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Eb - so djinn and Sandy, how do we prepare for the first day of school.
Djinn - Hello everyone!
Djinn - I have just started with my bulletin boards today
Djinn - I am going to start with the Kissing Hand this year and Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten I also read Franklin goes to School
Addie k/mo - i like to get bulletin boards up early in the process and arrange the furniture. makes it seem like a classroom. then i can think
Eb - I can't even get into the classroom until one day before
Cheryl in NH - Addie-same here!! My room is already being used but we will rearrange and set up the weekend of the 27th.
Addie k/mo - Eb, how can you possibly get your room ready? what does your school expect you to have done?
Djinn - Tracy - i found it in a local teachers store- G.W.
Eb - I was able to see it June 15, it needs to be cleaned out and organized. But I can't do that in one day....plus bulletin boards, plus look at IEP
Addie k/mo - Eb, have you met anyone in your building? do you have a mentor? maybe they could fill you in.
Djinn - We have a very easy day the first day - lots of stories - a tour of the campus -
Addie k/mo - Eb, you have my sympathy. I don't know what to tell you.
Addie k/mo - i begin establishing rules, procedures and behavior expectations immediately. sets the tone for the rest of the year.
Eb - Thank you Addie, I am close to being a complete basket case! :-0)
Laurie/AR - Our district gives us 3 work days to get our room ready and go through the student's files. Even then I don't feel like I have enough time.
Ceci - the first day will be exciting enough keep it simple
Djinn - Addie- do you work on rules together or do you tell them the rules?
Addie k/mo - we do our rules together. we read The Meanies ( a Wright Group book) and talk about what kinds of things the meanies would do if they came to our class. then we make our rules "in case the meanies show up". we brainstorm, categorize and then summarize their ideas into four or five rules. takes lots of teacher direction, but the kids know what they do and don't want done in the class!
Djinn - Eb- you will never be more tired in your life - remember to take time out for yourself!
Addie k/mo - suz, you're 2nd right? one of the teachers at my school, cut out a large posterboard into jigsaw pieces. each student illustrated their piece and then they put the puzzle together. you could have a blank bulletin board with the caption "2nd grade where all the pieces go together"
Laurie/AR - Our school is open in the summer so we can go in and work. There are a few teachers who already have their rooms ready.
pez/k/Fl - I like to read Chrysanthemum. We follow up talking about everyone's name
Squirt - I read Do You Want to Be My Friend by Eric Carle; a wordless picture book appropriate for KGN
Laurie/AR - I like Chrysanthemum. I use it to help teach social skills lessons. We have to do those weekly.
pez/k/Fl - Addie, What a great idea. I never thought of using Meanies so early in the year
Squirt - I'm going to have 28 kindergarteners in a portable with a para only one day a week. How do I get off to a good start?
Djinn - Thanks Addie - I haven't tried that with Kinders, but thought I might this year
Cess - I am doing the ocean theme to begin with....I found at Wal-Mart several whale pictures for 1.00 each. Also, I found about 8 posters at 1.00 each that talk about a characteristic: i.e. friendship, another is leadership, another is determination, etc...
Laurie/AR - I have a story about a monster that goes to school and breaks all the rules. It's good to discuss rules. Then we have a sequencing activity.
pez/k/Fl - We also count the letters in Chrysanthemum and graph how many letters we have in our names
Laurie/AR - We're doing the name graphing thing too. It fits with our new math curriculum.
Addie k/mo - we start out with our watermelon theme and the book down by the bay, plus we read meanies (rules), monster party (what i can do) and school bus (bus safety). i am adding miss bindergarten and the kissing hand, thanks to t.net.
pez/k/Fl - Cess, I have a bulletin board for the opening. Have the kids cut out a snorkler and title it Diving into _______ Fun
Djinn - We are going to sign in every day this year and then answer a graph question
Squirt - Pez! I did that last year! The whole school had to do a project with Chrysanthemum as a community literacy building project!
