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1st Grade “Steps-up” to 2nd Grade!

Every year around this time there comes a moment when I get that feeling that my heart might explode with pride.  The moment when I witness my students taking giant steps of maturity and the hint of them as 2nd graders floats before my eyes. Wednesday was “Step-up Day” for First graders to visit 2nd grade and to spend  one on one time with Mrs. Guttin. It is so important for First graders to have the opportunity to process what they can expect next year. Making time for them at the end of the year to get a taste of the year to come will help enormously in September when we begin the school year. We spent the past week writing letters and “Math about Me” booklets for this activity.  Students wrote about themselves, how they learn best, their family, what they love about school and what they like least about school and other facts they want their future teacher to know about themselves.  While each student was meeting with Mrs. Guttin, the other students spent the time exploring the 2nd grade classroom with the current 2nd graders.

 

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First Grade hosts “Kindergarten Buddies”

The roller coaster ride of May and June has commenced!

As the end of the year draws to a close, the Kindergarteners were matched up with our First graders for “Reading Buddies”.  Every Friday, from now until the end of the year, K will come for a visit to our classroom which will give them a chance to taste a bit of  First grade magic .

There have been so many moments which I have dubbed “Teacher’s Gold” in my past blog entries but this past Friday was the gem stone moment. The First graders were thrilled to be the older buddy and took their responsibilities very, very seriously.  Each First grader was assigned a Kindergartener and given some suggestions as to what books might interest them.  In preparation for their visit, they gathered books from our extensive library and decided where they wanted to sit with their buddies.

Ready, Set, Read!

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I am in awe of my students and how much they have progressed this year both in their reading skills and their maturity in a multi-age environment!

Each student showed patience, gave encouragement and support to their buddies.  We the teachers could not stop smiling!

Next week, it will be the First graders’s turn to “step up” to 2nd grade.  We are busy preparing for our visit to 2nd grade in Writer’s Workshop and in Math by writing The 2nd grade teacher friendly letters about themselves and writing a “Math About Me” book. They will be presenting their work to her during our visit and have time to visit and experience a taste of what an incredible year they will have next year.  (Sigh…..I am going to miss them so!)

Stay tuned for our 2nd Grade visit next week!