to share my speech about leadership infront of ALL the kids! Of course I was exited but I more nervous then I had ever been in my life! I overcame my nervousness by imagining that I was just doing an oral report in front of my classmates. It really helped! The event went almost perfectly! I had a great time, and I know you will too.

    • Also, I am not sure if you got my teddy comment because when I pressed the POST button, it said: Error! Duplicated comment (it seems you have already said that). I am not sure how to post my comment when it says that but I printed it out so when you come back you can read it and help me post it. Thanks!

    • Hi Sadie,
      Thanks for the great advice. It is hard to imagine people we know who always seem so together feeling nervous. I can’t imagine you being nervous, just like it may seem strange for you kids to think I am nervous at times. I’m so glad your speech went well, and I am not surprised at all. I love your idea of pretending you are in my audience, and it really helped a lot to bring up your comments to the group. I also loved that you were with me in “photo form”. It was neat watching the smiling faces of teachers around the country as they watched your slide shows and read your comments.
      Thanks, Sadie!
      ~Mrs. Donofrio

  10. Hey Mrs. Donofrio!

    I don’t think you should be nervous at all! I mean come on you’re Mrs.Donofrio a.k.a. the teacher that has the most energy at the school. I think you’re going to do just fine. I sometimes get nervous before I go on the stage for a dance recital but when I get up there it feels like you’ve been doing it for years. I’m sure you’ll feel the same way. Goodluck!

    Brooke

    • Thanks, Brooke! You sure made me smile and helped me relax a LOT. All you kids have great ideas on overcoming nerves: positive self-talk, breathing techniques, focusing on strengths, visualizing familiar and friendly people. How did you kids get to be so smart? I am a one lucky teacher!
      ~Mrs. Donofrio

  11. Hi Mrs. Donofrio it’s Cogan I love going to Disney but I have never gone during Christmas and it looks beutiful. I have done something very nerveracking when I did my first show Seusical I was nervous but then I lost myself in the dancing and the music. Don’t be nervous you will do fine. Good luck!

  12. Dear Mrs Donofrio ,
    Hello Disney World looks AMAZING! Your nervous hugh . My mom always told me to think about the good things and not the bad (you are a great teacher , with a great blog, and great students!) I hope I help!
    You will do great ,
    Hannah

    • Hannah,
      You DID help! Thank you!! You are right; I have GREAT students! It was so wonderful to be at Disney and to show all your comments to the other teachers at the conference. Just knowing you kids were back in Venice supporting me calmed me right down. You are the best, and I am blessed to have you.
      ~Mrs. Donofrio

  13. Hey Mrs.Donofrio,
    Don’t worry you will do fine! I get nervous when I have to go in front of people and sing. When I get on stage I just take deep breaths and when I am singing it feels great! The breathing helps with the nervousness.
    Have fun Mrs.Donofrio!
    -Mercedes

    • Thanks, Mercedes! Your breathing technique is a great idea. All that extra oxygen helps the brain to relax a bit. You are a great singer, and I can’t wait to hear you again at the Christmas concert.
      ~Mrs. Donofrio

  14. I hope your conference goes great and I skateboard a lot and I entered a contest put on by a local skate shop. and was so scared to mess up but then i thought it would look worse if I didn’t do any thing at all.

    • Hello Andrew! I am learning that anytime we put ourselves “out there” for people to see us perform, it can be a bit intimidating. I’m glad you overcame your fears and competed in the skateboard contest. How did it go?
      ~Mrs. Donofrio

  15. I hope you dont feal nervous Mrs D when you talk to the blue ribben staff well I guess thats how we feel during our oral reports I hope you show them our awesome blog and comments.

  16. Hi Ms.Donofrio!
    I hope you’re having fun!
    I see your kind of in a bittersweet situation right now. You’re nervous, but you’re presenting about something you love! Plus, you’re in Disneyland!
    I hope that you do absolutely excellent when you speak to them. Keep up the great work!
    -Summer from Huzzah.

