A new school year has begun and for me that means everything new from the crayons to the building. New job, new school, new district, new city, new state (1330 miles away) and of course new challenges. The first day came and went. As of now 20 fantastic, bright eyed, excited kindergarten students walked in my room over the last two days. 9 on the first day and 9 on the second day. With each new face I met, I wondered where they would go in life and pondered on how I would spend the next 185 days working to make sure they succeeded and learned everything I could possibly teach them.
Each year I take pictures of my students and put them in a memory book. I've done the "First day of kindergarten" sign with the date for many years so this year I was looking for something new. I randomly happened to find the fantastic blog called "Peace, Love and Learning" and loved what I saw. The teacher had created a backpack tag for her students. Click here for the link to her original idea. I decided to change it just a little to make it into a sign that my students could hold on the first day that resembled the top of a graduation hat. When one particular parent walked in, I asked her as I had asked all of the other parents and guardians if she would like to take pictures of her student. I handed the student the sign to hold and the mom's eyes got huge and her mouth dropped open. Her eyes welled up with tears and she smiled as she took the pictures. Kindergarten is only the beginning but I sure enjoy creating that initial foundation for students and helping them take their first steps toward being life long learners.
To all my teacher friends- I wish you the best of school years!
Cheers to a fantastic year!
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| The beautiful flowers from my Aunt Kris, Uncle Fred, and cousins Paige and Jordan on my first day at my new school. |
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| The loved being in the center of the frame! |
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| After our gingerbread hunt we made gingerbread man puppets. |
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| The necessary first day self-portrait. |
