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Getting Ready For the First Day
One more day to get ready and then the children will arrive. I believe I am set, but I do need to visit my room to make a few finishing touches. We always start the year with the story of Creation and a science unit on animals. They always fit together so nicely! We will also visit a great farm - The Critter Barn in Zeeland, Michigan this month. The woman who runs it, Miss Mary loves it when we bring Parochial school kids as she loves to weave the religion thread into her talks.
The children will also start the year looking at how they are special and writing about it. I usually read Tacky the Penguin and we look at what is special about Tacky and how his friends learned to appreciate his unique gifts. The kids fill in a template titled "God Made Me Wonderful!", rewrite in their best handwriting, and decorate a frame for a photograph of themselves (taken on the first day of school), and these will be hung in the hallway for all to see. It makes a nice beginning of the year, Open House display! Kids always like to look at pictures of themselves.
I will also read aloud Charlotte's Web. I have started every year of second grade this way and it is too many years to count. I love this book and never tire of it and enjoy reading to the students. It is great to have a fresh audience for the book every year. I do think of the older cartoon movie version when I read. Debbie Reynolds (Charlotte) and Paul Lynd (Templeton) are the voices in my head. For those of you too young to know who they are, find the cartoon version of the movie and watch it!
I love the beginning of the year!
The children will also start the year looking at how they are special and writing about it. I usually read Tacky the Penguin and we look at what is special about Tacky and how his friends learned to appreciate his unique gifts. The kids fill in a template titled "God Made Me Wonderful!", rewrite in their best handwriting, and decorate a frame for a photograph of themselves (taken on the first day of school), and these will be hung in the hallway for all to see. It makes a nice beginning of the year, Open House display! Kids always like to look at pictures of themselves.
I will also read aloud Charlotte's Web. I have started every year of second grade this way and it is too many years to count. I love this book and never tire of it and enjoy reading to the students. It is great to have a fresh audience for the book every year. I do think of the older cartoon movie version when I read. Debbie Reynolds (Charlotte) and Paul Lynd (Templeton) are the voices in my head. For those of you too young to know who they are, find the cartoon version of the movie and watch it!
I love the beginning of the year!
Comment
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Comment by Patti Harju on September 1, 2008 at 6:25pm -
I did see that episode of Ed. I loved that show. Her father had changed the ending of the book. He only wanted her to read happy things.
I am making some changes in routine as well. I have been learning about Responsive Classroom and am starting with the Morning Meeting idea. Every year has something new!
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Comment by Nick Senger on September 1, 2008 at 12:37pm -
I'll be starting tomorrow, too, Patti. Did you ever watch the TV series Ed? There was a great episode that revolved around Charlotte's Web. I actually teared up at the end of the episode. It involved the character of Carol Vessy and her father.
I'm making a few changes to the routine I've done for over ten years, so I'm more nervous than usual. Nothing drastic, but enough of a change to hope everything still goes well.
Good luck tomorrow!
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Comment by Barb Gilman on September 1, 2008 at 12:16pm - Great post! Thanks for sharing. We are one week into the year now. Have a great year!
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