Bobbie Solley and her accomplices provided so many outstanding ideas that we, as future teachers, cannot wait to implement in our own classrooms. Below are a few that we wanted to share.
All About Me Books
Have your students create flip books with interesting facts about themselves. These could include favorites, things they like about themselves, things they enjoy, etc. This is a good activity for the beginning of the year, and as the year goes on, the class can make more books about themselves that get more and more in depth.
Autobiographical Poems/Personal Acrostics
Two very exciting ways to get to know your students by using themes that are near and dear to them: their names and their families. The autobiographical poems are the child's life outlined to create an autobiography. They are given questions such as "name", "son/daughter of", "brother/sister of", etc., and they "are shared and displayed throughout the room"(24). The personal acrostics is a cool way for the children to use their first name and write words to each letter in their name "identifying who they believe themselves to be"(25).
Literacy Digs
This activity helps students become more aware of print-- what it is and what it is for. The teacher first points to each piece of print individually, then names it, then labels it, and finally discusses its use, purpose, and creator. Some items of print to start with are lunch menus, fire drill procedures, bulletin boards, etc. Eventually students are invited to "dig" for print at their own homes and to bring their finds to class. Once they bring it in, they label it and talk about its purpose and its creator. The ultimate goal is to dig for print in their home and to find out what it says, who might have written it, and why it may be important. This gives them a sense of ownership of the items in the home and enables them to find things that relate to them.
The Author’s Study. "Understanding Writers and the Work They Do"(60).
Prior to reading the assigned book, the teacher introduces the author of said book to the students. The students will then begin familiarizing themselves with that specific author and his background. They will find out things like what the writer's family is like, what his favorite pet is, and any hobbies he has. This will allow the children to find things to relate to. Once the children are familiarized with the author's life, the teacher then begins to introduce the works of the specific author. In doing this, the children “gain a sense of personal ownership and relationship that allows them to view the author as a personal friend"(41).