I have loved watching this kid become a real student this year. First Grade was very, very different than Kindergarten and, while Anderson complained every.single.day about going to school, he really did love his teacher and his class this year.
I am not exactly sure what he learned, but I know his writing improved quite a bit. Also, I think maybe he learned some trivia. One day he had a stamp on his hand & when I asked him where it was from, he told me he won a trivia contest during their SMART time. Apparently they had a sub and she was trying to ask them hard questions, but she happened to ask all things that Anderson loves! So random and also hilarious. The questions that I remember he told me were: Who was the 16th president? What year did the Titanic sink? What is the biggest animal in the world? Where did Harry Potter go to school? I love the random things that 7 year olds know.
Visiting at lunch one day.
I sometimes put a joke in his lunchbox, so it was really cute to see that he actually reads them.
He loved to write about his various sport events/teams. These were generally the topics of all of the writing assignments.
Also, Harry got many, many shout outs.
He has NEVER tucked in his shirt so someone must have made him do it during the picture.
He was able to go read a book in his kindergarten class and he was SO happy about it.
He picked the book Tinysaurus.
His Open House work.
It was so hard to guess which one was him. #Saidnobodyever
He really is into art and I think he does a pretty good job! (File this under "Things he did not get from me." Also included are: logic, math ability, direction skills, dislike of macaroni & cheese, and interest in how things work.)
He really wanted to show me the gym at Open House and while we were in there he had to re-enact some sprinting game.
One day at KidTime he made a bracelet for Max with his name on it. Because they are normally completely unable to coexist, I was shocked. It was really sweet and gave me hope for the future.
He wrote this after Easter weekend. Shout out to his bestie, Jack!
During his basketball party, he won the "Defensive Player of the Year" award for having the most rebounds, most steals and for always guarding the other team's best player. It was the first time that not every kid won an award and we were incredibly proud of him.
Watching his personality traits have some greater purpose has been so fulfilling and, honestly, justified all of those hours of intensity.
Also, just because I will never, ever let it go....he was also the only kid in the entire league in RecSpecs-proof that struggles really do make us stronger.
Anderson's field trip to the zoo was canceled because it never stops raining. I had planned to take off from work about 6 months ago and there was no way I was letting this day of making up for all of the working Mom guilt go to waste.
So, I promptly texted the teacher, volunteering to bring in high sugar snacks and a Balloon Man.
It was a fun time....and I had an actual hour to RUN ERRANDS WITHOUT CHILDREN since the field trip was canceled. To be honest, I also answered at least 50 phone calls/texts/emails because can one ever actually be OFF work?
The entire 1st grade did a Music Performance and Anderson was THRILLED about it. I am not being sarcastic here. In a form completely opposite of our resident teenager, he was was really, really excited about it. He even wore a collared shirt!
He seriously was practicing before it and everything.
They were especially excited about the "surprise" at the end of the performance.
Anderson's "End of Year" party was in the afternoon so I was actually able to take a half day and go! I was so grateful for the time because most events are usually at 9am or something crazy. The room mom (who only has daughters) planned all of these cute little activities and the girls immediately set up to do all of them and the boys immediately turned everything into wrestling, tugging, tackling and running.
Noni & Bop made another appearance and made balloons for everyone to take home!
Some of his journal writing from the year.
I DID NOT DROP MAX!!!!!!
The HIGHLIGHT of his year was when he won the 1st grade 1 mile race. His time was 8:12, which means he would have most definitely lapped me if I was running with him.
He was talking about this for days because there was apparently some kind of qualification process a week prior to the event to inform him of the details. His teacher said that he had a plan from the beginning-he ran in the inside lane, he paced himself, etc. As a prize, he received a giant foot.
On that same day, he also managed to snag a bag of squirrel hair from GG's house
Me: What is this? Did you cut your hair at school?
A: No, it is squirrel hair.
Me: silence
A: It didn't have rabies.
Me: What is happening?
GG filled us in on the story-she had a trap for a squirrel and Anderson managed to get close enough to get some of it's hair so he can save it for his nature box/look at it under a microscope. I love that he has all of these conspirators in his life that support his interests!
I am so proud of this kid for knocking out 1st grade and am looking forward to summer with him!
