Final Days of First Grade :(

I knew this day would come and I wasn't looking forward to it. My last day of first grade was also April Fool's Day so I was hoping someone would pop in and say "April Fools! You're here till June!" but that didn't happen. I really enjoyed my time in room 105 and it was a great learning experience and really did what student teaching is suppose to do, make me a better teacher. I had some great memories from this and if you wanna read about them just scroll down. The last week of student teaching I took a break from planning and teaching and did some observing around the building.

I observed a 4th grade classroom where Mr. Wolf taught and it was very cool to see a male teacher at work (something you don't see in a lot of elementary settings). I really enjoyed my time in the EDBD room with Mrs. Holm see is a great lady and cares a lot about the students but the boys that are in there don't respect her. When I walked in the room I could tell the had respect for me and when I got working with them they were very attentive. It is great to see this kind of change and was fun to help them learn. Sadly the student I was making progress with on Monday wasn't there Tuesday because he was suspended for fighting after Gym Class. I know it would be hard and a lot of work but I would love to have classroom like Mrs. Holm one day to see if what I have learned at Carthage and in my experiences can help these students.

On the last full day of class the first graders surprised me by bringing their lunches back from the lunch room so we could have a "picnic" lunch together (the weather was great!). And after lunch before we went out for recess each student had made a card for me which was very sweet.

The next day was a half day and April Fool's day. The principal started it off by saying "The district called and we have to take standardized tests today so instead of a half day we are staying for a full day..." April Fool's pranks that early are not funny because all the kids thought she was serious. I thought it was pretty good, but if you want to hear a good April Fools prank ask my mother about my tattoo.

After the student's left (some didn't want to leave and some with tears in their eyes) the teachers went out to lunch. Since it was such a gorgeous day Ms. Wrobel's boyfriend picked her up on his motorcycle and they went for a ride. We sat outside at a little diner and enjoyed the good weather. When we went back to school I helped Ms. Wrobel finish 3rd quarter report cards and clean up some St. Patty's Day decorations. She had a gift basket for me with some teacher books and tools in it and my favorite a Michael Jordan kids book. She gave me this because when I brought up Michael Jordan one day in class the students (being born in 2003, mostly) had no idea who I was talking about. Someone started to say Lebron... and I stopped them mid word. Growing up in Chicago in the 90s Jordan and the Bulls were like air and oxygen to me. That was very nice of her to remember that and give me a book on him. We have agreed to stay in touch and I will try to write a weekly email to the 1st graders in room 105 telling them about my high school experience. Thanks to all who read my 1st grade experience on this blog even my D.G. Uncle Bobby out in California who printed out this tome. I hope you all will follow as I start my High School experience on April 12th.