Dave.

Yesterday the students and I wrote a class story. We rolled some story dice to find out five words we needed to include. They were beach, boat, alien, kick, and run. I told them if they created a story I would draw a picture as well (posted bottom right corner).

This is their story:
"Once upon a time an alien was playing kickball on the beach. The aliens name is Dave. He stopped playing kickball and asked his friends if they wanted to play on the boat. The alien and his friends then ran over and ran onto the boat. Dave's friend threw the ball really high into the control room. The boat started to go fast. No one was driving! The boat crashed into the rocks. It ripped to pieces, and sank. Dave swallowed the soccer ball so he could float back to shore. The End."

These kids worked together to create a silly class story and it made my day.

Quote of the Day

Today was a day filled with frustration and too much chatter, however, there is always a quote of the day that makes me laugh. The picture below is my example, but the students verbal example was priceless.

Teacher: "what did you draw for your before and after picture?"
Student: "I drew a turd and then it changes to a frog".
Teacher: "A what!?"
Student: "A turd and a frog!"
Teacher: (long silence trying not to burst out laughing in front of the class, and having no idea what she meant) "umm"
Other Student: "you mean a tadpole?"
Student: "yeah a tadpole and a frog"

Where this student got turd from, I am not sure. But I do know that it was the closest I have ever came to spitting laughter in front of my students. It's quotes like those that catch you off guard and can brighten your whole day.

About ME!

Ms. Jessica's Classroom.

Its been a whirlwind of a year in first grade. From extreme behaviors, to power outages and wind storms, it has definitely been an adventure as a first year teacher. This is about the good and the bad, the lessons and the struggles. With having a couple months under my belt its time for more organization and sharing of good and some not so good attempts.  I'm sassy, my students are silly and this is my new adventure. 

Tough Days Call for some Inspiration.

My inspiration came from a young boy in Africa.  

"Through out my life I have been inspired by many people, however, when I was very young was when I was inspired the most. My parents financially supported a young boy and his family in Rwanda. Through the tragedies of war he had seen his father killed before his very eyes, and was now the “man” of the family at age twelve. He received the basics his family required to survive, and most importantly, an education in an actual school. When he turned eighteen he graduated from school and was able to support his family. We used to receive letters from this boy regularly. At Christmas we would send extra money and gifts to his family. As a very young girl, I remember giving all the money I had ($20 at the time) to him and his family so they could purchase a goat. This was a really big purchase for them. They would have milk to support their family. This experience has impacted me in a way, which I want to use my life to change other people’s lives, wherever that may be.

            Helping this boy has inspired me to help more children. There are so many children around the world that aren’t even given a chance at education, I would like to be one of the people that forever make a positive difference in their lives."

This was an essay question I answered when applying for the college I really wanted to attend; Gonzaga University. From when I was very young, I wanted to become a teacher, go to Gonzaga and eventually visit Africa. Even though there has been some extremely tough times this first year teaching, I can now look back and say I have accomplished all of those things. I attended Gonzaga University where I was able to study abroad in Zambia Africa and teach. Now, I am a first grade teacher. At the age of 24 I can say I am exactly where I want to be. Getting here has been a huge challenge, but I am here. I am a teacher and I love every single one of my students. Inspiration comes in all shapes and forms, on tough days you sometimes need to take a step back and remember what it means to be a teacher, and why you wanted to be one in the first place.