Phew...

Inservices Monday and Tuesday...

Long.  Busy.  Overwhelming.

Day 1...

Came and went.  Fabulous day!!  No one cried and that's always a great thing in first.  Phew! 

Such great kids and so excited about starting a new year with brand new firsties.   (Although I saw several "oldies" and like every teacher everywhere, made me a little sad as they passed my room to go on to second grade.  Sniffle.)

We made our class rules and stuffed them in our hippos.  The kiddos loved being able to make their own rules and set up our expectations together.  They then discovered soon after, they remembered them even without the list visible because they are now stored in their hippocampus.  

Be still my heart!  First day and all!  Love, love, love.

Day 2...

Even better.  Work was slower.  Kids were chattier.  Learning was happening.  

Couldn't ask for more.

When the principal came in, they were sooo excited to tell him all about the hippo in their head and to tell him how he had a hippo, too.  Can't imagine what he was thinking!

We started making hippo books today that will continue throughout the year.  Each time we need to "store" information into our long-term memory (hippocampus), we will learn it and then add it to our hippo books.  

I have done this before with previous classes but not as early as Day 1 and 2.  It was a terrific way to launch them into first grade.  I'm sure their parents are wondering what in the world I am teaching them.  Soon they will find out...I like parents to experience my madness sometimes before I label it...just like the students.  

Tomorrow is Day 3...

And Friday...

And an assembly...

If it weren't for my own three lovies, I'm 100% sure, I'd be sleeping tomorrow at 3:30pm.  Unfortunately, I don't think it'll happen.

My feelings exactly!
Even he thinks it was an exhausting week.

For now, I'm off to rest up for Day 3.  And yes, I promise this weekend I will be posting more products.  They are just about finished and ready to load.  Thanks for your patience and understanding. 

So much to share...so little time.