A FEW MORE IDEAS!

Here are a few more idea for you before school begins.  You know all of those love letters and pictures children draw for you each year?  Why not use a three-ring notebook to save them so children will realize they are special to you?  Keep the notebook in your classroom library so the children can revisit it all year long.

Cheers and Goals

As you meet with parents at the beginning of the year, ask them to write down several special things about their child and three or four goals that they have for their child.  This will let you know their priorities and expectations.  As you review the list with them say, “This is how I can help (child) accomplish this goal.  What can you do to nurture this skill at home?”  This will build a partnership and remind parents that have a powerful role to play in their child’s education.

Under Construction – Wrapped Up!

Clare Ashford has a great idea to take “under construction” one step further.

“Before Meet the Teacher night (before school starts), I wrap all my bookcases, computers, etc. in butcher paper and then put an ‘under construction’ sign on them. It serves 2 purposes. 1- that way kids don't get into things while I'm busy talking to people! and 2- we ‘unwrap’ the items together as a class when we're ready to use whatever it is. It is very helpful and makes for an organized start to the year!”

Key Ideas on a Key Chain  (Teresa Whitehead)

Write words to songs, finger plays, transition tips, etc. on index cards and punch a hole in them.  Attach to a retractable key chain and you can carry them with you wherever you go.

THE FIRST TWELVE DAYS OF SCHOOL

Well, if you've been visiting my blog this month, you are more than ready for the first twelve days of school!

The First Twelve Days of School

(Tune:  “The Twelve Days of Christmas”)

On the first day of school  (Hold up 1 finger.)

My teacher gave to me

A book of the ABC’s.

2^nd – two new pencils   (Hold up 2 fingers.)

3^rd – three color crayons   (Hold up 3 fingers.)

4^th – four glue sticks   (Hold up 4 fingers.)

5^th – five gold stars   (Hold up 5 fingers.)

6^th – six pairs of scissors  (Hold up 6 fingers.)

7^th – seven school boxes  (Hold up 7 fingers.)

8^th – eight spiral notebooks  (Hold up 8 fingers.)

9^th – nine wooden rulers  (Hold up 9 fingers.)

10^th – ten magic markers  (Hold up 10 fingers.)

11^th – eleven pink erasers  (Hold up 10 fingers, close, and then hold up 1.)

12^th – twelve library books   (Hold up 10 fingers, close, and then hold up 2.)

Here’s a link for the book you can download from my website.

http://www.drjean.org/html/monthly_act/act_2005/08_Aug/index.html

*Make up new songs each month with seasonal objects.  For example, “On the first day of November my teacher game to me, a big, fat, gobbling turkey.  On the second day of November my teacher gave to me, two pumpkin pies….”


PowerPoint Coming August 1st
Check my website on August 1st because we will have a new
PowerPoint and free download for this song!!!

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Some of you might be stressing out about getting your room ready when school starts.  Have I got a plan for you!  Take yellow caution tape and wrap it around your door.  Post a sign for parents and students that says:

“This room is under construction because it will be ‘home’ for all of us this school year.  It is important that the children help me decorate it with their artwork and personalities.  Please come visit us in a week and see what we have created!”

How about some crafts your students can make to decorate the room?

Welcome to the Neighborhood

Make a house from construction paper for each child.  Fold the paper in half vertically.  Open.  Fold in the top corners to the middle.  Fold up the bottom.  Let children write their name on the front of the house.  They can open the house and draw their family.  You could also ask child to bring in a photograph of their family.  Add some trees and a school and you have a great bulletin board.Class Quilt

Class Quilt

Use group art to create a visual representation of the “community” in your classroom.  Give each child a 9” square and have them decorate it with pictures of themselves, drawings of their families or favorite things, collage materials, etc.  Punch holes in the corner of each square and tie together with yarn to make a quilt to display in the classroom or hallway.

 

Friendship Chain

Give each child a strip of construction paper to decorate with their name, symbols of favorite things, or designs.  Staple the strips together to  make a chain.  Remind the children that your classroom is just like that chain.  Everyone must work together to keep it connected and strong.  Drape the chain over the doorway.

Fit Like a Puzzle

Take a large sheet of poster board and cut it into puzzle shapes.  (You will need one puzzle piece for each child in the room.  Mark the back of the piece with an “X” so they will know which side to decorate.)  After the children have decorated their piece, challenge them to put their pieces together to make a puzzle.  Glue pieces to another sheet of poster board to create a picture puzzle for your classroom.

WELCOME TO OUR ROOM

Welcome to Our Room Book

Here is a project children can do at home with their parents.  Send home a sheet similar to the one below where children attach their photo and fill in statements about their favorite food, siblings, pets, book, etc.  Younger children could dictate answers and older children can write their own responses.  After children orally share their papers with their classmates, put them together to make a book.  Invite children to take the book home to share with their families.

Family Bottle

Collect clear, plastic bottles (from water or soda) and give one to each child when they come to register or on the first day of school.    Ask them to fill the bottle with cut out photographs of family members and other small trinkets and mementos.  Have children bring their bottles to school the first day and use them for “show and tell.”  Store the bottles in a basket and when children are a little sad or homesick, tell them to get their family bottle and it will make them feel better.

