Elementary Grade 1

First grade was a lot to take in. The day was long in kid time, but I took to it eventually when I realized all it offered.  That should explain the slow academic start my grades reflect. In fact, that's my style every year, so if I was a racehorse, I'd be called a "closer".

My teacher, Miss Beverly Katzenmoyer, was tall and had a great smile.  She had to be my mother's age in 1959, about 26 years old.  But, let's agree her name was a test to say as a six year old.  Looking at my report card, there was no spelling grade for this year, so I can assume I didn't have to spell it. 

My classroom was the middle one of three first grade classes on the side of the Thomas H. Ford Grade School building. A large macadamed play yard, complete with three large white painted circles, was easily accessible from a door in the back of the classroom. Recess time was easy in, easy out.  Tag, Duck-Duck-Goose and Simon Says made the play list over and over at this age.

Arithmetic and Writing were my best achievements, while Social Studies and Science suffered. As I look at all these categories, I can't imagine what each one involved, since the highlight of this grade for me was Bob, Alice and Jip the Dog stories including other three-letter words to complete their tales. 

Thomas H Ford Grade School, Reading PA S.D.

It was a big deal each year to make a construction paper cover for its journey home to get signed and returned. I'm a tad disappointed in this year's holder, but not even surprised that I picked a purple theme. My mother felt the need to identify my report cards more than was necessary in my opinion, but I discovered our printing style is very similar in that we mix caps and lower case letters freely. Let's hope creativity improves as we peek at second grade in my next post.

Grade 1 Report Card Cover