A Slice of Heaven

I am always amazed by what my first graders say and do.  My current group of students are some of the most thoughtful, smart, creative, funny, and entertaining group of students that I have ever had the pleasure to teach.

They enjoy...
dancing during brain breaks.  Some of these guys dance better than I do!
singing our fluency songs/poems and adding hand motions to match them.
reading books.  They enjoy both fiction and informational book.
reading, telling, and creating jokes.  One of our favorite sites is Jokes by Kids.

They are good at...
sharing their opinions during writing.
explaining their thinking in math.
engaging in books they are reading and books I'm reading to them.  Today I read aloud Mercy Watson to the Rescue by Kate DiCamillo and they loved it!

I love the way they...
help friends in need.  They notice when friends are sad or hurt and show true concern for them.
volunteer to read with a friend who needs a partner so they don't feel left out.
offer to help friends who need assistance with tying a shoe, zipping a coat, putting away materials, or with where to write an answer.

Today A.F. said, "Mrs. Ruckes I have a letter that I want to read to you."  "Yes, you may read it when we find a bit of extra time." I replied.  About an hour later, during a transition from one subject to the next, he asked me again.  "Can I read it now?  I really want to read it to you."  I agreed and he hurried to his backpack and returned with this letter.  It is made like a "cutie catcher" (I think that's what you call them.) and it has four parts.  This is how A.F. told me to read it:
Start with the part that says "first" - underneath that flap was written:  Dear Mrs. Ruckes
Next, read the part that says "second" - underneath that flap was written:  I think that you
Next, read the parted that says "third" - underneath that flap was written:  are the best
Finally, read the part that says "fourth" - underneath that flap was written:  teacher in the world! A.F.

All I could do was smile a gigantic smile (and thank him).  Then he asked me if I would take it to lunch and show it to all the other teachers and of course...I did!

My letter from A.F.