poetry Stars
Based on a rotating schedule, each week students choose a poem from our classroom poetry bin. Every morning, children practice their poem by either whisper reading aloud to themselves, or to a partner to prepare for their upcoming performance on their assigned day in the afternoon. Each afternoon, we sit at the carpet and listen to 3-4 students perform their poems that they have been practicing all week long. Students begin to develop preferences for certain authors and styles... many third graders enjoy humorous poems by authors such as Shel Silverstein, Kenn Nesbitt, and Jack Prelutsky to name a few. The purpose of this activity is for students to develop their fluency skills through a fun and meaningful avenue: funny and engaging poetry!
Reading & Writing Notebooks
Special helpersAgain, based on a rotating schedule, students are assigned a day in which they are the "special helpers." Each day, there are two special helpers that take on various important jobs in the classroom, like being the morning messengers. Special helpers also have the opportunity to "share" on their assigned day. Some months there are share topics (like favorite photo, family heirloom, or favorite book) while other months students can choose what they would like to tell/show the class. Each month, a calendar is sent home, so that students and families know in advance when they will be one of the special helpers.
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Helping hands at hp
Children at Heron Pond are working hard on being responsible, respectful and caring. To celebrate children that are “caught” being being respectful, responsible or caring, they will
receive a Helping Hands sticker and small paper hand. They wear the sticker all day and everyone who sees their sticker, congratulates them! They take the small hand to the office and place it into a very special bucket for their grade level and sign their name on the Helping Hands sheet.
At the end of the week, one name will be drawn from each of the grade level buckets. That child will have their name announced over the intercom and receive a Helping Hands small token of appreciation at the office.
At the end of the month, all the names from the month will be placed into a large container and one very lucky child will win a Heron Pond t-shirt! At the end of each month, volunteers will make a display using all the names of the children that earned a sticker that month. The displays will line the hallway to the cafeteria.
We have talked about how you may not always get “caught” doing the right thing, but keep doing it, because you may get “caught” the next time, and it feels good to be responsible, respectful and caring. The children also understand that the act needs to be natural and not forced. So, if your child comes home with a “Helping Hands” sticker, make sure you ask how they earned it and celebrate them!
