Look Who Landed in Our Room!

As you can imagine first grade is going quite well!

We're practicing lots of procedures, but we are engaging in new learning as well. I love this!
To date, we have read over ten books in our classroom. I'm pleased with this number, and I am so excited for that to continue to grow this school year.

Below I am including some pictures from the first day of school activity. On the first day, after students came in they were asked to draw themselves into their parachute that I had laid on each of their desks. Then when they were finished, they got to choose their place on our bulletin board. This was fun for them, and it was a great ice breaker. Check out some of their work below.

Each of their parachutes had their name on it like mine does, and at the bottom you can see them all hanging up. Now that they have landed, we have lots to learn!

Profound Thoughts Concerning the Seventh Day of Creation

So often in conversations with students, I am in awe of their thought processes and the things that they say are just enlightening. This afternoon was a great example.

Mrs. MacLeod: Boys and girls, why do you think God rested on the seventh day?
Student: Because He got tired of speaking.

What a deep thought that because God spoke everything into being on the seventh day, he was just tired of doing that. Praise God that's not true! But it definitely brought a smile to my face.

Before & After

When I found this sign outside 

my room a few weeks ago, 

this moment became real!

Before pictures of the back of the room.

After pictures of the back of the room.

Before view from the back of the room facing front.

After pictures from the back of the room facing front.

Before picture of the cabinets along the wall.

After pictures of the cabinets along the wall.

My desk

The classroom library.
I am so excited to continue to fill this space up with books.

Tomorrow I get to meet my students. 

On Wednesday is our first day of school. 

And our classroom is going to continue to grow all year long!

A New School Year Begins

My classroom is almost ready.
My lesson plans aren't nearly done, but my schedule is good to go.
And I can't remember a time when my heart has been this excited!

It still feels very surreal that I begin my first year of teaching with Meet the Teacher day next Tuesday. There are not enough positive words to describe how I feel about this new phase of my life that I am about to embark upon. The truth is: The Lord is So Good! He has blessed me with a great school, a class of students that I just know are going to teach me a ton and bless my heart in so many ways, parents that are willing and able to help me on this journey of teaching their children together, and a team of first grade teachers that are passionate, smart and hard working. Christ has so much for this year! 

Recently I've been thinking about my students a ton. Praying down the list of their names... and while driving home from work the other day, I heard the familiar words to a song which I remember first hearing as a child. This was the first time that the words even meant anything to me. 
It is titled- Will You Love Jesus More? sung by Philips, Craig & Dean
This is my prayer for the school year.

I feel quite sure if I did my best
I could maybe impress you
With tender words and a harmony
A clever rhyme or two

But if all I've done in the time we've shared
Is turn your eyes on me
Then I've failed at what I've been called to do
There's someone else I want you to see
[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/p/phillips_craig_dean/will_you_love_jesus_more.html ]
[CHORUS]
Will you love Jesus more
When we go our different ways
When this moment is a memory
Will you remember His face
Will you look back and realize
You sensed His love more than you did before
I'd pray for nothing less
Than for you to love Jesus more

I'd like to keep these memories
In frames of gold and silver
And reminisce a year from now
About the smiles we've shared
But above all else I hope you will come
To know the Father's love
When you see the Lord face to face

You'll hear Him say "well done"

[CHORUS]
Will you love Jesus more
When we go our different ways
When this moment is a memory
Will you remember His face
Will you look back and realize
You sensed His love more than you did before
I'd pray for nothing less
Than for you to love Jesus more

I'd pray for nothing less
Than for you to love Jesus more


Before and after pictures of my classroom will be on here within the week. 

Early America

I just finished a book that I highly recommend to introduce primary students to colonial America.
Another Newbery medal winner: Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan. After I finished it, I got very excited because there are three more books following this in the series.

I avoided reading this book as a little girl because I did not find this time period interesting, but as I get older I wish that someone had gotten me interested in it by reading one of these stories to me.

Also, this is the perfect post to put in a plug for another beloved series: Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I think too many people were reading it when I was in grade school, and I wanted to be different so I skipped it. After I was forced to read this in college, I was saddened that I missed discovering these books as a child. A few years ago, I was gifted an extra large copy of this book complete with all of the illustrations that I can't wait to share with my own children some day.

Finally, if you're a higher level reader from grades 4 and up, you should check out one of my favorite books about the expansion of early America. The Captain's Dog by Roland Smith is written from the perspective of the dog along on the trip to discover The Louisiana Purchase. I loved this book! I'm thinking boys who are interested in American history would find this book a fast and fun read.