March 19th: Rattletrap Car

 

This week, we read Rattletrap Car, written by Phyllis Root and illustrated by Jill Barton. This book was full of onomatopoeias and the kids had fun saying each of them. I first asked them if they had ever heard of an onomatopoeia and gave some examples of some. I wrote a list of onomatopoeias on the board and they read them aloud. I asked them if they could think of any other examples of onomatopoeias.

After we read the book, I passed out slips of paper to each kid. Each slip of paper had an onomatopoeia from the book. We all lined up in order of when they were said to create our own rattletrap car. Each kid said their onomatopoeia aloud and we sounded like the Rattletrap Car in the book!

This is a list of all the onomatopoeias in Rattletrap Car

Then, we had our discussion questions. I asked them what family vacations they had been on and if they had fun. We talked about cars we had been in that didn't run so well. I asked them how they keep cool in the summer time. They said they swim, run in the sprinklers, and dump buckets of water on their heads!

 

For our snack, we made fudge marshmallow delight from the book! Using graham crackers, Nutella spread, and marshmallows, each kid made their own tasty treat. After they finished their snacks, we played some fun games - Duck, Duck Goose, Simon Says, and Honey, do you love me? When we played Duck, Duck Goose, I told them they had to "quack" as they ran around to use onomatopoeias.

 



March 5: Help! A Story of Friendship

 



This week, we read a book about Friendship. Written by Holly Keller, "Help! A Story of Friendship" is a cute story about how true friendship overcomes rumors and gossip. After I read the book to them, we had discussion questions. I asked them if they had ever thought someone would be mean but they turned out to be really nice. I told the kids how important it is to not judge before you meet someone. In the story, mouse thought Snake was dangerous, but in the end, Snake saved mouse because he cared about him. We talked about which animal was their favorite and why. I also asked them if they had ever been distracted and not paid attention like mouse had. We discussed the importance of paying attention in class and at home. We also talked about what a rumor is, how they can be mean, and why we shouldn't start or spread them.

 

 

Next, I wrote the phrase "To have good friends, you must be a good friend" on the board. I asked the kids what this statement meant to them. Each of them had thoughtful answers of how if you want friends, you must be nice to others. One girl said "If you're mean, no one will like you". I explained to them how important it is that they have a good attitude and are always nice to others so they can be good friends.

 



 

 

For our craft, we made a Friendship chain. I passed out three strips of colorful construction paper to each kid and asked them to write the names of three of their friends on the papers. They each picked three friends, wrote their names on the paper, and decorated them. Once everyone had finished, they got in a line and I linked the strips together to form a chain. Once everyone's was on, we had a very long chain full of friends! Then, I asked them if they could find theirs on there and see if anyone had put the same person. They had fun talking to each other and seeing who everyone's friends were.

 



 

Then, we played a fun game called "I'm your friend". We sat in a circle with one chair facing outward. Taking turns, I had one kid at a time sit in the chair. Another kid from the circle went up behind them and said in a disguised or funny voice "Do you know me? I'm your friend". The kid in the chair had to guess who was behind them without looking. They really liked this game and had fun making up silly voices and trying to guess who the mystery voice was.

 

I think this week's meeting went really well and the kids are cooperating better. My friends Dianne and Cathryn are there to help me now and things haven't been as crazy. The kids are paying attention better and listening to the book. I still need to work on full participation when we do the activities and games, but I've definitely seen improvement. I'm proud of each of the kids and I can't wait to start meeting again after Spring Break!

 

 



February 26th: Red Sings from Treetops

 

This week, we read a book about seasons. Written by Joyce Sidman and illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski, Red Sings from Treetops is a book filled with lively and imaginative colors that change throughout the seasons. This book gave a great illustration of each season and showed them how trees changed during each season. After I read the book to them, we had our usual discussion time. I asked them what their favorite season was and why. Most of them said summer because they went on vacations and didn't have to be in school, which they reffered to as "this crazy place!" We talked about new life in spring, the shining sun in summer, pumpkins and leaves in the fall, and snow and hot chocolate in Winter.

After we had discussion, I passed out slips of paper that each had an activity/item associated with one of the seasons. Some examples of what they got include worms, lemonade, pumpkins, schoolbuses, a sled, and snowmen. They had to read theirs aloud and then tape it on the white board under the season it belonged to.


Everyone's piece of paper taped to the board

For our craft, I made little 4-page booklets using cardstock paper. The night before, I had cut squares of different colored paper and stapled them together to make mini-books for each kid.

After I passed out the booklets, I instructed the kids to draw something that reminds them of each season. The green paper was for spring, pink for summer, orange for fall, and white for winter. Each kid drew their own pictures of what they like to do during each season or something that reminds them of that season. When they were finished, they went through their books with me.





 

I think the kids' favorite part about our meetings is when they get to go and color. Each one of them is so creative and can't wait to show me their drawings. It's inspiring to see how excited they get when they draw even the simplest things, their satisfaction comes in sharing their new ideas.

 

 

When they had all finished drawing their booklets, they waited in line while Dianne and I got the snacks ready. This week we had flavored marshmallows. The marshmallows were different pastel colors that reminded me of Spring. I told the kids to smell their cup of marshmallows and asked them what season it smelled like. One girl said they smelled like Summer, because of the fruity flavors!