Life As a First Grade Teacher

I'm sure you have noticed that people define themselves by what they do for a living. When you meet someone we ask:

Where are you from?

and

What do you do?

When I say, "I'm a first grade teacher." I usually get one of two responses. "Aww. . .don't you love that age?" or "That's nice. . .I don't know how you do that every day."
Well, I have to admit that teaching does have its ups and its downs. Luckily for me there are usually more ups! Here are just a few of the great things I experienced this week as a teacher:
I had to be gone for training on Monday. Then, Tuesday morning, as my students came into the school one boy looks at me, screams, "She's BACK!!" and bolts down the hallway to give me a huge hug. How can you not smile for the rest of the day after that?
Wednesday we were having "turn and talk" time during reading. Students were asked to turn and tell their partners their favorite book and why. As I'm listening to discussions I hear this, "I like how you used the word interesting to describe your book, that is very great vocabulary."
Yesterday my line leader kept grabbing for my hand when we were walking in the hall. Another child noticed and said, "We always held hands with our kindergarten teachers, that's why she keeps doing that. We like holding hands with you too."
And this is why I love 1st Grade!