  17. Hello Mrs. Donofrio, I’ve been to Disney World too! Disney World is so big, When I went I didn’t get to go to everything there. What’s your favourite ride?
    Bye Bye
    Kyle

  18. Hello Mrs. Donofrio!
    I really enjoyed the style that you wrote your post in. It makes me feel like you shared the experience with your readers and the pictures just make it even better!
    I have never been to Disney World but I have been to Disneyland. It was very fun although I don’t remember a whole lot of it.
    Just to answer your question about being nervous and excited, that is exactly how I am feeling right now! My friend and I are leading the finale in our winter concert so it is a little scary.
    I hope to hear from your blog soon!
    -Adena

  19. Hi Mrs.Donofrio
    I hope you are having fun at the conference in Disney land.
    Our class is doing comic strips on worry and how to get over it. I don’t think I have done anything nerve wrecking.
    Your blogs is great keep up the great work 🙂
    From Kehana

    • Hi Kehana,
      Thanks so much for your encouraging words. I have seen your comic strips, and as a matter of fact I showed them to the participants at the presentations I gave this week at Disney. Everyone thought they were awesome. I don’t yet have the knowledge of how to put comics on the blog, but I’m sure with the help of Huzzah, my kids will be able to do something along those line by the end of the school year.
      Keep up the great work!
      ~Mrs. Donofrio

  20. Hi Mrs.Donofrio!
    My class is doing projects on worry and how to deal with it. We made comics using everyday situations and what you might be able to do to be successful and not worry. Good luck at your presentation!~Sophie

  21. Hello Mrs. Donofrio
    I hope you get through your conference like a pro. I know how you feel. I play violin and I had a play to perform at, so I was nervous. But I got through. My class is also having a winter concert today too, and I know I will get through that.
    I hope you do well and have fun in Disney Land!
    Here’s my blog.
    Chelsey

  22. Hi Ms.Donofrio!
    You don’t need to feel nervous, you will do great!
    I wish I was in Disney World. I have gone to Disney Land a few times, but never to Disney World. I feel nervous but exited before my soccer games.
    Have fun!
    Spencer…

    • Hi Spencer,
      Two of my own children play soccer, and I am often nervous for them. One of my children is the keeper. Sometimes I am afraid she will get hurt because she slides right under the feet of opposing players a lot. Sports are a great example of something that is fun, but that can make you nervous, too.
      What was your favorite attraction at DisneyLand?
      ~Mrs. Donofrio

  23. Hello Mrs. Donofrio! Wow Disney World sure looks cool, I have never been to any amusement park but i really want to. And yes I have been excited and nervous at the same time, but then i talked to my friend who was doing the same thing and he said it will be no problem!

    • Hey Josh,
      What a great idea to talk to your friend about being worried. You are lucky to have a good friend like that and smart to talk to him when you need some advice. I have some teacher friends here with me who did the same for me. I am lucky, too!
      I’m sure someday you will get to an amusement park. The U.S. has lots of them in every state! We are crazy for roller coasters down here! , I like them okay, but I did used to like them a lot when I was younger. Of course, they didn’t go 100 miles-an-hour then and upside down 15 times!
      ~Mrs. Donofrio

  24. Howdy, Mrs. Donofrio!
    It seems like your in a situation were you are excited but nervous. And thats okay! I get that too. Once i was singing in the polar express play at our school, I was really excited but nervous. I did better than i thought though! I would like to hear more about your trip!

    Blog ya later!

    -Becky from Huzzah

    • Hey Becky,
      You are right. It is okay to be excited and nervous when we are doing something new. It actually would be kind of weird and even sad if we were bored by new experiences. How did the Polar Express work out for you?
      I have yet to leave the hotel during my trip because I am here for a conference, so I go into meeting rooms throughout the day and listed to other teachers give presentations on ideas that work for them in their classrooms. So far I have heard talks about inclusion, which means putting kids of all different abilities in one classroom, and using iPads in the classroom. Do you use iPads in your classroom?
      ~Mrs. Donofrio

  25. Hi Mrs.Donofrio,
    I’m Jenna from Huzzah. Wow Disney world looks like so much fun! Is it your first time there? I have never been to Disney world but I’d love to go.

