To Loop or Not to Loop...

Well here it is on Sunday morning and I just opened my school email to find the answer to the question that I have been anxiously awaiting...am I going to loop with my class to second grade.  The answer was no.  I was very late in expressing to my principal that I would like to do this, mainly because I LOVE first grade, and my team.  Since discovering teaching blogs a few months back I have also spent an incredible amount of time purchasing units off of Teachers Pay Teachers, and making my own, so I am well stocked and organized to begin next year in first.  Mostly though, I love my team.  In eight years of teaching I have never worked with a group so amazing, and we truly make each other better teachers everyday.  So, the only thing that I am truly sad about is my incredible kiddos.  This class was very special, a true team in every sense of the word, and I am so very sad that I will not be able to spend another year watching them grow.  Especially my new speakers who came in without a word of English and are leaving meeting benchmarks that I never thought they would achieve in such a short time.  So, it was a bittersweet email.  Now, I can continue packing my room away in the most organized fashion possible so that all of the time and effort that I spent this year will be at my fingertips when I need it next year.  Fingers crossed that part of the magic was my Responsive Classroom background and ability to build relationships with my kids.  If that is the case, maybe next years group will be even better. :)