2-4-6-8, first grade is really great (teaching)

I recently received an actual apple from a student. She, very sweetly, gave me something wrapped in tinfoil in the morning and it took a moment for me to realize that she was giving me an apple. I remember how much I loved my teachers when I was little and sometimes cannot believe that I occupy that role for my students.

Each day is filled with 25 loving little 5-6-7 year olds. They do all of these things that make me laugh: balance books on their heads, clap when I say it's time for writing, tell me that I am the best teacher in the world...and so is my coteacher and the para, break down into laughter when I am giving them a test and it uses the name of a student in the class, and will lean in for a hug if I am standing within a foot radius.

My attitude impacts them in so many ways. When I am calm, they are calm. When I am happy, they are happy. This year, I feel like I am coming closer to more consistently creating a positive place for them to learn. I am glad that I am right here.

By the way, the 2, 4, 6, 8 is a minute math lesson I did this week--chants help us learn to count by twos. I have pomes about pennies and a little dance for counting by tens. Well, it’s not really a dance, it’s more of a slight movement repeated over and over.