    Oral reports make me nervous too. When I get nervous what helps me most is to just try to forget about it because the more I think about it the more nervous I get. What works best for you?
    Good luck!
    -Jenna

    • Hi Jenna,
      Because I live in Florida, I am lucky in that I have been to Disney World a few times. We live two hours away, so we are able to come for the day or to stay just one night, which makes it more affordable. I always have a great time when I come. It is a special place.
      Being as well prepared as possible helps me feel better before speaking before a group. I also keep telling myself that they are people just like me, and if I met them one at a time, I wouldn’t be nervous talking to them. Then I try to pretend that I am just talking to them one on one, and I try to even pretend that they are people I already know instead of strangers. That helps, too.
      Thanks for writing and for asking good questions,
      ~Mrs. Donofrio

  26. Hi Mrs.Donofrio!
    Our class has been making comics about worry and how to deal with that.We’ve been using everyday situations, like a sport game, piano recital and plays to get the mesage across.

    • Hi Maddy,
      I thought it was pretty cool that the theme of your comics coincided with my post. I guess being worried is a universal emotion. It helps to know everyone feels that way at some time, and we are all routing for each other. We will check out your comics in the next couple of days when I get back to a routine at school.
      ~Mrs. Donofrio

  27. Hi Mrs.Donofrio
    My name is Cole I’m a blogger from Huzzah. I’ve never been to Disney World but I’ve heard that it’s really awesome there! The view from your balcony must be really nice. I don’t think I’ve ever done something exiting and nerve wracking at the same time. Good luck on presenting your blog
    -Cole

    • Hi Cole,
      Thanks for your nice note. Disney World is very awesome; it’s worth the trip from Canada!
      Have you ever performed in front of a group? That is an exciting and nervewracking experience, no matter what kind of performance it is: talent show, spelling bee, choir, baseball game, or anything else. Or, perhaps you are just a very cool, calm, and collected kid!
      Thanks for writing,
      Mrs. Donofrio

  28. Hi Mrs. Donofrio,
    I’m feeling a bit nervous today because our school has a Winter Concert. I like the pictures, they are really pretty with the fireworks. I wish I could go to Disneyland! I hope you have a good time!
    Blog with you soon!

    ~Melanie~

    • Hey Melanie,
      Good luck with your concert. Do you play an instrument or are you singing? I used to play the piano when I was younger, and playing in front of people always made me nervous, too. But usually they were just happy to hear the music, and they were very understanding if I made a little mistake. People are generally like that if they know you are trying your best. I am having a nice time at Disney World; you are right. It is a very pretty place. Aside from all the fireworks outside, there is an enormous gingerbread castle in the lobby. Everything is decorated for Christmas.
      Looking forward to blogging again,
      ~Mrs. Donofrio

  29. Hello Mrs. Donofrio I’m from Huzzah. I hope you are having fun in Disney World. It looks really fun up in Disney World. I was just wondering what is that big glow up Castle.
    Hope you have Fun In Disney World.
    Bekkam.

    • Hi Bekkam,
      Thanks for writing. That big glow up castle is Cinderella’s castle at the Magic Kingdom. My hotel is quite near it, and I can see it from my balcony. The glow came from the fireworks last night that exploded in the sky above the castle. Have you ever seen a Disney movie? The logo at the beginning of the movie is the castle in the photos. There is also a book series called The Kingdom Keepers” that is about some kids who get locked in Disney World at night time and have to solve a mystery. A lot of my students read it and liked it. Have you ever read it?
      ~Mrs. Donofrio

  30. Hi Mrs.Donofrio I’m from Huzzah,
    I have never been to disney world but my friends have. They said it is very fun I bet it is. I hope your conference goes well. Good luck!
    Bye Bye
    ~Jacob

    • Hi Jacob,
      Thanks for the words of encouragement. We all can use more words like those. You have “done good” today. Thank you! How is your project to “do good” going? I loved your cupcake sale. Congratulations!
      ~Mrs. Donofrio

  31. Hello Mrs. Donofrio
    I’ve went on 3 Disney cruse’s they where cool I was first one I went to I was 3 the second time I was 7 they last time was last year I went with pretty much my whole family.it is weird that it takes 5-7 days to get there but one night to get back it’s just weird.
    Kenzie

    • Hi Kenzie,
      I have never been on a Disney cruise, although I have been on a sailboat for a week. Obviously the Disney cruise was great or your family wouldn’t have gone three times. Everything Disney does, they do well, from the little stuff keeping the floors clean to the big things like designing a monorail system or a fireworks symphony show. That attitude is what makes people successful, too. If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well.
      Thanks for writing.
      ~Mrs. Donofrio

  32. Hi Miss Donofrio,
    Wow I would love to go to disney land one day, but that day is not today. I wish I was you, to go there is my life long dream and you just made me want to go even more. Now you have driven me to extremes.I have to go with my little sister and my parents even tho it would be epic to just go with my little sis.

