In the beginning...

I usually show up at the classroom in August to begin unpacking, but this year my room was done early YEAH!!  So in between Writing Camp and Presentations at Rice I was able to swing by and begin the transformation of the year.  In the beginning it's hard to believe that we start with literally a blank canvas and then the students change the space as soon as they enter. 

  They make the classroom- a classroom!! 

The last post by The Super Team

Now, its' time to say good-bye.  The year has flown by so quickly.  Like Lane said, "it felt like just one minute."  How is it possible that we accomplished so much in so short of a time.  

Thank you to the parents for helping with EVERYTHING (the list is too long!).  

Thank you to my students for making my year so interesting, fun and exciting! 

I think The Superheroes said it best during their performance on awards day.  

So, it seems right to end with their words:

The Magic Pen

written by The Superheroes

I hear Ms. Musters say, "Lights, Camera, Action!"
I hear people whispering, "Let's play at recess together!'
Clickers clicking when recess is over
Feet stomping on the read track
I see a tree not a normal tree a tree filled with words like...
narrowing, sobbing, gasped, glitch, frolic, inspire, redundant, imperative,
chockablock, coax, plethora, observation, grateful.
Come to the deep blue sea and meet with me..
kids everywhere writing with a magic pen
pencils flying everywhere sounds like
shhhh shhhhh shhhhh
asking questions, conferencing,
writing  a whole idea on your paper
writing about our lives
I hear kids singing a song called "Puff the Magic Dragon"
(Students sing the chorus:  Puff the magic dragon, lived by the sea and frolicked
in the autumn mist in a land call Honah lee. )
I taste bunuelos fading into sadness because of how quick this year has been.

If felt like one minute
"Everything is Awesome"

(After 3 seconds, students burst into song and dance)
Everything is awesome
everything is cool
when your part of a team
everything is awesome
when your're living out your dream

Advice!

One of our last assignments as first graders was to come up with three (because that's our magic number) pieces of advice for the future first graders.  

Here are some of their wise words:

Express ideas to other classmates.

Follow rules its the best thing to do. 

Focus on your work. 

The first time you go on the spider -it has to be Spanish day. 

You will be making and dramatizing your stories. 

Create your own challenges.

If the class is doing something really yucky - go ahead and try it!

Be safe when there are fire drills. 

You have to write long sentences. 

When you do literacy workstations:  write, write write, Think, think, think and Learn, learn learn.

Just raise your hand to ask. 

You need to be independent. 

Follow the essential agreements.