Laurie/AR - What kind of assessments do you use at the beginning of the year. I am being taught how to use running records.
Addie k/mo - there is a sequel to the meanies, called the meanies go to school, but i haven't read it. the teacher across the hall has it, but i have always run out of time.
Djinn - Laurie- we use Observation Survey and Running Records
TLS/K/NY - Any good ideas for the daily graphing?
Martina/AK - I am starting to go in this week and set up my room. First year at K...am not sure how or where to begin...LOL
pez/k/Fl - TLS, a good graph for the 1st week is How I go home everyday
Addie k/mo - i am using a phonemic awareness assessment from a new book "phonemic awareness", i assess rote counting and letter recognition early. then i assess other things as we have worked on them for a while.
Djinn - have you tried Picture graphs?
Cheryl in NH - TLS- I teach 3 yr olds. Our themes are All about me and our family and pets for the first month...we do many graphing activities....
Ceci - you do running records, dictation survey, alphabet recognition, phonemic awareness, concepts of print, writing sample.,
Squirt - TLS--graph clothing colors, how I get to school, pets, favorite colors, foods, the list goes on and on! Monthly weather graphs are wonderful also
Laurie/AR - I have thought about daily graphing, where the students sign their name under their choice. Since our first unit is Human Body and Nutrition I ask questions like What is your favorite vegetable? or Have you ever had stitches? They sign under their choice.
Djinn - We will use Nursery Rhymes for our first theme - then apples because we are going to an apple orchard and make cider this year
Cheryl in NH - We graph hair color, gender, eye color, members in families, types of pets, etc.
Martina/AK - Djinn: How long for your Nursery Rhyme theme?
Djinn - Martina- we will use for first month along with Month by Month name activities
Laurie/AR - I teach 2nd. What ideas do you have for a writing assessment? or a math assessment?
Kerry - About how long does it take to do the Observation Survey?
Addie k/mo - i also do a "four square assessment". each child gets a paper divided into four squares....in the 1st one they write their name, 2nd letters, 3rd numbers, 4th draw a pix of self. we repeat this assessment monthly. really shows growth
Leslie PreK - Addie, I used your 4 square assessment last year and it helped me a lot.
Joan/1/NE - The daily graphing? Does it work for 1st? I used it in 4th.
pez/k/Fl - Joan, it works in K
Joan/1/NE - pez..... How does it work? Post a question? What about non-reader?
pez/k/Fl - I post the question and appoint one of the kids to stand by the graph. That child tells each one that comes in what the question of the day is
Martina/AK - What has to change each time you move to a new theme? Time involved?
Djinn - Kerry- Observation survey is time consuming but very powerful in regards to what they know
Stacy/1/OH - I do weather graphing and attribute graphing in 1st
Addie k/mo - we are using the MxM name activities too....
TLS/K/NY - Addie - what are the MxM name activities?
Addie k/mo - MxM = month by month...it is from month by month reading and writing in kindergarten by pat cunningham
TLS/K/NY - Addie - are the activities similar to those in words their way. This book has a whole section on name activities.
Addie k/mo - i have never heard of words their way...who is it by/published by?
Djinn - Heineman - published words their way
TLS/K/NY - Words Their Way is by Bear, Invernizzi, templeton and Johnston. It's a great resource.
Djinn - Anyone have a graceful way to get rid of anxious parents
Laurie/AR - Someone told me to tell the children "Wave bye to your moms and tell them you will see them at the end of the day." Hopefully they will take the hint.
nat/k/ma - Meet the parents at the school yard. Have children wave good-bye and say "we will see you later, bye mom and dad"
Ceci - meet them at the door
Leslie PreK - I set a five to ten minute limit in my opening letter and will go over this at open house with the parents. Our director supports this and has already sent home a letter about separation and how it's completely normal and a learning opportunity.