What’s Your Bag? 

Give each child a lunch sack at registration or the first day of school and ask them to put the wrapper from their favorite candy, something their favorite color, a picture of their family, the title of their favorite book, etc. in the bag.  After sharing these objects with classmates, they can use them to decorate journals, make banners about themselves, etc. 

WELCOME KIT

Add the following items to a zip bag along with the letter: 

    cotton ball                         Hershey’s kiss            sticker

    rubber band                      penny                           tissue

    gold star                            band aid                       Life Saver

    gold thread                       eraser                                               

   

   “Welcome to your new classroom.  Each item in this bag 

    has a special  meaning for you!”

*The cotton ball is to remind you that this room is full of kind words and warm feelings.

*The chocolate kiss is to remind you that I care about you.

*The sticker is to remind you that we will all need to stick together and 

help each other.

*The rubber band is to remind you to hug someone.

*The penny is to remind you that you are valuable and special.

*The tissue is to remind you to help dry someone’s tears.

*The star is to remind you to shine and always try your best.

*The bandage is to remind you to heal hurt feelings in your friends and yourself.

*The gold thread is to remind you that friendship ties our hearts together.

*The eraser is to remind you that everyone makes mistakes, and that is okay.

*The Life Saver is to remind you that you can always come to me if you need someone to help you.

                                                With love,  (Teacher’s Signature)

                   

TLC for Parents

Put the note below in an envelope with a cotton ball and tea bag and send it home to the

parents the first day of school.

Dear Parents,

Thank you for entrusting your child to me.  I promise to do my best every day to be your

child’s companion in learning.

Sit down, relax, and have a cup of tea.  Hold the cotton ball in your hand to remind

you of the gentle spirit of your child.  I know we will have a wonderful year as we learn

and grow together!

                                               Sincerely, (Teacher’s Name)

PARENT POWER!

If you’ll go to my July, 2011, website you will find a book you can download free with a broad range of activities you can use to connect with your families.   The amazing thing is that the more parents are involved, the better their children do and the more they value the school.  There are many ways that parents can participate and contribute to their child’s education.  A good place to start would be an interest inventory where parents have the opportunity to discuss their experiences, hobbies, and talents. 

Here are other some suggestions for a check list where parents could check off how they will support your program:

Attend meetings and conferences.

Chaperone field trips.

Make phone calls or send emails.

Plan parties.

Collect free items for projects.  Participate in recycling programs.

Make games and materials for the classroom.

Assist with technology for the classroom.

Plan service projects and fund raisers.

Share their culture, trips, career, or a hobby with the children.

Volunteer to tell stories, assist with learning centers, help with a project.

Tutor children.

Participate in clean-up days or repair broken equipment.

Compile a class scrapbook or video.

Advocacy for legislation that supports children and education.

Brown Bag Special

This is perfect for the working parent.  Put materials for making games, art projects, etc. in a brown grocery sack.  Children get to deliver the “brown bag special” to their parents to complete at home.  They will be so proud to return the bag knowing that their parent is involved in their classroom!

Hint!  For parents with computer access and financial resources, ask them to download books and free materials from the internet.  For other parents, you could put in paper and a pattern for them to cut out for a class game.  Everybody can do something and everybody needs to feel appreciated for their efforts!

Helping Hands

Cut out paper hands and write different items you would like for your classroom, such as paper lunch bags, tissues, plastic bags, etc.  (You know all those things you have to buy with your own money!  Materials could range from something inexpensive to a Dust Buster or old rocking chair.)  Tape these to your door and “invite” parents who would like to help to choose a hand and purchase those items. 

SAY YES!

Say “Yes!”

Go to your principal before school starts and ask her to say, “Yes!” when you ask her a question.  Then ask your principal to give you the best and brightest children in your room this year.  (To which the principal will reply, “Yes!”)  On the first day say, “I asked the principal to give me the best and brightest children this year.  And here you are!”  Throughout the school year remind them that they are the best and the brightest and they will live up to your expectations!

*One teacher told me that she tells, “You are lucky to be in my room because I’m the best teacher in the school.  But don’t let the other kids know or they’ll be jealous!”  LOL

Business Cards

Use your computer to help children design personal business cards.  Include the child’s name, school, teacher’s name, and a graphic of their choice.  Print on cardstock, cut apart, and have children distribute them to family members, neighbors, and friends.  How cool is that!!!






Tear Tea

Sometimes it’s as difficult for the parents to say good-bye as it is for the children.  Planning a tea for parents in the library after they drop their children off will ease the separation.  It would also be a great time to recruit volunteers for the school!

Hint!  Give a pack of tissues as a party favor!

The Kissing Hand

What would we do without this wonderful book to help children (and parents) transition to school.  I know there are countless activities to do with this book, but one of the simplest is to have parents and children trace and cut out each other’s hands the first day of school.  After kissing the hands, pin the parent’s hand to the child and send the parent to the “tear tea” below with their child’s hand.