Hello!!!
We have been getting back into school mode these past few weeks! WHEW!!! Actually, before school started I wanted to get everyone to refresh their little minds, so I printed a few pages and made a practice book that the little ones (kindergarten and first graders) could practice before they went back to school. We stretched every last minute we could before heading back to school and then talked middle school with the older girls. Yep, some of the children are making that transition into middle school and I explained some of the new and exciting things they will encounter on their next educational chapter. I tried to be as helpful as I could by answering all their questions. The last day of summer that we had together, I decided we needed to end it with a fun activity. I rented the movie Monster University and treated them to popcorn!
We had great laughs and a good last day before school started! I had been thinking for a while about how the children communicate as they come into the computer lab/after school program...I wanted to try something new with the children...I started my social experiment the first day back to school. I placed a few dry erase boards on our wall that are intended for the children to write on as they come into the lab...i.e. how their day was, good/bad news that they would like to share with everyone, etc. It's a good way to control all the talking coming from 10 different children all at the same time. "Write it on the dry erase boards"...this way everyone gets to write it down, then read it, if you so desire. It's a nice way to share. It has been working out great!...Now I don't have any complaints from the children saying I'm not paying attention to them anymore!
Since it's only been a few days since the children have been back at school, not alot of children have homework to do. No worries, I've kept them busy via a fun little craft activity. I printed a school bus template and had the children cut out the picture and color on one side. Now on the other side I had them write if they were excited, happy, glad, mad or sad about going back to school...also what they hope to achieve this school year, gotta have GOALS! A couple of days later I had a few that wanted to help me color and cut "back to school" themed coloring pages to decorate the front windows with. They did an excellent job! Lastly, this past week we started doing homework and getting back to our regular routine. Over all these last three weeks have been busy and we are getting organized to be successful in school! Yea Fall!!!
