As the older students struggle through a particularly hard question on a science test, or strain to stay awake through a long lecture, we tend to forget the students that are just beginning their walk through school, like the Preschoolers, Kindergarteners, and first graders. What is it like in those small classrooms, sitting in a short desk, or at a little table, learning how to read, write, add, subtract, discern colors, numbers, or the alphabet? Are we the only ones who work hard?
Let’s start with the morning. As we come in loaded with homework, instruments, and sports equipment, what are they doing down in Mrs. Smith’s classroom? The first graders start their day just outside the gym, all in one big line. Once they are moved to their lockers, they get their reading books and pencils and head inside. They say pledges to the Christian and American flags, as well as the Bible, and sing, “My Country ‘Tis of Thee.” Mrs. Smith prays, and they begin a day of learning.
One of the exciting things about the first grade is learning to read. In class, they split into groups; the Cardinals, Bluejays, and Ravens. The groups read the assigned pages from their Fun with Pets books together, then go back to their seats. They always have a few pages for homework that they need to read with a parent or an older sibling, who signs it so their children can get a star sticker from Mrs. Smith.
A big part of the first grade day is seatwork. Mrs. Smith gives them instructions and their papers, which include math, spelling, letters, and writing. Then, they all quietly get to work. All of them want to get done as soon as possible, so they don’t have to do it at rest time.
Show-and-Tell is always fun! There are assigned people for each day to bring in something fun and special. One day, Grason brought in a toy pink piano! Will once brought a 2006 World Series baseball. Every ten days, someone brings in a round treat for the class, such as one glazed doughnut each for the end of ten days, two marshmallows each for the twentieth day, and so on the fun will go!
Some of the fun things they do with Mrs. Smith include reading the Little House on the Prairie series and listening to Patch the Pirate CDs. They are on the second Laura Ingalls Wilder book, Little House on the Prairie. Every day they also have a special class. These include music, P.E., art, and library. In music class, Mrs. Dickson helps them sings songs like “Angels We Have Heard On High.” In P.E., they play games like soccer, freeze tag, “What Time is it Mr. Fox?” and Octopus Tag with Mrs. Cashler, but only after they run five laps. Octopus Tag is just like tag but if you are tagged, you have to get on the ground and wiggle around until someone tags you. Art class is always fun! Right now, the first graders are making white paper birch trees with Mrs. Baker. In library, they get to experience the joy of reading for the first time with Mrs. Collins, who gets them acquainted with their new best friend, a good book.
At the end of the day, as first graders run back to the classroom to get their lunchboxes, and then back in again for their reading books, and back in again for absolutely no reason, Mrs. Smith watches and smiles. She knows that although she can not guide them through all of life, she can at least help them survive first grade. She can not stop them from making wrong decisions in their futures, but she can help them to recognize these decisions as wrong. The first grade is a time of beginning, a time when everything starts. She knows that at the end of the year, she will have to say goodbye to this class. Yet there will always be another class, just as eager to begin, to read, and to learn. And so the first graders, their parents, and anyone who has ever had Mrs. Smith say...
Thank You
Mrs. Smith!
- Alex Anhalt, Freshman
No comments:
Post a Comment