Sweet Summer Time! End of year recap - and letters from MY KIDS!

HELLO!!  It's been a great summer so far!  I just got back from Mark Twain Lake with my family and it was so amazing!  I am all caught up on sleep (and laundry), and so I thought that maybe it was time for me to catch up on my blogging!  There's so much that happened from the last week of school, that I didn't have time to share it all!

LOOK WHAT CAME TODAY!!!!!

I haven't shared what these are yet!!  They are letters!  The last day of school, I gave my kids a little present. (I also had donuts too, because I KNOW what kids like lol), But anyways,  It was a packet of stationary with a stamped envelope for them to write to me this summer! I promised I would write back this summer if they wrote me! Here's what it looked like....

Of course, I got this idea on PINTEREST!  This is where most of my ideas come from!  COPY AND PASTE! :)  https://www.pinterest.com/pin/200621358379318912/

I thought this was the perfect end of year gift because it was something that they could do (write) over the summer, it was free for them, and I got to hear from them all summer long!  

Needless to say, I was more than a little excited to get my first letters today in thee mail!!!

Here's the one from Reagan...

Did you hear that people?  She can't sleep at night because she misses me!   WOW - She's definitely using SHOW NOT TELL!  BAM!  Writers workshop at it's best!  (She learned something - PRAISE!)

And Keigen...

I am so excited to write them back!  

One last thing I didn't get to share with you during the last week of school.

THIS!

 Isn't it just the best. shirt. ever.  ???  :)  Carolina gave it to me and it describes me perfectly.  I love what I do.  It really is the BEST. JOB. EVER!!!  (Also, she got it in my favorite colors - my kids know me so well!!)  I am really the luckiest!  Now, off to write some first grade letters.  I can't wait to see who writes to me next!!

PEACE~
~Mrs. Trauterman~

"Teach with your heart. The rest will fall into place." My thoughts as the school year has ended.

Today I officially finished cleaning my room to get it ready for summer repairs and cleaning.  This is something that I usually take my time with because I like to make sure everything is cleaned, organized, and ready to just roll out for the beginning of the next school year.  I usually shed a few tears when taking down my classroom because it all just seems so empty.  A classroom is really pointless without little 47-inch-tall bodies to fill it.  So I reminisced when I took down some things.

 Like this pic of Ashton and I with our quote for our first graders.  I love her and cherish our partnership!

Or this one...

 Hand-made pom poms by Aunna during the week of the Spirit Squad performance.  Such creativity.  These may just be paper pom poms to you, but to me, they remind me of how shy Aunna was to dance with the Spirit Squad and how hard it was for her to join in and dance with us.  I remember Ms. Lafeber working with her during every practice to try and get her to do the dance with us.  Then, that night, we found out that if she wasn't right in the front, that she would dance.... AND SHE DID!  *tear* - Success!

Or this - A card from Keigen from teacher appreciation.  He loves soccer.  I know that he will succeed in his life if he keeps up with sports.  I remember how his mom cried during his parent teacher conference when she heard him read.... my heart...is full!! <3


For me, teaching isn't about mastering the skills taught or getting to the next reading level (those things are great and usually happen ;) ), but teaching is MUCH MUCH more than that.  It's about the relationships built and the growth that is made.  It's also about hurting for some kids.  Sometimes being a teacher means you carry so many burdens on you.  I usually carry those burdens and pray and worry about them at night or even over the summer.  I WORRY.  A LOT.  I wonder how many of my kids won't have enough food to eat this summer.  I wonder how many kids will stay home all by themselves while their parents are at work.  I wonder how many kids will actually read a book this summer....  It's hard to be a teacher sometimes!  Sometimes I am the only one who can truly appreciate the growth and small successes they've made, but they're there! Sometimes I am their only advocate. That is what makes my job truly special.

I also took down all my classroom pictures.  When I took them down, I tried to remember each child by name.  It amazing how many kids I've had an impact on after 8 years in the classroom. I also am reminded of teachers that I've impacted.  I have had 3 student teachers, 6 different teaching partners, and just gotten close with so many teachers in the building. Being a mentor and going through the emotions that teachers go through is a truly inspiring and a rewarding experience. It's also amazing how many kids I only had for a short time before they moved schools.  Time is so precious!