Squirt - LOVE THAT LAURIE!!!! Last year about 8 moms stayed and I didn't have the finesse to get rid of them
Addie k/mo - "well, see ya this afternoon! we need to start our day!" (very cheerfully)
nat/k/ma - In your introduction letter to parents before school starts, tell them to say good-bye outside the door and keep going. Tell them that you can not bond with their children if they wait around holding the child.
Addie k/mo - my intro letter is on line if anyone is interested http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Aegean/2221/parentletter.html
pez/k/Fl - I tell my kids Give mom and great big hug before she goes.
Laurie/AR - Some parents still won't take the hint.
nat/k/ma - I literally take the child out of the parent's hand if I have too and carry them into school if necessary.
Addie k/mo - nat, i have done that too, but it is no fun!
nat/k/ma - Addie, i agree. i am getting too old for that also. Several times I almost fell backwards down the stairs so I am pretty cautious about doing this.
pez/k/Fl - You can read the Gingerbread Boy, then follow his footsteps around the school as you search for him. A good way to meet the staff
Martina/AK - I have read about the Gingerbread idea. I think I will do that for sure! I want to do Nursery rhymes in depth, because i feel so many young kids are missing out on them
pez/k/Fl - We have to do Nursery Rhymes as our lang. arts unit clear into October.
Squirt - What kinds of classroom jobs can I give my kinders, and how to keep up with it??
Djinn - I have a Helper Bear and Star of the week. They are in charge of jobs. Also everyday I have team captains who get the tables ready etc. easy to keep track of that way
Squirt - Djinn--how often should I rotate these jobs?
Leslie PreK - I have 6 clean up teams and a daily leader, but the captains are a nice idea!
Djinn - Squirt- Star Jobs - weekly - others are daily.
Addie k/mo - i have a leader everyday and they do all the jobs that day and get to be first in line
pez/k/Fl - I borrowed patrol badges from the Safety patrol and appoint captains for each table. Kids love it
Joan/1/NE - I'm afraid I won't be coordinated enough.... Like if I have an apple theme to start with, but my helpers are going to be "Workhorses" Any problems with not having EVERTHING themed.????
Martina/AK - Sounds like a lot of you use one helper...I also wonder about the classroom theme idea...
pez/k/Fl - No Joan, I start off with my diving into K activity, yet my room is done in Winnie the Pooh
Addie k/mo - joan, i think it is okay if everything is not perfectly themed...besides if you worried about that for leaders, you would have to change that all the time
Squirt - Joan--If I find the theme is becoming too much of a good thing I scale back.
Martina/AK - I've been trying to think of a theme I want to stick with as an overall classroom theme for decorating, newsletters, etc...
Martina/AK - I like stars and have a lot of star borders, headings, etc....but I was laso thinking of an animal theme, and then maybe doing a mini animal theme each month...
pez/k/Fl - My graphics change monthly on my newsletter/calendar
TLS/K/NY - I have a "busy bee" each day. That person is the special helper for the day. I have clothespins with little bees hot glued onto them.
Martina/AK - Like Creepy, Crawly, Slithery, Slimy animals in OCt.
Martina/AK - Cold Weather Animals in Dec...
Martina/AK - Ancient Animals (Dinosaurs)
Cheryl in NH - Martina--My theme changes-but my parent info "theme" for newsletters, etc is always as the "yellow pages"
Leslie PreK - I like the animal idea Martina, I have always found that my PreK children adore the themes we do with animals
pez/k/Fl - To monitor center flow this year, I'm going to take each child's picture and place it on an index card. I'm going to place them by the board located near my front door with the heading "You can find me in the ______ Center
Cheryl in NH - I print all the infor on yellow paper that they can add to their folders.
