Back to School Tomorrow!

Tomorrow is the first day of school. New backpacks full of supplies. Hair done just right. Nervous and excited faces. It's my favorite day! I'm not just saying that. I really am excited! Tomorrow will be the the start of my 25th year! Wow! My 25th class of kids, that I have been put into my charge, will walk through my door tomorrow. I'm not trying to sound dramatic or corny, I'm just in awe. It is a privilege and great responsibility to take care of someones children all day long. Think about the power we hold. We hold the power to raise a child up or, sadly, break a child down. Our words. Our gestures. A look. A comment. It doesn't take much to do either. As we start a new school year, keep in mind that someone is trusting you with their greatest commodity. Their child. I know that dealing with behaviors can be frustrating.  Some of us have little or no parental support. Demands and pressures put upon us are much greater now than they were 25 years ago. But take time to think about the children who enter your room this year. How will you make that child feel on a day to day basis?  How will those kids leave your room feeling at the end of each day? Greet them in the morning with a hug or high five, smile or a compliment. At the end of the day, send them home with encouraging words. They will always remember how you made them feel!

On Wednesday of this week, we have our Open House (yes the third day of school). I prefer it right away. It gets the parents in and understanding the expectations right away. There is a simple activity I like to do and it makes the kids happy!  I call it Beautiful Bookmarks.  I give each student a blank bookmark. I ask them to draw a picture and write the title of their favorite book on one side. I put these out on their desks for Open House and ask the parents to write a message on the other side about reading. They can write about a favorite book they read as a child or a favorite book they have read with their child or just a message about reading. I take the bookmarks home and run them through my laminator, punch a hole, and attach a ribbon, so they are ready the next morning for the children. There faces light up when they see what their parents created. They use these all year during class. You can find this activity HERE for free.

Enjoy your start to the new year!