I've been in the 2nd grade!!

Xander with his teacher, Mrs. L

I, along with Xander, am very excited for this school year! See, this is the first year that I've been able to help in HIS classroom!! I've always had the littles at home, so I couldn't do stuff with him unless I had the littles tagging along...and what fun is that?? So, now that the twins are in school until 11am, and Asher is in all day, I can finally help in his room!!

So, last week, I volunteered to help with the 2nd grade field trip to the fire department. It is right across the street from his school, so we got to walk 80 7-8 year olds across the street to talk to the firemen about teamwork! I was AMAZED by how well-behave the kids were. It's not every day that you see 80 kids sitting down, sitting still, and being quiet enough to actually hear the firemen talking!! I was impressed by the kids AND the teachers! I say teachers because you KNOW they had to "coach" their kids before going over there...

 Here's what Xander's teacher said to her class:

"Fireman Xander"

"If Mrs. B's class is being loud and noisy, how will MY class be?"
 The kids answered, "QUIET!"

"If Dr. S's class is dancing around in circles, how will MY class be?"
  The kids answered, "Still and in line!"

"If Mrs. P's class is jumping up and down and running, how will MY class be?" 
The kids answered, "Sitting quietly!"

So, again, I say... I was impressed by how well the teachers prepared the students!! It was a great adventure! The firemen shared how they have to work together as a team; that sometimes the work is hard, but if they don't work together and if not everyone does their part on the team, then people's lives are at stake; how they have to work out their differences to get along since they work in such close quarters; how what they learned even as early as 2nd grade is helping them today with their job!! It was a good field trip! I am glad that I got to tag along!!

80 kids plus teachers and firemen!!

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This is the wall outside of Xander's classroom- Mrs. L's Farm!

When we got back from his field trip, Mrs. L asked me if I'd be willing to help her in the classroom every now and then...that she had some projects she'd like some help with. I, of course, eagerly agreed... ya know, since I've never been able to say YES before!! 

So this week, I spent two mornings in the class helping get stuff organized. I LOVE IT! It's almost like putting together a puzzle... she had me going through a box of flash cards for vocabulary words and matching them with the story from the kids' reading books... there should be one set of cards for each story for every week of the school year. It was SO MUCH FUN! Next week, I will do another organizing thing for her... she said that if I thought today's pile was a mess, I'll definitely have my work cut out for me next week ... is it strange that I AM SO EXCITED??? 

Things I have learned this week in the 2nd grade: 

1: Mrs. L is NOT an octopus- she only has TWO hands and can do no more than two things at a time!!
2: No child needs to sneeze or cough until that "Moment of Silence" they do...then all of a sudden, they MUST sneeze and/or cough!!

3: Slow obedience is NO obedience!!

 4: It is acceptable to not complete your homework IF your parents spent all night arguing! (SAD)

5: Last, but not least, homework is the CHILD'S responsibility, NOT the parent's!!!