A Happy Little Family

One week in the books. Phew!  27 first graders and 1 exhausted teacher discussed classroom and school rules and expectations, read books, did some math and a little writing, and somehow made it through the first week of school.  I am super excited to get right into the academics with my new class, but I know I've got a little bit of community building to do first.  I have found over the years that the more team building, memory making, and bonding time that I can cram into those first few weeks of school, the harder they will work for me (and each other) for the remainder of the year.  I have a few tried and true favorites that I always use to get the ball rolling.

First, we discuss our hopes and wishes for a great school year!  This little sesssion usually starts with me talking about what I hope and wish will happen during the year.  It is a great opportunity for me to explain how much I love being a teacher, especially teaching first graders like them.  I talk about how I have always wanted to be a teacher, how long I've been teaching, and how much I love finding out what each indivdual student needs from me so I can help each one reach their goals.  My goal is to establish the safety, security, and respect that they'll need from me in order to take risks in their learning.  Next up...their turn.  First, I let them share their hopes and wishes with their "elbow buddies".  This wakes them up a little bit, and even helps to open up those that aren't used to sharing.  I listen in and guide as neccessary, and eventually I have them start sharing with the whole group.  This is where you want to have your clipboard handy.  I write down what they say!  For example, when one on my students said, I hope I can learn to read Frog and Toad books this year, I wrote that down.  I am always so curious to find the root of their hopes and wishes.  After a little probing with this particular student later in the day, I figured out that her older sister reads Frog and Toad books.  This student feels like you've "arrived" as a reader when you can read chapter books, so this is her biggest goal.  Knowing this will help me a lot down the road.

Next, I wrap up our little discussion by displaying and reading this poem from Fun in First.  

I lay it on reeeeeeeallly thick as I start passing out their "magic playdoh".  I make the biggest deal possible about how I hope, hope, hope their playdoh changes color because there's nothing I want more than to have a great school year with them.  Low and behold, their playdoh changes color.  Shocker, right?  It's such a great time of giggling and bonding.

Have you ever made your own playdoh?  I promise you'll never go back to the store bought stuff after you've given it a try.  It's a little scary at first, but trust me, it will work...and you'll love it!  

First, mix all of these things in a big pan (By the way, I doubled this recipe because I have so many kids this year.):

2 cups flour
2 cups warm water
1 cup salt
2 T vegetable oil
1 T cream of tartar 

Just keep stirring over low heat.  Here's what to expect...

Step 1:  Denial

There is NO way this will be playdoh...like ever!

Step 2:  Confusion

Did she say this will turn in to playdoh?  It looks like runny mashed potatoes.  Am I supposed to keep stirring this?  I'm not sure, so I'll just keep stirring while I try to go back to her post and look at the directions again.  Great, now there's flour on my iPad.

Step 3:  Anger

Did I seriously just waste 2 cups of flour and 1 cup of salt on this?  It is never going to be playdoh!

Step 4:  Acceptance

Hey!  Look!  I just made playdoh!

Go ahead and pull it off the stove and let it cool.  Next, divide it up into little balls, poke a little dent in each one, put in one or two drops of food color (NO MORE- TRUST ME) in each dent, and carefully pinch the dent closed.  Make a baggie for each student and staple a copy of the "Magic Playdoh" poem to the front.  

This is a memory maker that your students will talk about all year long!  I hope you have fun!