    Well thank you for giving me more want to to go.

    bye Bye
    see you soon

    • Hi Roxanne,

      Thanks for writing! In a way, you have gone to Disney World today. I just finished my presentation about blogging, and I showed everyone in the room the Huzzah! blog. They saw the photos of you kids doing good, and I told them your blog is nominated for Blog of the Year. I hope you make it here in person one day. It really is a magical place. I am lucky in that I only live two hours from Disney. It is expensive for anyone to go to Disney, but when you have to fly from far away, it is even more of a challenge. Don’t worry though. Disney will always be here; you will make it someday because you have a goal.
      Bye for now,
      ~Mrs. Donofrio

  33. Hello Mrs. Donofrio,
    I go to Disney world in October for a family reunion its fun because all my cousins come down. The places we go to are the united kingdom and we go Epcot. When we go to the united kingdom my favorite ride there is space mountain and my favorite character is Donald duck. What is your favorite ride there? Who is your favorite character at Disney?

    • Hi Franklin,
      You wrote a great comment. I’m glad to see you asking questions. I love Space Mountain, too, and I can see it from my hotel window. It is very close to the hotel; I could easily walk there. I saw on the news this morning that Disney is opening a new part of Magic Kingdom today called FantasyLand. It is their biggest expansion in 41 years. See you tomorrow!
      ~Mrs. Donofrio

  34. Hi Mrs. Donofrio,
    My name is Reece and I am from Huzzah. I have never been to Disney World but I have been to Disneyland. The fire work show is great. Good luck on your presentation.
    Bye

    • Hi Reece,
      Thank you for your note. I am glad to say that with the help of all you at Huzzah and my own students, my presentation went fine. I have only been to Disney World, not to Disneyland, but I imagine they are very similar. There are also Disney Worlds in Paris and, I think, in China somewhere. It’s hard to imagine that one man, Walt Disney, affected so many people in the world with his ideas. He has whole lands and worlds named after him! Imagine if there were a Reeceland and a Reeceworld! It’s possible!
      ~Mrs. Donofrio

  35. Hi, Guys,
    Mrs. Donofrio did an AWESOME job today (as we all knew she would). She was so proud of your work and shared so much of it with her audience. It was so nice to see your faces smiling down at us from the whiteboard. The people who attended were amazed at your blog!
    Mrs. D. was a little nervous, hoping that all would go well. Your messages really perked her up and she displayed some of them. As luck would have it, she had some trouble with the Internet but a lady from the Blue Ribbon gave her a different computer and voila, it worked! Success through the kindness of others. She is doing well now.
    We will see you on Friday. Let’s all have a great day!
    Love you all!
    Mrs. Gunther

  36. Hey, Mrs. Donofrio!
    I hope your having fun in Disneyworld! Try not to let the stress of your presentation take over your trip.
    We just finished a unit about worry and anxiety, so maybe read one of our comics on our blog for some advice. I’ve done some nerve-racking things, like competing in big dance competitions, but nothing too big.

    ~Samantha from Huzzah

  37. Hello I am Noah from Huzzah. That looks like alot of fun! I do wish I could be there. I have never been to Disney world. Those fire works look amazing looks like your having alot of fun! Talke to you soon.

  38. Hi, Mrs. Donofrio.
    That looks like so much fun! I remeber when I went to disneyland! You went to disney world though, but the same kind of thing happend for us we saw fireworks and water and music too, I had lots of fun! But yes I have done something that was fun but also scary. Its usaully when ever I go up to a really fast and scary roller coaster but after its ends up being really fun!

  39. Hi Mrs. Donofrio!
    I really enjoyed reading and looking at your photos of Disney World! They remind me of when I went to Disneyland! My hotel room looked right out at Cinderella’s castle! One night we watched the firework show right above her castle! Our class just finished our projects on worry and how to deal with anxiety! Have you been worried or nervous on your trip? If so how did you solve it or make you feel better about it?
    I hope you’re having fun!
    ~Elysa

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