So, I know that many teachers brag and talk only about how they love summer (and trust me, I DO!!!) and they post on social media all the fun things they get to do over the summer :).... but behind that break (mentally and physically), is a teacher who is FULL.  Full of love, full of regret, full of worry, full of excitement, and full of anticipation for a much needed break!  They get a fresh start so that they can teach with their full HEART for next school year.

My motto is "Teach with your heart.  The rest will fall into place."

I plan to blog over the summer with some ideas and things that I anticipate for next school year.  So stay tuned!  Thanks for being readers of my blog experience this school year.  It's been REAL! <3

It's been an awesome year classroom...
Until next year...

Lights off.

Silence.

One last look.

Close the door.


~Mrs. Trauterman

A note about assessments and a class update

There's one and a half more days left!  ONE AND A HALF!!  I am so excited and sad at the same time!

I didn't get a chance to blog about assessments last week, but we have SO many things to assess for all year long, and the end of the year gives parents a final picture of how their student has done in first grade.  So, I try to be as specific and accurate as possible to give them credit for all of their success this year!

In first grade, I find that the very best way to assess is through groups or one-on-one conferencing.  I do this in all academic areas!  As you can imagine, a paper-pencil test does not meet the needs of most first grade students!  Here's why: You have to be able to READ in order to take a written test! Now, while most of my students CAN read ;), they are not at the level to where they can read, comprehend, and understand the vocabulary behind the words of the tests.  Written tests drive me crazy because kids will often get an answer incorrect, when all the while, they truly DO understand the concept, but just got confused on the wording on the test.  THIS IS A MATH TEST, NOT READING TEST PEOPLE!  Let me tell you, no matter how many times I read the directions and reread (and reread and reread) them, they still need me to come over and read them again (and again and again).  Now is a great time to give a huge shout out to Mrs. Meloche (my math push in for Title 1).  Without her, I would never be able to assess and run all over the room like crazy trying to read the directions!!!  Written tests just aren't best for 6 & 7 year olds!! I can't stress this enough!!!

Anyway..  (stepping off my soapbox).... in order to assess in math, I assess students in stations.  I typically do a math workshop approach to math anyway - 3 stations that rotate.  I teach the main lesson, Mrs. Meloche teaches a part 2 or review of existing concepts, and station 3 is the game station.  I love it!!  

Assessing Students in Stations (sometimes referred to as ASS day :)) is just what it sounds like - pulling a group, having them show you and explain to you their thinking behind their answer so you can give them an accurate grade.  Here's a video that shows how I assessed Kaylee on measurement.  She is supposed to be able to measure a space or object using objects (paper clips).  To bump it up, I wanted her to know and explain how she used good measuring skills to do so.

I've done my obtrusive assessments this way now for 4 years and it's the best way to see where your kids are!  You should try it! :) (Not my idea - props to my old teaching partner, Rachel Haug)!!!

Here's some of our big news!

• Max lost his first tooth last night and the tooth fairy came!  He got one dollar!!
• Bently got a filling today :/
• Lillian is not allowed to take any more "prizes" home from the drawing.  HA!
• Knox's aunt Wendy kicked cancer's butt and had her last treatment! Yay!
• Keigen is going to the Cardinals game tonight!  
• Kindergarten came over today to see what first grade will be like! <3

Field Day and a class update!

Hello!  I have been a blogger slacker!  It's a busy time of year for teachers!
Here's some updates on us here in first grade:

Friday was field day!  I love how Lincoln does field day!  It's one of my favorite days of the year.  We do not have a field of any kind here at our school, so we take a bus to the local high school and we PLAY ALL DAY!  It's so fun to do each station and use team work to complete the obstacles!  Here are some good pics from our day.

How many cheese balls will stick to a shower cap with shaving cream????

Beach Ball Relays!!!!

Tic Tac Toe with Hula Hoops!!!

More Tic Tac Toe!

Obstacle Course with hurdles!!!

More obstacle courses!

BOUNCE!!!

Water play!!!

Tug of war!!! (Yes that IS Ms. Lafeber and I!!)

