Saying Goodbye To Great Friends!

Hello First Grade Families,

The end of the year brings many emotions.  Today we had a beautiful afternoon- our last together with the 8th grade class before they head off to high school.  They showed us photos from their big end of the year trip across California.  After this excitement and amazement, the students shared their setting work and animal bookmarks.  It was such a nice time.  

Looking at the first grader's cards written to their big buddies, I can see their thoughtfulness.  I was thinking about the fact that at the beginning of the year, writing a simple card took a lot of work: checking, asking for help, editing.  Today, these cards took so much less time.  Many friends have internalized spelling knowledge throughout this year and are trying to memorize new words each day.  This directly shows up in their confidence and ability to communicate more complex thoughts.  Each note shares a sweet connection that is something memorable.  

When was the last time you wrote a note like this?

Maybe we can take the cue from these caring first- almost second- graders!

Who did you connect with, like this, when you were young?

What are the important ways a big buddy inspires young minds?

How might these first grade friends' work inspire the 8th graders?

I hope you enjoy reading these messages as much as I did.  This week is bitter sweet, I feel so lucky to have known such special people.  These students are ready to move on to continue to learn, wonder, imagine, discuss and create.  I know they will do amazing things in the coming years!

Have a nice night, Jennifer

 

What a Week!

Hello!

Can you believe it's the end of the year?  I can't.  I am not thinking about it a lot, just hoping you will all come and visit me to tell me what's new next year when you move on to your new teacher and have another fabulous year!

This week was full of beautiful moments.  Family night was lovely.  Thank you for coming.  The kids were amazingly confident to sing, recite and interpret.  I was especially impressed with their ability to share their thoughts and ideas candidly without much planning.  They said they were nervous, but they were still able to step forward and speak in front of a crowd!

Thank you for writing new descriptive words for the students, for reading and exploring and for writing your own stories.  If you did, can you email these to me?  

I would love to read them to the students next week!

That night was full of loveliness.  The exhibition, the bookmarks, the camaraderie.  I want to thank all the families who spent some of their week doing jobs for the class: filing, typing, printing, mounting and framing the work, setting up the room, manning the bookmark booth.  Thank you for making it do-able for me.  I would have been overwhelmed without you all.  Thank you!

We plan to sell the AMAZING ANIMAL bookmarks again on Tuesday after school at 3pm.  

So far we've made $107 for the animal shelter, so let's spread the word!

The zoo was a beautiful day.  I feel so lucky to have had so many great parents on the trip.  You made the day fun and special without any drama or mishaps, so thank you to Marybeth, Michelle D, Michelle C, Hildy, Shannon, Heather, Jo, Carrie, Karri and Arpna!  I will share the zoo photos in another post.  I cannot say enough how much I appreciate all the organization and planning that Carrie, Joey's mum, did for us to make all of our field trips so fabulous this year.

Today's pajama day was such a nice time.  The kids stayed true to their wish of "keeping it mellow".  They worked together playing games, making puzzles and writing cards to commemorate the year together.  Also, the coin group figured out how much money has been in Jason's chest all year.  Hard work to have so many friends involved in this ongoing project.  What will they count next?

Thank you for sharing your lovely children with me this year!  Love, Jennifer