A Day in K-1: Beginnings.....

It's been an exciting and eventful first week in the K-1 classroom. Children arrived, some tentative and watchful, others confident and ready, eager to see old friends. The children all got settled quickly, finding activities and exploring the room. All the first graders scanned the room for changes and similarities from last year, finding comfort in the old familiar things - the schedule of the day, the monthly calendar, the block area, dress ups, and the classroom frogs. These areas of the room that stayed the same provided needed continuity from last year, while the few small changes kept things fresh and exciting.

If I can capture a feeling from this past week, I think it is safe to say "beginnings" is an appropriate sentiment. The children worked hard to learn the routines, interact with their peers, listen to directions, and be an active part of our classroom community. In these early days, life in the classroom focuses on these comforting routines - how to walk quietly in a line down the hall, how to listen to a story on the rug, how to be respectful of our friends during both classroom time and recess. I could tell all of these little ones were working hard to internalize these routines. Some days a little friend would ask at 11:00 am "Is it time to go home yet?" This is all very normal for this time of year. For many, the classroom expectations, and all that coincides with the first days in a Kindergarten and First-grade classroom, prove challenging. We're definitely getting there - both Lauren and I noticed increased stamina, friendships being made, and a sense of classroom community being built.

We're already getting some wonderful work accomplished - reading together and independently, investigating the butterfly life cycle, making books and drawings, exploring our math materials, building, creating, exercising, talking, singing, dancing, and having fun. This is an amazing group - I can't wait for all the adventures that lie ahead!!

Warmly, Jennifer