We have a classroom full of 22 well-prepared and highly capable second graders upstairs at WPS! The first day of school brought students bounding into our new classroom's door, reportedly feeling excited and happy about the promises of a fresh year, reuniting with friends, and the newfound joy of being upstairs.
On our first day together, I read aloud Julie Danneberg's First Day Jitters, the story of a nervous school-going newbie. In the end, much to 2B's surprise, this newbie is a TEACHER, not a new student. While it was relieving to hear from our students that they did not feel jittery the morning before school started, I disclosed that I, in fact, was feeling that nervous! It's important to me that students understand I eagerly await their arrival as soon as August 1 hits, basically! And, like all humans, that I want to feel acceptance, belonging, significance, and fun!
Our work together during the first week was extremely important in laying a foundation and establishing purpose for our time together. I knew this was going to be a stellar group as soon as I posed the question: Why do we come to school, anyway?
I wasn't sure what this group of students would generate. After all, this was the first intellectual discussion we had together. Well, I was floored. I was humbled and refreshed and revved up to see many hands waving in the air and my hand couldn't keep up with the flow of thoughtful responses to record on our chart paper. Here are some of the gems of ideas:
-If we don't come to school each day, then we won't grow a bit smarter each day.
-And if we don't grow smarter each day, we won't have success! We won't get good jobs! Or get into the colleges we want!
-Because (added another student) you know, colleges can be picky with who they choose to let in.
-We come here each day to see our friends.
-We come to WPS to make new friends.
-We come here to learn. To read. To write. To do math. To get better at all of these things.
-We come here to exercise. To run. To play.
-We go to school so we can work together better, so we know how to work with people.
These are just a few of the student thoughts that I wrote and posted in our classroom. I was just so enthused by the level of reflection and substantial thinking that students volunteered literally from day one.
It's certainly going to be a most fabulous year.
Here are a few photos I took of students in action during our first week.
Strong students
Friends at school
Feeling the wind in their hair
Generating destinations for Flat Stanley travels and writing why they'd like their project to travel there
Having a fun break
Researching China and New York City photos to inform illustrations for their Flat Stanley projects
