I just got an e-mail from a parent inviting me to a reunion of graduating high school students to the grade school where I taught first grade in Illinois. Both of the parents organizing this reunion are parents of children I had in first grade. I can just picture those beautiful children. One of the mothers told me that her daughter is in college studying to be a history teacher and that her son will enter college, planning a career in aeronautical engineering.
She also mentioned that her son still had the silhouette I cut out for him in first grade and that it's hanging in his bedroom. I love it!
It was a tradition for me every school year to cut out silhouettes of each student during the first week of school as we were getting to know each other. I taught them how to write their names correctly with upper and lower case letters and glued them below their silhouettes. I then laminated their picture. The next project was for each child to tell me in one sentence something special about themselves. I wrote it out and had them copy it in their own handwriting. I then cut the clue out, taped it over their names and hung the silhouettes around my classroom. I LOVED seeing their expressions when they walked into the room and saw their silhouettes for the first time. The children then had to guess who each friend was by looking at the silhouettes and hearing the clues.
At the fall Open House, parents always loved looking for their child's silhouette and seeing what clue their child gave. Cutting out the silhouettes was a time consuming, exhausting job, but it was worth it to see the joy it brought the class. And I loved seeing the way parents carefully took down their child's silhouette to bring home.
This project always started the year on such a high note. Sigh...
An aeronautical engineer, a teacher... Wow! I'm so happy!
She also mentioned that her son still had the silhouette I cut out for him in first grade and that it's hanging in his bedroom. I love it!
It was a tradition for me every school year to cut out silhouettes of each student during the first week of school as we were getting to know each other. I taught them how to write their names correctly with upper and lower case letters and glued them below their silhouettes. I then laminated their picture. The next project was for each child to tell me in one sentence something special about themselves. I wrote it out and had them copy it in their own handwriting. I then cut the clue out, taped it over their names and hung the silhouettes around my classroom. I LOVED seeing their expressions when they walked into the room and saw their silhouettes for the first time. The children then had to guess who each friend was by looking at the silhouettes and hearing the clues.
At the fall Open House, parents always loved looking for their child's silhouette and seeing what clue their child gave. Cutting out the silhouettes was a time consuming, exhausting job, but it was worth it to see the joy it brought the class. And I loved seeing the way parents carefully took down their child's silhouette to bring home.
This project always started the year on such a high note. Sigh...
An aeronautical engineer, a teacher... Wow! I'm so happy!
How sweet. I think the silhouettes were well worth every moment spent on them. Imagine a boy keeping that in his room all those years, it was obviously very special to him, and probably many others too.
ReplyDeleteIt's so nice that they want to include you in their graduation plans. I remember so many of my kids teachers so fondly and owe them a real debt.
In fact we still keep in touch with some of them.
I think it's a testament to what kind of teacher you were.
Even at the high school level this past year my kids have been really impacted by some dedicated terrific teachers. Their teaching and inspiration will follow them throughout their lives I know it.
Every child who had you as their first grade teacher had the best beginning! I never had a teacher who was so dedicated and took such time with each student. I am impressed, Kay. This must be why you blog every single day and write detailed chronicles of your trips: you are a caring person. I'm glad to have your influence in my life today. :-)
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful teacher you must have been! Those silhouettes are beautiful, and the time they must have taken! I'm sure you are one of those teachers who are remembered by your students the rest of their lives :)
ReplyDeleteYour students were very lucky to have you for a teacher, Kay. It must be wonderful for you to hear of the successes they are having in their lives now.
ReplyDeleteThat is so nice!! My father (who is 75 yrs. old) has a silhouette of himself that his kindergarten teacher made. I love it!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful story! I have a silhouette of Son #3 hanging in my bedroom. I think it was a Mother's Day present his second grade teacher helped him make.
ReplyDeleteChildren of today need teachers like you. A delightful post.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful post, Kay! And, yes, yes!! Children of today do indeed need more teachers like you!! Thank you for sharing this!!
ReplyDeleteSylvia
What a cool idea. We parents should do something similar with our own kids.
ReplyDeleteI love it!
ReplyDeleteGreat idea a way of validating each person's uniqueness. Teaching has its rewards and they continue...
ReplyDeleteI ditto what DJan said so well.
ReplyDeleteThe silhouettes are so beautiful. Hanging like so, it reminds me of those paper dolls we cut joining hands. So smart of you, as it must have helped the children get aquainted with each other. Also it helped them realize they are all so alike (as with silhouettes it is difficult to find the minor yet unique differences) and together as it hung must have made them feel they are part of a group. These messages are detected I'm sure even to a young child.
We need more teachers like you, Kay.
L. from W.
I think it must be so satisfying to know that you had a influence on the early days molding these children's lives, you sound like you were the kind of teacher our children always remember fondly,
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful project. And how wonderful that you are still in contact with some of your students!
ReplyDeletewhat a rewarding profession teaching is, so happy for you Kay!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful teacher you were/are, Kay!!!
ReplyDeleteLong after kids forget what we taught them, they'll remember how we treated them. Your doing those silhouettes and printing their names for them will stay with them forever.
ReplyDeleteDid my comment get through? I don't see it here. Blog mysteries aound. Anyway, let me give a short synopsis. That silhouette project is extrememly creative. As a a teacher, I can spot good teaching when I see it.I doubt if everyone can do silhouettes, though.
ReplyDeleteBelieve it or not, my beginning elementary school teacher was named, ta da!, MISS ANGEL. And she was an angel to me, that's for sure. I was very enthusiastic about her class and school in general. It all happened at PS (NYC lingo for Public School)#42 in Elmhurst, Queens, New York City while World War II was going on. Let's say it was in 1942. I don't remember any silhouette-type lessons, but perhaps my hugely positive attitude towards school, learning and reading can be attributed to the fact that I began my education with an Angel for a teacher!
It did take a very sharp Exacto knife and sometimes several tries to get the silhouette JUST SO. I used to make the eye lashes a little more pronounced a few wisps of hair to give it a prettier look. It was work, but fun work.
DeleteYes, your comment did get through, thank goodness! I love your teacher's name. How perfect is that? I'm afraid my name was rather difficult for the parents to pronounce but my students got it on the first day.
What a lovely idea.
ReplyDeleteOh Kay I just love this post. You worked so hard and I know every family treasured the silhouette. You miss it don't you?
ReplyDeleteOf course you did many wonderful things and that the parents remember you and the students..that is what makes it all worth it..and we treasure those moments..You really did touch the future Kay...hugs..
ReplyDeleteTeacher Kay, did you ever do the arithmetic of how many young lives you influenced and inspired over the years?
ReplyDeleteI love the silhouette idea. Each kid really looks different.
I can tell you were an amazing first grade teacher!
ReplyDeleteJust before we left on our trip Tom attended a gathering of his final kindergarten class, the highschool class of 2012! They are graduating and heading off into the world. He had a great time.