Introducing... Andrew!

Hello! My name is Andrew and I come to you from Mr. First Grade.

 

As you might guess by my blog name, I'm a first grade teacher and I love every minute of it... This is my second full year in first grade, and I also taught second grade for 2 years as a long-term substitute before getting my full-time job. I'm completely over the top, I wear bow-ties to school every Thursday, and I am not afraid to make a fool of myself.

A little about me...

2 years ago, I married my high school sweetheart. We were married in Hershey, PA, where we gave singing, historical tours of the town onboard the Hershey Trolley all through high school and college (and every once in a blue moon nowadays). I played the character of a dorky conductor who hops off of the trolley throughout the tour, changes into different costumes on the back porch, then comes on as different characters throughout Milton Hershey's life. I loved every minute of it.

My wife (who's a high school English teacher) and I don't have any children of our own yet, so we may be more than a little in love with our cocker spaniel, Charlie. We rescued Charlie when he was about 3 years old, and I also rescued a guinea pig named Jelly Bean who lives in my classroom. They're pretty wonderful.

I'm an avid musician and runner. This past October, I ran my second half-marathon in Hershey. I play the violin in the Central Pennsylvania Symphony, and my wife and I are currently rehearsing for Sweeney Todd for a theater company in Harrisburg, where I'll be playing the part of Anthony. We also sing in a local chorale. We're busy, busy, busy, but I wouldn't have it any other way...

I can't wait to share more about my life, my classroom, and my amazing batch of first graders, whom I consider it a privilege to spend my days with...