It's Not a First Grade Experience Without...

     October 18 was my last day at my first grade experience. The rest of my student teaching will be at a different school in a special education classroom. It was very sad to have to leave these first graders that I have gotten to know and a school I have grown to love.

     The last day in first grade was very fun! We had a field trip to a local health center, where the students learned more about nutrition and exercise. I taught my students a health unit to prepare them for this trip, and it was exciting to see them to correctly answer the questions the presenter asked them. My students did really well for our first field trip. The only problem we had was some students started to lie back on the carpeted stairs they were sitting on. I asked several students to sit up throughout the program; one boy gave me a look back that said, "really, I don't feel well." Later, I shared this with my teacher while the students were at specials, and she told me that he fell asleep on the bus on the way back to school.

     During our last thirty minutes together, the students gave me cards that they had made earlier in the week. Then, I read a Pigeon book and Scaredy Squirrel. I sent the students back to their seats so that I could hand out the little gift bags I brought for them. Then, one of the students came up to me and said, "So-and-so just threw up." They have said this before and were not correct, but sure enough he actually had this time. Also, my teacher had just stepped out of the room. I took care of it, sending him to the office with an adult I spotted in the hallway. When my teacher came back, she laughed and said, "I guess it just is not a first grade experience without someone throwing up." Then, I handed out the goodie bags and gave the children hugs as they walked out to the buses. It was the best last day I could have asked for (minus some throw-up).

 

      I am really going to miss my class and am looking forward to going back a few times to visit. The cards that my first graders gave me were so encouraging and funny. Here's a look at some of my favorites.