ANNND.. This is how we felt at the end of the day!  Exhausted!

We had so much fun!  

Some other big news for the day

• Ethan had a yard sale this weekend and his mom made probably like 287 dollars. :)
• Rhylee has another wiggly tooth!  It's so wiggly!!!
• Heidi had a dentist appointment this morning :/
• Max had his birthday party this weekend and he got a stuffed ET!  He is also going to tell his mom to go to Target tonight to get a train track with his gift card!  Tonight!!!!
• Isabella went to the park this weekend.
• Mrs. Trauterman is still sunburned from Friday!!! 
• 2 1/2 more days left!

I will try to blog every day until school is out!

Thanks for reading!

3D shapes

 In math, we've been working on geometry. This is the kids FAVORITE thing to do because it's shapes and it's SUPER DUPER FUN!  DUH!

By the end of first grade students have to know how to distinguish between defining and nondefining attributes (I know ... that sounds hard! ....And it is)!!! They also have to identify and CREATE 3D and 2D shapes!

Today we did some shape work!  My kids are becoming experts at creating 3D shapes!  In order to make this lesson more "hands-on", we create the shapes using play dough.  It is super fun!  Then, we work on drawing our 3D shapes on our slates.  The kids LOVED this!  They felt like big kids at the end!

Here's some pics of what we did today:

Keigen's cube

Kaylee's cube

Heidi's pyramid

Corbin's rectangular prism

Our cubes we learned how to draw!!!!

Stay tuned because next week we will be identifying edible shapes in our world!  YUM!

We finished our day with a substitute because Mrs. Trauterman had to go to the dentist..  I'd rather be TEACHING!  

One more cute thing today....

This is a gift.  From Rhylee.  

The reason why it's the best kind of teacher gift ever is because it's literally just things from around her house and her room that she thoughtfully put together in this empty cereal box just for me.  People always say "it's the thought that counts" and that is so true for teachers too.  I know she didn't need to buy me anything special from the store.  She wanted to make me feel happy and found a way to do that.  So genuinely thoughtful!  Thank  you Rhylee.  I LOVE IT!  I'm still wearing the ring!

<3

That's all for now!

Today's news:

• Mrs. Trauterman got a filling today :(
• The kids earned their class star and earned a popcorn party tomorrow for their stars!
• Vicky's sister Melanie and Isabella's sister Melissa have both been helping in our rooms during MAP testing and it's SOOOO FUN!
• Lillian wants to know WHY Junie B would ever say a bad word in her book!!? (stupid) - It's terrible!!!

PEACE

Writers Workshop and a class update!

It's a busy time of year!  My to do list is piling up!  I actually had a mini panic attack this morning because I couldn't find the right paper to write my to do list on!  (Teacher probs..) Anyway, After I forgot my I.D. at home, thought I left my computer at home (but I just left it at school), my daughter missed the bus, and I had a meeting at 8:00 this morning, I thought my day would end up crazy too!  We'll see!  It's only 10:20.  So ANYTHING can happen!

First grade is wrapping up our nonfiction rain forest animal all about books and they are looking so great!  The kids have really taken it seriously and we have some seriously long and researched books!  This Friday we will celebrate our books at our writing celebration!

Here's a look at some of the hard work my kids are doing on this project:

Aren't they all coming along so nicely?  I'll update when we have the celebration!  They are such learners!! <3


How do you do your writer's workshop folders?  We have something like this:

It has 3 sections - one with "writing helpers", one with a green light for work they are still working on, and one with a red light for work they are finished with.  I also give them little notes and post its with writing goals to leave them with something after we conference together.  I'm always looking for different ways to organize or new ideas, so share below in the comments!

Here's some big class updates:

• Knox got a hair cut last week!
• Draven and Jack moved up reading levels last week!
• Rhylee got to see her dad over the weekend and it was fun!
• Bently went to his grandpa's over the weekend and had lots of fun!
• Aunna found her crayons over the weekend and she played school...  A LOT!
• Jack got his haircut over the weekend - A MOHAWK! wow!
• MAP testing is this week! (3rd and 4th)!  We had an awesome assembly last week and we are wishing them all good luck!

Have a great week!  PEACE!