I was VERY intrigued. My first inkling was that she signed up to be a mystery reader and that I had FORGOT!!! This has not been the first time this year that I forgot to send home the reminder! ARG!
I opened up the package after bus duty and found that it was the book, "Oh the Places You Will Go."
Inside the cover was a handwritten note from his kindergarten teacher! Perhaps I am too sappy but I just gushed! This is a book intended for each of his teachers to write a message! I confirmed with his K teacher that she is going to give it to her son when he graduates. I can't wait to write in it. I know he wants to be a "LEGO engineer" when he grows up. I will have to find a creative way to include that in my message.
So, for all of you mamas out there with children that are not in school- I think that you should TOTALLY do this! :)
NEW STUDENT
For the past two years I have made "new student" bags. Last year I NEVER received a new student and was bummed that I took the time at the beginning of the year to make these bags. I however received a new student (to make is 25!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and was EXTREMELY happy that I had new student bags made! It made it so much easier to manage a new kiddo on his/her first day!
The bag has necessary items for the student to start on the first day. I also include a welcome letter usually and extra dictionaries, folders etc. (However with such a large first grade class we only ordered 24 items and we have ZERO extra!)
Here is what the bag looks like:
These are a few items that they need to add to their desk:
This has many of the forms that I give parents in their Welcome folder:
I have an "about my child form", Dates available for Mystery Readers, a Volunteer choice form, Dates that the students are our "Celebrity of the Week" and a permission slip to allow me to take and post photos and videos on the Internet.
These forms are general information forms for parents:
One form is a letter about healthy snack. I have attached a list of healthy snack ideas. I also have my welcome letter which has a lot of school information, explains our rules, clip chart and class store, I also have a blank, "School Supplies Needed!" form. This allows me to quickly inspect what items the child brings with them and I am able to write down what supplies that they still need.
These items are needed to allow the student to feel "included":
Having everything that you need all together makes it WORTH the extra time that it took in August to make these. I usually make about 5 bags. Sometimes I receive new students with 30 minute notice so that makes it easy to pull it all together! ;)
I hope that you had a terrific Tuesday! :)