Djinn - We share rooms with another teacher so would have to get okay from team member to decorate with a class theme - Our sessions are 3 hours and 15 minutes with a 5 minute overlap
Addie k/mo - cheryl, my newsletter has the same theme always too...i think this is a good idea, because if the heading stays the same, parents recognize it at a glance in the sea of papers that often come home from school
Martina/AK - Worker, Helper Animals in Feb when we get ready for the Iditarod...Leslie: you think it would work to do different kind of animals each month? They won't get tired of it?
Squirt - How soon should I introduce all the centers, and how should I introduce them????
Martina/AK - I like the Yellow pages idea. Mine had always been "News Y0u Can Use" on bright pink
milymo/2/oh - Copying it on the same color paper all the time is good too!
Cheryl in NH - Addie-exactly--parents have commented that they like being able to differentiate between "center" news and specific classroom news.
Leslie PreK - I take pictures of the children for newsletters and make a master with a collage of children as the header. Somehow, this always is read by the parents!
milymo/2/oh - Last year I let them do free play the first couple weeks to get used to everything.
Addie k/mo - what a cute idea, leslie! i havent designed my letter for this year....may steal that idea!
Cheryl in NH - Leslie-One teacher had different children on her monthly newsletter and parents always read it--(to see if their child was "featured" this month!!)
Leslie PreK - I'm not sure about every month, I'd mix it up but go with what the children seem to like.
Martina/AK - Is the collage the same all year, or do you change that?
Addie k/mo - i use my digital camera and take candid photos of class activities. i usually do them collage style on the back. sometimes the pix go with the news articles. the kids get the letters home that way. they love the pix
Leslie PreK - In the past I've left it the same but I think this year I might give it a spring face lift!
TLS/K/NY - I do a Friday take home folder, so parents know to always look in the folder for the newsletter. It also contains a sheet for parents to initial.
Jane/k/nh - I do a Friday letter on bright orange fluorescent paper. I like the idea of including pictues of the kids.
pez/k/Fl - I do a daily behavior calendar. It only takes a minute to put a stamp or smiley, but the parents really appreciate the daily feedback. If there is a behavior problem they learn about it the same day. Parents must initial
CASS - TLS - how do you control getting your paper into the folder.
Martina/AK - so depressed when my sister in law, whose daughter was in K at our school last year, and she couldn't answer my question because "she doesn't always read the newsletter.." AArgh!
Squirt - What kind of font do you use on your newsletters? What kind of info? I have never done one, and I'd like to start
TLS/K/NY - I'm lucky enough to have an aide who does my folders for me each Friday.
Leslie PreK - Does anyone out there do individual weekly plans as well as overall plans.
Squirt - sounds like a lot of work and checking pez! when do you do the behavior calendar? Do the children with non-smileys see it before they leave?
Jane/k/nh - I always use comic sans and include news of what we did all week as well as reminders of upcoming themes and events.
pez/k/Fl - Squirt, I use Denelian because that's what we use in our classroms
Cheryl in NH - Squirt--I put information about the upcoming theme, donations that are needed, include a calendar of special activities (picture day, field trip, etc.)...
Sandy/K/MO - I use Modern Primary because we do DeNelian
Addie k/mo - i use a kidprint font and just tell about what we are doing in class, what themes and books, highlight a different classroom routine each week, include a feature about the student of the month, upcoming events
Martina/AK - My newsletter is done in Clarisworks, drawing. I add various sized text objects in differnt fonts each time, with borders around each block of text. I move them around and make them fit. Makes it look like a "pro" newsletter. Really easy to do. Putting in pics would be easy too!
CASS - I teach first grade and with the mountain of office general to do items I can't find time for extra I would like to dos.
Cheryl in NH - Leslie--do you mean per child?
Djinn - I send home laminated manilla folders every day - they are called briefcases because school is their job. I fill their mailboxes with "whatever' and part of dismissal is to empty the mailbox into the folder.
