Reflections from a Grade One Teacher

I began Kindie Korner just over six years ago, on the first of February, when I was taking my Kindergarten Additional Qualification Course through York University. When I reflect back to my first blog post, "Yes, this is Kindrgordin!", I am filled with the warmth and excitement from my first years of teaching. I think of all the wonderful students I learned with and from; some of whom I still see in the hallways, except they are now my height and in Grade 6! I am quickly reminded of how precious time is and how fast it passes us by. 

My first kindergarten inquiry (2013-2014)

It has been just over two years since my last blog post, on the fifth of February, where I shared a "Math Talk Monday". That was my eighth and final year of teaching Kindergarten (for the time being). I had decided that I would challenge myself the following year to try a new grade and extend the principles of play and inquiry into Grade One.

An invitation to measure in my last year of teaching kindergarten (2017-2018)

I was fortunate to remain in the same classroom that I taught kindergarten in for the previous four years, as well as continue to teach many of the same students that I had taught in both Year One and Two of Kindergarten. To say that it was a challenging year, would be an understatement. Don't get me wrong, I had a wonderful class, very supportive grade partners, and was excited to be teaching a new grade. However, I did have personal challenges that prevented me from teaching the full year. It made it hard for me to fully embrace the school year as I usually would, or share my learning the way I love to do- hence the two year overdue blogpost! 

My Grade One Classroom (2018-2019)

This year, I am teaching Grade One for the second year. I am in a new classroom that is closer to my amazing teaching team, I feel more comfortable with the curriculum, and I am lucky to be teaching some of my former students from Year One of Kindergarten. I know that there will always be challenges to face on this journey of life- both personally and professionally. But as I write this, I am reminded of how much I enjoy sharing with you and how much I enjoy the work I do, both in the classroom and on my own time. My hope is to share more of what I have learned and have yet to discover in my role as an educator and beyond. I guess it isn't a coincidence that I was given today's leap day, the twenty-ninth of February, to share this post with you. 

My current Grade One Classroom (2019-2020)

"Today is a Gift

That's why it's 

called the Present."