Sliding Into First

We started the year off with the poem "Now" written by Prince Redcloud.  We end the school year with our own version of the poem "Now" written in the style of Prince Redcloud.  One hundred and eighty days goes by quickly when you are having fun.  Every day in Room 115 was full of learning, fun, new challenges and hard work for every member.  Thank you so much for supporting, loving and celebrating Room 115.  I appreciate your generous words, time, and resources that you provided and shared with us.

Kindergarten is such a special year, phsically, socially and academically.   Check out the changes from the beginning of the year until  now.



Room 115 will be celebrating all summer with our June and July Birthdays.  So many good things are in store for these outstanding summer birthdays.  Thanks for letting us pretend it was your birthday and celebrate that very important day!
Sometimes in life things need to be freshened up.  We freshened up the instruction of Room 115 this week with dads taking over.  Our focus was on paper airplanes.  How much fun to fold and experiment with paper. To quote "Z" at the end of  the lesson, "That was awesome!"  Thanks to the dads for taking time away from their day to teach, answer questions, help us fold and fly, encourage and smile with us.

  
We got a head start on celebrating Father's Day.  Dads are so important in our lives and we had great fun turning our dads into Super Dad!  I'm not giving away the entire secret:  there is a very special message on the back of these portraits.

And now to the conclusion, the hardest part to write.  Thank you so much for sharing your greatest treasure with me.  At 3:10 tomorrow, a piece of my heart will leave when that last child exits the classroom.  I've learned so much this year from every child in Room 115.  I am a better teacher because of those very special twenty children.  The way the parents of Room 115 came together to support me is how every classroom should be in the United States.  I encourage you to read with your child every day this summer (even on weekends) and limit the screen time.  Please feel free to contact me if I can ever be of assistance  to you (everything from answering educational questions to helping you find your missing dog in the middle of the night!)  One hundred and eighty days ago, we knew it would happen.  We knew that Kindergarteners turn into first graders.  As you can tell, Room 115 is ready to slide into first. Keep in touch and have a wonderful time in first grade!   To quote "Z" from earlier in the week "That was awesome!"  Thanks for a wonderful school year!  I love you all!

Photos from the Big Show

Mrs. Wright  is a first grade teacher at Blount.   As a favor to the Kindergarten teachers, she took photographs of the Kindergarten End of the Year Celebration. The slide show below is her free gift to us.  Enjoy the photographs.  Please visit Mrs. Wright's website http://ameliawrightphotography.com/kindergarten-celebration-blount-elementary/ and leave her a comment.

Near the End

I can't figure out why I've postponed updating the blog this weekend.  It is either because my family's activities made it seem like it was summer or I'm dreading saying goodbye on Friday.  The good news is I forgot my camera at school on Friday so I will post one more time later this week.

Nancy's Italian Ice will be at school tomorrow for $1.00.

Report cards will be issued at 3:00 on Friday.  If your child will not be at school on Friday, please send a stamped self addressed envelope so that I can mail it on Friday.

The big show and the Room 115 celebration was absolutely precious.  Thank you so much for supporting  our classroom.  I thought you might like to see how the family portraits were made. Enjoy.


Now here is a sneak peek with a much better photographer behind the camera.  Mrs. Wright plans to give me a disc of the photos on Tuesday.  I will upload Tuesday night to my Picasa web albums for you to view and grab:  Sneak Peak Photos from the Big Show .   Obviously I like any photo that contains the yellow shirts but my favorite is the last photo of all you guys with your cameras.  (Note:  Once Mrs. Wright saw me taking a photo of you guys, she turned her camera on you guys too...sooooo  technically that photo was my idea!)  Spend a little time and check out Mrs. Wright's photography website at www.ameliawrightphotography.com

The children loved making the puppets.  I loved watching them learn how to manipulate the arm.  Maybe time will stand still and Friday won't come.
 

Back in the fall I had a little bit of trouble with paper airplanes.  I talked with the students and told them the last week of school  we could make paper airplanes.  I forgot about that conversation but two weeks ago, a little voice in the classroom politely reminded me of it.  Since we have dads who are experts on airplanes I've asked for reinforcements this week in helping to make paper airplanes.  We could always use more help so if you are interested in helping Room 115 make paper airplanes on Wednesday afternoon, please contact me by Monday night so that you can get in on the planning.

We are going to have a busy week full of learning.  I am keeping structure in Room 115.  The week will probably go by fast when I want it to slow down.  Like I said last Friday,  this has been a great story and I'm sad for the final chapter to be read.  But I'm so glad I was part of the story. 

Look for one more post later this week.  Thanks so much for loving Room 115!