Last-Day-of-School

The students wanted to present some of our favorite stories, as plays, for their families. I was thrilled to see so many family members! The children did a great job and took their practices very seriously...they did it all themselves....I adapted the stories into plays and they went from there...making their own scenery and directing each other.
To ensure our plays did not go into the evening...I was the narrator.
The Tortoise and The Hare
Frog and Toad
The Three Snow Bears

The Three Little Pigs


Bravo to everyone!!

Awards Presentation

Jordan read 100 books.
Tyler read 100 books...including 24 in one night!!
Paige read 100 books, and Brianna, too!
Logan read 100 books.

Andrew...best classroom organizer
Tyler...most thoughtful thinker
Cynthia...best class cheerleader
Leo...most improved handwriting and best head-stander
Ty...most athletic
Thank you to the Arndt's for taking pictures during the show and awards!
Some others:
Paige...best dressed...always looks fabulous
Joe...best reader
Gracie....best chick handler
Max...tries his best to be a success
Brianna...best dog lover
Taylor...best story teller

More Awards...

Haley...most friendly
Colten...best smile
Tucker...most charming and best boy handwriting
Jordan....best singer during show-and-tell
Braden...best tadpole gatherer
Megan...best animal lover
Emily...most improved reader
Sydnee...best girl handwriting
Austin...most honest
Logan...best reacher-for-the-stars

Today was our first grade picnic!

Our class bench!
Everyone found a place to sit and waited while Mrs. Ellis' son grilled our hot dogs! Yay for Andrew Ellis!

Class Picnic

Everyone enjoying their lunch.


The playground was so much fun!


I promise this was a friendly game of tag.


We all had a great day!

End of Year...

While there have been many days when I left school very tired...okay, exhausted...I am really feeling sentimental about the school year being over....I have loved this class...The children are creative and funny...serious and goal-setting....
Here are a few favorite quotes from this week (I won't use real names):

We have been very warm in our classroom this week and little Susie came up to me and in true Southern Belle fashion, while mopping her brow, said, "Mrs. Bode, I don't do summer very well." (For the record, neither do I!)

Little Johnny: Mrs. Bode, smell my hair!
Me: Ummmm.....no.
Little Johnny: Come on, Mrs. Bode, smell my hair!
Me: Okay....(I happily did not smell anything)....mmmmmm, great.
Little Johnny: yep. I took a bath.
The next day we had the same exact conversation, except at the end I said, "Little Johnny! A bath two days in a row! You are spoiling me!
Little Johnny, with a Cheshire grin: I know.

I had a boy tattling that a girl had "budged" him (the word they use for cutting in line)..I asked Susie: "Did you budge him?" (I was fully expecting a no answer.)
Susie: "Yes."
Me: Why?
Susie: Because I am a lady and ladies should be first.
What could I do with that kind of reasoning?! I, of course, told the boy to move back and let the lady in. :)

I told the children we had to be very orderly when some of the parents come to watch our plays on the last day of school...peace, sitting still, etc...
One little girl raised her hand and said, "Yeah, Mrs. Bode, cuz my mom won't do craziness. She will just say 'I am done with this craziness and will leave'. So I want everyone to be quiet.

First Grade Picnic!

Next Thursday, May 27, the first grade is going to walk to Weedman Park for a hot dog roast/picnic. The teachers have asked the students to bring in a dollar donation to contribute towards the lunch supplies. In addition, the children should bring a drink for the picnic. Another teacher is allowing soda, so in fairness I have given in...the half cans are ideal....please no Mountain Dew or other sodas containing caffeine...I am still encouraging juice or bottled water :)

Finally field trip day!

Waiting in the school hall for our buses to arrive. This morning it was very stormy and we thought we would not get to have our picnic....but it stopped raining and the day was great!
Mrs. Arndt was our bus driver and we definitely had the party bus! The kids loved the Chipmunk music she played!
So excited for the day that lies ahead!

Monticello Train Field Trip!

Just seeing the train made everyone excited!
These two gentlemen used Morse Code when they started working for the railroad in the 1940's.
We were taken through an old time sleeping car.
I snuck these two in for a picture!
Okay, I threw in quite a few...quickly...so I could get their pictures.
Some rooms had their own commodes. Of course, the students found that fascinating!
We were able to walk through an old time mail car...
Here they learned how repairs were made to the train wayside lights.
Back to the mailroom...many children came back and put this room in their journals.
Waiting for the 'safe car'....we watched a cartoon on track safety....how children should not run up to the tracks to put anything on them and they should not try to outrun a train.