Sandy/K/MO - When I really want to get something to the parents, I have the kids write it
pez/k/Fl - Squirt, most kids get their smiley and it takes a minute. If I jot a note, I make it brief. ex: listening was a problem today" I do them at the end of the day during their rest time
TLS/K/NY - I always ask for donations for any upcoming projects in newsletters.
CASS - To everyone writing newsletter, do you have to pass them to your admin for approval?
Cheryl in NH - Cass--yes--we need approval first.
Nancy/3/DE - I have to pass everything to Admin for approvoal before it goes home.
Djinn - Cass- No, but I put a copy in the binder she keeps for that purpose
Martina/AK - I can see my newsleters getting pretty long...how long are yours usually?
Addie k/mo - we have to submit them to the building principal and superintendent....but they dont have to be preapproved.
Marcia/CA - I have been out here lurking. but I wanted to chime in and talk about newsletters. They are fun and the parents like to know what is going on. I find lots of pictures and captions easily catch their attention.
Sandy/K/MO - Cass, my last principal no.. Not sure about this one
milymo/2/oh - At my school, they do Wednesday papers. They collect the papers the students do and send them all home on one day. Does anyone else do anything like this? Any opinions on it? I'm new to this district.
Leslie PreK - Yes, we turn in our newsletters with the upcoming weeks lesson plans
Martina/AK - I have to give a copy for the prinicipal to see, but he trusts our professionalism to send out appropriate letters. My last prinicipal did not, and had to pre-approve. What a pain.
Addie k/mo - one page news, back page photos. sometimes there are two pages of news, but then i cut down on the photos. i try to keep in on one piece of paper
Cheryl in NH - Martina--mine is one page--front and back
popcorn - I would let the administration see the newsletter. It gives insight to what is going on in your classroom.
Kathleen - Leslie, are you required to do, then hand in, a newsletter?
Djinn - I send home a monthly newsletter along with a volunteer calendar
Cheryl in NH - Leslie--for individual plans--I do not need to pass them in, but I do have plans for each child and what we are going to focus on.
Nancy/3/DE - Milymo, I collect all papers and send them home on Mondays in the students folders. There is a place for parents to sign the folder and any comments they want to make.
pez/k/Fl - Sometimes, instead of a newsletter I will plan out our month on a calendar. That way parents can see what we have planned for Lang. Arts, Math, and the letter and theme for the weeek
Leslie PreK - Yes, weekly newsletters are required and they need to be turned in to the director each week
clfrances - Martina/AK you mentioned the Idiarod. I'm interested in doing a unit for preschoolers any ideas
Addie k/mo - i give my newsletter to the other teachers at my grade level, the special area teachers (so that they will know what themes we are doing) and the admin
Martina/AK - Djinn: only once a month. How long? You are organized!
Mme Teach - I send home a monthly newsletter as well. My parents loved them and my principal found them very informative and kept her up to date as well.
popcorn - On thing to keep in mind about newsletters, be sure to put the grade and your name on the top. Parents like to know who letter it is from.
Jane/k/nh - I always keep my letters to one page - I'm not sure my parents would bother reading more than that. I also turn them in to our principal, not for approval, but for his info.
Leslie PreK - Yes, Cheryl this year I will have to turn them in; an individual plan for each child.
CASS - djinn how does your volunteer calendar look and work?
Cheryl in NH - pex--I have a monthly calendar also, I post in on a bulletin board near the entrance of the room. It is called the Parents' Place.
Djinn - I also send out a calendar asking parents to sign in the date they will volunteer and then return to me. I tell them what we are doing on what days and when I really need helpers
TLS/K/NY - I also do a monthly calendar, it includes upcoming events, birthdays, book order due dates, etc.
Mme Teach - I'm wondering how everyone sets up volunteer lists for such things as Halloween parties and such. Usually I just ask the children to see if any parents owuld like to bake and I set a limit of how many goodies.
pez/k/Fl - Our PTA asks for Homeroom Moms and they take over the planning of the parties
Martina/AK - Mme: when I was first grade years ago, I found a room mom/dad to coordinate that stuff.
