Monday, September 7, 2020

FABULOUS FRIDAY

Happy Labor Day! Yes, I know it's Monday and not Friday, but since it's a holiday I thought I'd share a happy teaching memory. Every Friday in my classroom we'd celebrate FABULOUS FRIDAY. It gave the kids (and me) something to look forward to all week.

I'm going to share a blog I wrote in 2013 with you, which makes me a little nostalgic for the "good old days." However, save these ideas in a special place and let's hope and pray that you can actually make some special memories with these celebrations in the not too distant future.


Someone once commented that you should do what “they” tell you to do the first four days of the week and Friday you should shut your door and teach the way you want to. That’s pretty good advice, don’t you think?  (Isn't this a brilliant idea!!!)


Friday Fairy
When I taught first grade in the 70’s the Friday Fairy visited my class each week. You don’t know the Friday Fairy? She would fly in while the children were eating lunch and put a little piece of candy in each of their desks. (The fairy was actually a 5th or 6th grader.) I’d probably go to jail now for doing that and giving kids sugar! However, there might be some adults walking around right now who have a fond memory of that little treat.


Here are some other ways to celebrate Friday!

The Friday Dance
Come on, everybody and take a chance. (Step back and forth as you snap your fingers.)
It’s time to do the Friday dance. 
Everyone get up on your feet.
Clap and get the Friday beat! (Clap hands.)
It’s Friday! It’s Friday! It’s Friday! Yeah! 
(Hands in the air and dance around.)

Friday Free Time
The last 15 minutes on Friday let the kids take off their shoes and do whatever they want!


Game Day
Invite children to bring board games (NOT video games) or card games from home and play the last 30 minutes of the day.


Sit Where You Want
Friday afternoon let children switch places and sit wherever they want.


Chew and Write
To encourage writing about what they learned during the week give each student sugar free gum to chew. They can chew the gum as long as they are writing.


Jamboree
Get together with another class or all the children on your grade level and sing! A different class could be in charge of this event every week.





P.S.  I thought you'd get a kick out of my kindergarteners from 1981.  Notice they don't have on shoes.  It must have been Friday because they got to take their shoes off the whole day then.