Our Kindergarten // Primary School Experiences by Rand Quinn

randquinn — 2022-08-25 19:33:10 UTC

Reflect on a meaningful memory from kindergarten/primary school that resonates with either a developmental logic or an academic logic.

Post your memory under the corresponding column.

Or perhaps you have a memory that doesn’t fit well in either. Place this in the last column (hybrid or other) and explain.

Title your post with the location and school type.

Include your name.

Add an image or video if you like!

California, Public School, First Grade

randquinn — 2022-11-17 20:26:59 UTC

Having to recite the A-B-Cs without singing the song.

Mr. Sweeney and His Guitar

2025-11-13 19:24:52 UTC

My core memory of first grade is Mr. Sweeney, my first grade teacher, playing guitar for us each week.

P.E. and fun classes (e.g., computer class) canceled for test prep sessions.

2025-11-13 19:25:11 UTC

Public School in San Diego - Kira

2025-11-13 19:25:41 UTC

I have a vivid memory of receiving a thick HW packet every Monday afternoon and having to turn it in on Friday mornings. One of my parents had to sign the front of it as verification that I completed it, and that they had looked over it. We were also tested often on our reading and comprehension skills; my mom taught me how to read prior to attending school so I never really registered them as assessments.

Brush your teeth song

2025-11-13 19:25:46 UTC

I’m reminded of our kindergarten musical showcase where each class performed a song for our families. The song I performed was the “Brushing Teeth” song.

Singing the Pledge

2025-11-13 19:25:46 UTC

On my first day of kindergarten when it was time to say the pledge I starting singing a song from pre-school instead.

China, Public School, Kindergarten

2025-11-13 19:25:55 UTC

It's a mnemonic that can helps students quickly memorize multiplication within ten. It is really helpful for us to do math problems

Unwanted Performance

2025-11-13 19:26:09 UTC

I remember in K I would always tap my foot when I was bored and it distracted the class. Finally, my teacher said if I want to keep tapping my feet during exams I would have to get up in front of everyone and do a dance. I did the dance and never distracted the class again. :)

Mad Minutes in First Grade

2025-11-13 19:26:28 UTC

The teacher would assign a task where students were given a sheet containing 60 math problems that the class was to complete in a minute or less. The goal was to finish but if you didn’t there were no stakes beyond the social pressure to finish as many as you could while still being accurate.

Stuffed Animal in 1st Grade

2025-11-13 19:26:52 UTC

In 1st grade, we had a class stuffed animal that we would switch off who got to bring him home. We had a scrapbook where we would fill out what he had done that week and present it to the class. I lost him on a plane once and the flight attendant mailed him to my house.

Packet in Kindergarten

2025-11-13 19:27:41 UTC

In kindergarten, I remember having to fill out an alphabet packet where you needed to copy the letters. We had to fill out the entire packet within the lines before we were allowed to play. I remember rushing through it so I could play with my friends.

Peace table

2025-11-13 19:27:50 UTC

When I got to kindergarten, my school implemented a "peace table." We also had to get our spelling words checked. I remember lying about getting mine checked and having to sit down with my teacher at the peace table to talk about why I had lied. This part feels developmental, and the fact that it was about accountability for getting work done feels academic.

Ms. Cruz's and her outdoor garden

2025-11-13 19:28:12 UTC

My core memory of kindergarten in the Dominican Republic was sitting outside in our school yard. We looked for worms and spiders and caught butterflies.

Memory Game---Elementary School Entrance Exam

2025-11-13 19:28:22 UTC

Place various stationery items in a box, give students 30 seconds to memory and then students need to repeat what inside the box.

All my works will be "graded"

2025-11-13 19:28:54 UTC

I remember my first day entering the elementary school classroom, the teacher told us that all our work would be graded. Before that, I didn't have a strong connection between grades and my work in class.

Math Mornings

2025-11-13 19:29:00 UTC

In first grade we had optional math mornings where you could come in at 7:30 instead of 8:30 and do extra math problems. My parents made me attend every day.

Public elementary school 2nd grade in MA - Vignesh

2025-11-13 19:29:11 UTC

In 2nd grade (and I believe in other grades), we could earn stars for outstanding actions - helping others out, showing moments of leadership, exhibiting kindness, being good class/school citizens, etc. If we as a class accumulated enough stars in the year, our teacher agreed to host a pizza+pool party for us.

Turns out we weren't an upstanding class... because we did not get a pizza pool party. :(

Helped clean hallways and classrooms. From 3rd grade to 9th grade. Cultivated a sense of responsibility and hard-work.

2025-11-13 19:29:33 UTC

Rough First Grade

2025-11-13 19:29:56 UTC

I received the red light 7 times in first grade, where I had to send a slip home for a parent to sign. I once forged my mom's signature so she wouldn't know (but I think the teacher could tell).

Training in folding the quilt

2025-11-13 19:30:33 UTC

I remembered that our teacher in kindergarten would train us to fold the quilt after noon napping time.

Morning exercise

2025-11-13 19:30:47 UTC

One of my most vivid memories from elementary school is the daily "morning exercise" on the playground. From first to sixth grade, each student would line up neatly by class and, to the accompaniment of music, complete a series of stretching exercises and dances. At the time, I found it both fun and socially engaging, giving me a brief moment of outdoor time.

primary school April fools prank

2025-11-13 19:30:52 UTC

I would get in trouble for talking when I was in kinder/primary and was close to my principal because of it and I pulled a April fools prank on my parents and my principal was in on it and wrote me a fake suspension form.

Kinder/3rd grade reading buddies

2025-11-13 19:31:21 UTC

When I was in third grade, our class got paired up with a kindergarten class and each student got assigned a "reading buddy". The kindergarteners were supposed to read to us and we would help them with their reading. It was the first time I remember feeling like a big kid and helping out someone younger than me. It helped us developmentally by giving us a responsibility and it helped the kindergarteners academically.

Summer Reading Bribery

2025-11-13 19:33:31 UTC

In Elementary school, we were sent home with a bag full of books to read over the summer. The goal was to come back with the most book summaries completed to earn a pizza party.