Sandy/K/MO - At the first home and school meeting the parents sign up for room mothers or bakers
Cheryl in NH - mme--the elementary teachers in our district have a sign up sheet at orientation for all the parties/celebrations for the year....
Djinn - I attach my newsletters to the homework packet I send home on Monday ( required by district) then I know parents got them
Rylee - Mme Teach, we had a sign up sheet for a long time and it was ignored so we ask a parent to call and organize our goodies.
Addie k/mo - our pto organizes our home room mothers. we dont even pick who is in charge! i liked it better when we had a little more control than we do now.
TLS/K/NY - Mme Teach I've done it different every year but I like having a room mom best. She collects money and takes care of all the details.
Cheryl in NH - she then calls and confirms prior to the party.
DEE - RE: Volunteer lists. I put out sign up sheets at open house. I try to get a coordinator for parties/ others to send food, drink, craft and games
pez/k/Fl - PTA also has us put an Apple Tree up in our rooms. On each apple we write a wish. Parents pick the apples of things they want to donate. Mostly I ask for paper plate, bags, glitter, stickers, etc.
Leslie PreK - I usually have 2 room mothers and I contact them for anything I need. They coordiante volunteers for me.
Martina/AK - Pez: I plan to put one up outside my room.
milymo/2/oh - The only thing I got a good response on last year was our zoo trip. I wanted to be like the little red hen and say, "Well you didn't help any other time, so you can't go on this one!"
Sandy/K/MO - pez, I don't have a sink so on my wish lists I put "wet ones" and waterless soap
TLS/K/NY - I've done the tree as well and we call it the giving tree
Leslie PreK - Every Friday I have a Mom come in for a snack and story time...in advance of the visit her child will make her a bookmark and present it after the reading....Dads welcome, too!
ceci - I would sure like some pointers for getting them to volunteer
Katie - The tree idea sounds neat, do you keep it up all year--or just at certain times?
Jane/k/nh - Leslie, that sounds like a great way to get more parent involvement. Do the moms make the snack or do you provide it?
pez/k/Fl - Katie, I take my tree down right after open house
M&M - For parties, I set them up like centers and they have to MAKE what they eat. Parents just send ingredients.
Leslie PreK - The parent usually brings it in along with the book but I love the idea of a class made snack!
Katie - Oh , so it is like a volunteer tree, and the parents pick and that is it?
TLS/K/NY - I wnat to do some kind of project with my K's on the first day so they have something to take home. Any ideas?
Addie k/mo - i have all the leaders name in a little basket and we draw one out each day. the first name i put on our word wall and then we make various graphs as we go through the names again
Djinn - TLS - because we bus all of our students - we will talk about safety and they will make a bus to take home
Squirt - Put playdough on each table with written instructions, like make an animal, so they keep those little hands busy while everyone settles in.
ssr - TLS_The Teachers helper Mag. Had a cute page on the Kissing hand. The children get to make a palm print on the page. I'm going to try it the 1sst day with my K class
chloe - eat watermelon and save the seeds/cut out a big oval of green and a smaller oval of red and decorate w/ seeds. it looks great on the board w/a vine and you can keep it up until time for pumpkins
Addie k/mo - martina, i would have some kind of a handout outlining your class procedures and what you hope to accomplish, so you can give that to the parents and let them know that all the info is in there. maybe you wont have to answer the same questions 50 times
Jackie - Is The Kissing Hand all right for second grade?
Djinn - Matrina - we make a packet of rules - snack routine- lunch, bus schedule etc. and pass them out
Jules/K/GA - Brandi, you could have them decorate a gingerbread man and do all those fun gingerbread man activities during the first week
Sandy/K/MO - ssr... did you print out the sticker pattern?
milymo/2/oh - I think I'm going to do do "Oh the Places You'll Go!" by Dr, Seuss on the first day.
