Comments on: Blogging Through The Years: First Grade

By: MinD

MinD — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 22:37:06 +0000

Birthday invites were THE most important thing at that age. That I remember. And to be uninvited to a birthday party? Ugh, the ultimate diss.

By: Jordan

Jordan — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:24:48 +0000

This reminded me of how solid a concept friendship is when you’re a kid. Everybody can be divided up into “my friend” and “not my friend”, whereas when you grow up, it becomes a much more fluid, loose idea.

By: dreams to remember « the Change I Wish to See

dreams to remember « the Change I Wish to See — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:56:43 +0000

[...] 29, 2009 by f.B After reading this, yesterday, I had a [...]

By: Ed

Ed — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 06:58:03 +0000

One of my strongest memories of elementary school is the distinct smell of crayons, dozens of crayons in cigar boxes or coffee cans. To this day I don’t know if crayons smelled differently back then, or if children have a sharper sense of smell. If they could bottle that smell, I’d go back to it regularly. (“Hey, what are you sniffing?”)

I think the reasons Fantasia seems dull now are several. First, though it was once an exercise in cutting edge animation, now we’re so cartoon-jaded that it plain looks old. Also it was choreographed to grand, sweeping classical music and meant to be experienced in a movie theater. Watching it on a TV dilutes everything that was impressive to the point that it is indeed a snoozer.

Oh yeah, when we were rewarded it was usually a glue-on gold, silver, blue or red star on the forehead. You felt pretty grand walking around with one of those, raising your eyebrows to wrinkle your forehead to remind yourself it was still there, until you did it once too many and it popped off. I tell you, I think we enjoyed those stars more than a Nobel Peace Prize. And they meant more, too! :)-

By: mandy

mandy — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 03:08:18 +0000

I love this concept! I don’t have a very vivid memory of a lot of my childhood but I am really enjoying reading about yours. I agree, wonderful teachers do make such a difference. What I do remember from first grade — watching the space shuttle Challenger blow up on tv. The teacher snapped the tv off before we were able to really comprehend what had happened.

(sorry I’ve been a bad blog commenter lately, I do read though and as always love your posts)

By: Jessica

Jessica — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 02:00:29 +0000

dude, i was sent to reading recovery in first grade too! i went to two sessions and then later on in the year, they had me reading with some of the other reading recovery kids one-on-one in the hallway. i must have showed improvement.

By: Carolyn

Carolyn — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 23:03:25 +0000

Thank goodness someone else out there does not like the movie Fantasia. I fell asleep during that movie. Hated it. Hate it still, but their fireworks show at disneyland is pretty awesome.

Hooray for wonderful teachers. I still remember all of mine, too.

By: Rachel

Rachel — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:44:06 +0000

I thought I was the only one who thought Fantasia was completely and utterly dull. I was in 1st or 2nd grade when we were forced to watch it. Longest afternoon ever.

By: f.B

f.B — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:45:30 +0000

I’m amazed at how much you remember. My standout memory is how badly I wanted Power Wheels.

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:23:56 +0000

Ahh, first grade. I mainly remember the boy who sat next to me–he would write all of his words in perfect columns, even when they wouldn’t normally match up. OCD much?

By: Erin

Erin — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:22:55 +0000

I remember seeing Pinocchio in first grade and bawling my eyes out. I had to be taken out of the room because I was so upset by the whale scene and then the donkey scene.

By: Herding Cats

Herding Cats — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:21:56 +0000

Haha, I sure did love the Crayolas myself!

By: liz

liz — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:38:46 +0000

I can’t believe the amount of detail that you can remember!

By: Jaime

Jaime — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:27:42 +0000

Did you ever get all the markers you wanted?

I’ve always been a huge fan of Crayola. I still love all things Crayola crayon, marker, and colored pencil. :]

By: Sophia

Sophia — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:21:47 +0000

I love it! This brings back so many memories — I love the crayola box with the pencil sharpener! Also: PENCIL BOXES!

By: Megan

Megan — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:16:32 +0000

These posts are so fun! I’ve never watched Fantasia all the way through; I always hated it!

By: sleepyjane

sleepyjane — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:11:04 +0000

I just had to “like” this post in my reader. It’s fun reading about how you were a little kid. Sometimes it’s so hard to imagine anyone as a small child. If I imagine how small the desks were and how BIG small things used to be, I laugh a little. :) Confetti is an awesome treat though, I’d have loved it.