One of the first things people comment on when they first enter my classroom is my GINORMOUS Family and Friends Board.
The fact is our kiddos are people :0) They love their families and their families love them (even if it doesn't always seem like it or it's not shown the way we think it should be).....
People say to me what a great thing this board is for the kids.... And, I agree. my kids love it! It really helps them "own" our classroom. They feel like they are apart of our "kindergarten world" - like staking claim to our classroom and all the things that go on inside our 4 walls.
My kids often visit the board when they are in the block center or abc center (which happen to be beside the board). They also will visit during writer's workshop at times.
Oh, the oral language that takes place concerning the photos on that board is incredible. Kids talk about some of their photos....when the photo was taken, what they were doing, who is in the photo with them, etc. But they are even more interested in other kids' photos. I have a few children with connections to Africa. One of my student's has a photo with his mom dressed up in traditional African garments. Boy, that is the talk of the room! I have lots of children from Mexico with a variety of traditions that can be seen through the photos. What great diversity learning for these kiddos!
.......but, as important as I think this board is to my students and their growth socially, emotionally, and yes academically - I know this board is important to me too.
As a teacher who has taught many children now..... it's easy to get lost in the day-to-day tasks and stresses. It's easy to get lost in pushing kids to excel according to state standards. It's easy to get lost when you have a "sweet-tart". But, this board allows me a chance to reflect on the children they are....the people they are.... the families they belong to..... The hopes and dreams that they and their family have for the future...... And, it makes me realize how truly lucky I am to be apart of their lives. I am honored each day to impact my students' lives and I pray that I do it in such a way that will help them move one step further to their hopes and dreams!
As a kindergarten teacher, they may or may not remember me in the future....but I hope and pray I can make a deposit in their heart and soul that makes them just a little better than when I first met them.... :0)
At the beginning of each year, I send home a 5x7 in manilla envelope with the following note attached:
You can grab you FREEBIE note for your own "Family and Friends" board HERE!!
Tell me what you think! Have you ever had a board like this? What are your thoughts and feeling? I'm interested to hear!
How precious! I love this idea!
ReplyDeleteErica
One of the preschool classrooms I have been in has family albums. Each child had their own picture album with family and friend pictures. The teacher stored all of the albums in a basket in the safe place area. When children were sad or upset they would often look through this album. I love the way that everyone can see and enjoy your board.
ReplyDeleteFantastic idea! I can easily see how that gets the children talking and interested about different things! What a great learning experience!
ReplyDeleteJeannie, what a great way to build community within your room! I love what you wrote about the pressures we have to get everything taught to them, but that we need to remember the child that they are. :)
ReplyDeleteLori
Conversations in Literacy
Nicely said! I don't have a board, but I've got framed pictures of my kids around the room.
ReplyDelete❀ Tammy
Forever in First
What a wonderful idea, Jeannie! I would love to do something like this in my classroom. Do you find most families participate? I have several who never turn anything into school, and with a small class, I might get some kids very disappointed if their parents didn't bother to send in pictures. That would be my only hesitation!
ReplyDeleteKara
Spedventures
Yes most participate willingly. I introduce for meet the teach when parents are still super excited about their little one starting school. On the off chance I don't get something back....I take photos of the child with important people around school....then the other kids are usually jealous :0) They love that!
ReplyDeleteI love these! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThanks for this, I will try them with my new group in August!
ReplyDeleteFaithful in First
I love the picture frame idea - I've seen classrooms like this - very homey feeling....it just seems like it would take a long time to do all that....not to mention expensive.... I like my board where I literally pop pics up there.....
ReplyDeleteI LOVE this idea....plus some of the comments too! What a great idea!!!
ReplyDeleteSea Bear's Kindergarten
I love this idea. I think I will use this in my resource room next year. I've done a "Brag Board" where I put a picture of each child next to a cute graphic (theme of the year) and a page protector stapled to the board. Each Monday the students choose something from their work going home (all of the previous week's work) to put in there and they can also bring things from their other classes or home that they want people to see. But I love the family connection of your pond.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Valerie
I had planned to make one last year and then it never happened. Thank you for sharing this - I agree that this is a very important part of what should happen in a classroom- I am doing this for sure this year.
ReplyDeleteThis was just the blog I needed to find tonight. I'm doing a family theme and was thinking about the children's worlds as being their families, first. It's so important to acknowledge and honour that. I am so glad you shared with everyone your ideas. Thank you!!
ReplyDelete