Martina/AK - Addie: Good idea. We have a back to school picnic prior, and I am also thinking about handing a letter that day with some general questions/things we might be discussing, i.e. what are your child's strenght, needs, etc.
Jules/K/GA - djinn, do you send the packet home all at one time, or one piece at a time. I don't think my parents read it when there is so much. I am debating sending it home little by little??? What do ya'll think?
Leslie PreK - I'm going to do Chrysanthemum on the first day, still looking for more center ideas, not completlely satisfied with plans
ssr - SANDY- which sticker pattern?
Martina/AK - Jules: I make the packet, but discuss it all at Open House so they get it verbally. then they have the packet to refer to later?
Sandy/K/MO - kissing hand sticker
Katie - I love the book the Kissing Hand, I'd like to use it too--but I haven't tried it yet--I am teachign 2/3
milymo/2/oh - I think a lot of parents sit down to look at packets at the beginning of the year, so they don't miss out on anything.
Djinn - Jules - I send it all at one time with a signature line to send back - this covers my 'rear" in case someone says " You never told me that!"
Leslie PreK - Martina, that is what I do, and my parents usually refer to it, I get to know the ones that don't and I gently remind them and send home extra copies at a later time
milymo/2/oh - I will probably have them write out goals for the year and discuss what they would like to learn.
Djinn - Jules - I give a homework pass to kids when parents show up for open house or art & Lit fair - anything to get them in
Martina/AK - Addie: I used to send the letter home ansd ask parents to write me a letter about their child. This will just allow them to tell me instead... except, again., the child is there, and I wonder how much parents can talk then
ssr - Where was that pattern? In teacher helper? I ordered the book from AMAZON and it came with 30 stickers
milymo/2/oh - I might have them use paint to put their handprints on my desk as well.
Leslie PreK - I give the parents a questionairre to fill out and return after open house, i follow up on these because I get lots of info from what is said
ceci - It alway helps to have the kids do something at open house. Make a snack too. Give the kids jobs for open house they drag the parents in.
share - I write to my children about three times during the summer. In the last mailing, I added a P.S. Please share with parent and invite the parents to send a letter the first day about their child. It works out quite well.
TLS/K/NY - I send home a questionnaire at the beginning of the year that has a place for parents to share thoughts about their chid with me.
Jules/K/GA - I promised pizza one time if their parents came to conferences...lots of parents showed up thinking THEY would get the pizza....it was not pretty :)
Martina/AK - Addie: not all of them, but a lot of them. They really appreciate the chance to share info with me. I tell them I have only one short year, and I can teach better if I know the important stuff they already know!
milymo/2/oh - There is a questionnaire like that in Mailbox this month, TLS.
Sandy/K/MO - http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Thebes/9673/raccoon2.gif
Jules/K/GA - Now, I don't promise food. LOL!
TLS/K/NY - I do scavenger hunt at open house. The kids love showing the parents all of the different thinds in the room.
Djinn - Squirt! LOL . Find a cute newsletter - open style. I think Mailbox has one - then dash it off before you leave school
Addie k/mo - squirt, i find the newsletter thing to be quite managable if you just design it once and then type the new info each week or month on the computer.
Martina/AK - i.e how does your child learn best? What are his/her fears, strengths, hobbies... I like it better than a questionaire, because they are more from the heart, and they tell me things the questionaire might not have asked.
Leslie PreK - My parents are all thin and rich...they would never eat pizza or expect it at a conference!
Addie k/mo - our pto, used to give ten dollars to the class who had the most attendance (audience and kids) at the pto program. one year my class blew everyone away. then one of the kids wanted to know when i was going to pass out their ten dollars!!! i know i never said that, but several kids misunderstood. no wonder everyone showed up!
Djinn - My goodness - It's that time again! This has been great and much too short. Everyone have a great beginning!!! Good night!
