Welcome
~Meet Mrs. Russell~
Hi! I am Mrs. Russell and I am so excited to have your child as a student in my classroom! This year we will have lots of fun learning, exploring, and discovering new things and our theme will be “We're having a HOOT of a time in first grade!”
First grade is an important foundation in your child’s education; however, it will be quite an adjustment from kindergarten! It is my goal to create positive attitudes about school and learning. I will plan fun, exciting, and high-interest activities for your child and our activities will usually relate to a theme that strongly focuses on reading, writing, mathematics, and problem- solving skills. We will use a wide variety of literature and various authors to accomplish this goal. I have high expectations for your child and I hope you have high exceptions for me.
Education must be a partnership between home and school. Parental involvement is essential and you are always welcomed and encouraged to be a part of our classroom! I encourage you to feel free to ask questions at any time throughout the school year. With home and school working together, I am certain that each child will have a successful school year.
I believe education is a lifelong and continuous process. Because of this, I believe a teacher must be compassionate, open minded, dedicated, and willing to help in anyway possible. I am excited about getting to know each of you and your child! Your child and you will become an important part of my life. Thank you so much for sharing your most precious gift with me! I am convinced this will be a positive experience for all!
First grade is an important foundation in your child’s education; however, it will be quite an adjustment from kindergarten! It is my goal to create positive attitudes about school and learning. I will plan fun, exciting, and high-interest activities for your child and our activities will usually relate to a theme that strongly focuses on reading, writing, mathematics, and problem- solving skills. We will use a wide variety of literature and various authors to accomplish this goal. I have high expectations for your child and I hope you have high exceptions for me.
Education must be a partnership between home and school. Parental involvement is essential and you are always welcomed and encouraged to be a part of our classroom! I encourage you to feel free to ask questions at any time throughout the school year. With home and school working together, I am certain that each child will have a successful school year.
I believe education is a lifelong and continuous process. Because of this, I believe a teacher must be compassionate, open minded, dedicated, and willing to help in anyway possible. I am excited about getting to know each of you and your child! Your child and you will become an important part of my life. Thank you so much for sharing your most precious gift with me! I am convinced this will be a positive experience for all!
~Apology to None~
Apology to None
When I am introduced as a teacher, I am usually asked what I teach. When I say, “first grade,” I generally hear a very flat “oh.” I have never been certain whether it is an expression of pity, sympathy, disgust, or perhaps disinterest. Always, I wish I had the time to explain to them like this: YES, I teach first grade!
WHERE ELSE would a handsome young man put his arms around me and ask, “Do you know that I’ll always remember and love you?”
WHERE ELSE could I tie so many hair ribbons and belts and daily get to see a style show of pretty dresses and shirts?”
WHERE ELSE could I walk up and down aisles and have little warm hands reach out to me?
WHERE ELSE could I have the privilege of wiggling loose teeth and receive the promise that I my pull them when they are loose enough and sometimes I do.
WHERE ELSE would I eat a spoiled piece of candy from a grimy little hand and not become ill?
(I have to eat it because he watches me to see that I do!)
WHERE ELSE would the future look so bright as it does amid an energetic group to whom nothing is impossible?
WHERE ELSE could I guide the first letter formations of a chubby little hand that may some day write a book or an important document?
WHERE ELSE could I forget my own aches and pains because of so many cut fingers, scratched knees, bumped heads, and broken hearts that need care?
WHERE ELSE could I forget cares and even “the state of the nation” because Stevie isn’t grasping Reading as he should and other methods must be tried?
WHERE ELSE would my mind have to stay so young as with a group whose attention span is so short that I must always keep a “bag of tricks” up my sleeve?
WHERE ELSE could I feel so close to my MAKER as I do each year when, because of something I’ve done, little children learn to read?
YES, I teach first grade, Mr. and Mrs. America, and I LOVE IT!
- Author Unknown
When I am introduced as a teacher, I am usually asked what I teach. When I say, “first grade,” I generally hear a very flat “oh.” I have never been certain whether it is an expression of pity, sympathy, disgust, or perhaps disinterest. Always, I wish I had the time to explain to them like this: YES, I teach first grade!
WHERE ELSE would a handsome young man put his arms around me and ask, “Do you know that I’ll always remember and love you?”
WHERE ELSE could I tie so many hair ribbons and belts and daily get to see a style show of pretty dresses and shirts?”
WHERE ELSE could I walk up and down aisles and have little warm hands reach out to me?
WHERE ELSE could I have the privilege of wiggling loose teeth and receive the promise that I my pull them when they are loose enough and sometimes I do.
WHERE ELSE would I eat a spoiled piece of candy from a grimy little hand and not become ill?
(I have to eat it because he watches me to see that I do!)
WHERE ELSE would the future look so bright as it does amid an energetic group to whom nothing is impossible?
WHERE ELSE could I guide the first letter formations of a chubby little hand that may some day write a book or an important document?
WHERE ELSE could I forget my own aches and pains because of so many cut fingers, scratched knees, bumped heads, and broken hearts that need care?
WHERE ELSE could I forget cares and even “the state of the nation” because Stevie isn’t grasping Reading as he should and other methods must be tried?
WHERE ELSE would my mind have to stay so young as with a group whose attention span is so short that I must always keep a “bag of tricks” up my sleeve?
WHERE ELSE could I feel so close to my MAKER as I do each year when, because of something I’ve done, little children learn to read?
YES, I teach first grade, Mr. and Mrs. America, and I LOVE IT!
- Author Unknown