from one teacher to another...

Today I came across a great idea for back to school from another teacher's blog. Blogger Sarah Martin, past second grade teacher, created a "Favorite Things" survey for parents to give to their child's teacher at the beginning of the year. Speaking from experience, I know how wonderful an inexpensive, heartfelt surprise can mean to a teacher! This survey can help spark those ideas! Check it out and if you have a child in school I encourage you to use this or something like it to get to know your child's teacher a little more! This being my first year I am not in the classroom teaching, I will make sure to spoil my own child's teachers to let them know how much I appreciate all of their hard work.

To download the document, please visit the Life Sweet Life blog as she is the author of this survey. Her blog is:
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You'll Fit Right In!

As many of you prepare to welcome back a classroom full of smiling faces soon, I wanted to share a great community building activity that we loved to do in my classroom. On the first day of school, each student is greeted with a puzzle piece waiting for them on their desk. After saying hello their new "neighbors", greeting new friends and putting away their supplies they find a puzzle piece on their desk. The puzzle piece has one large letter written on it that doesn't seem to make a lot of sense yet. I ask them to color the puzzle piece in any way that tells others about them. Whether that be using only their favorite colors on it or drawing what foods they loved the most - their imagination is the limit - as long as they are able explain why they colored the puzzle piece the way they did. I ask early finishers to also color the back of the puzzle piece.

Once all of the children have arrived and they have had plenty of time to work, I welcome them to our first Community Circle. I ask them to bring their puzzle piece with them and we begin.


After explaining and modeling our Circle Procedures:

1. Mutual Respect ( Only Speak when you have the Speaking Object -Mr. Frog, Eyes on the person talking)
2. Active Listening
3. The Right to Pass
4. Only Speak when you have the Speaking Object (Mr. Frog)
5. Please sit Criss Cross Applesauce, hands in your lap.

Then, we begin. I tell them that today when they arrived in our classroom they may have been feeling many different ways! Some of them were surely nervous while others were extremely excited. I express to them that each of us is feeling a different way and that our feelings are ok! Then, we set our puzzle pieces in front of us in the circle. We work together to put the puzzle together. Depending on what kind of blank puzzle you purchase, this can be sometimes challenging! So, to make it more manageable before the first day of school:

1. Write out on the blank puzzle "You'll fit right in Second Grade" (I taught second) I tried to make sure each puzzle piece had a letter but sometimes that doesn't work out and it's ok if a puzzle piece doesn't have a letter. They won't notice on their desk because they don't see the puzzle as a whole yet.

2. Then, turn all of the puzzle pieces over and NUMBER them! That way, when you use it on the front day of class you don't have a management disaster when you can't figure out the puzzle! Which would also hurt the message you're trying to send of "Each of us have our own place in this classroom and without one of you we wouldn't be complete! So don't worry, you'll fit right in second grade! Welcome to our classroom family"

I would guide the class and and say, "ok if your puzzle piece has the #2 on it, It's your turn to come and find where your piece belongs." Once I've gone through all of the numbers, if there are extra pieces (say 22 students and 24 puzzle pieces) I will place the final pieces and then say, "Does anyone know what this says?"

That question then becomes our first Community Circle question and we talk about what it means to fit in". I also use this as my first opportunity to tell the class that we will do a very special program in second grade called Hearts' Stories to help us understand about what makes us each so unique but also how our differences help us connect!

I encourage you to use this puzzle activity to fit the needs of your class! Adjust it for your grade level as it could easily be modified to fit any grade.

You can order a bare puzzle through www.barebooks.com. They have many different sizes and kinds to pick from. I find the best one for this activity is the large 25x25 puzzle. It costs $5.00 with free shipping to a school address. Or, if you have several team members who are interested in using the activity as well, you can order multiple puzzles for a discounted price.

Even if you don't do Hearts' Stories with your students, this is a wonderful "Back to School" community builder. At the end of the year, one of our final community circles is to put our puzzle back together again! We talk about how when they go to third grade they may feel the same exact way they felt when they entered second grade! I encourage them to remember that they will find their place and fit in 3rd grade as well! Then, I share how they were a very special piece to our puzzle in second grade! Each child then gets to keep their puzzle piece and take it home as a reminder!!

Look closely at the two class pictures, you will notice it's two different days! The beginning of the year and the end of the year!


Rainy Day Recess is a great time to get out the puzzle and let students who are interested put it together! So, as you can see there are many great ways to use this puzzle!!!

Mr. Rob Edwards, Mrs. Edwards' Special Guest

Mr. Keifer Boatwright, Victor's Special Guest

Ms. Becky Moore, David's Special Guest

Mr. Dan Deluca, Mike's Special Guest

In need of a new, used car? We know just the person to help you! Mike's grandpa Mr. Dan Deluca will help you find the perfect car! When Mr. Deluca is not busy buying and selling used cars, he loves to spend time with his family. He has 4 grown children of his own and 11 grandchildren! Mr. Deluca and his wife especially enjoy travelling to Italy. They hope to go again very soon. It was a true joy learning all about Mr. Deluca's life.

The Great Kapok Tree Children’s theatre comes to the Academy!

Children’s theatre comes to the Academy!
Two Nights only!
April 13th & 14th at 7:00 PM

Located at 895 International Drive, Myrtle Beach SC. Ticket Price: $5.00
Call 843-903-8064

The Academy for the Arts. Science, & Technology is at it again! A massive collaborative effort is happening at the school that our community should know about. Academy students have created their own play based on the children’s book The Great Kapok Tree. Literally every major at the school a contributed to the production and at least twelve hundred area primary, elementary, and middle school children will get a chance to see it. The characters in the play, animals that inhabit the tropical rain forest, help to convince man NOT to cut down the great tree, or their home, through dance, movement and dialogue. The evening promises to be colorful and entertaining and one that area children will love to see.
This “Kapok” project started as a small seed that has literally grown into a huge production and a great tree. The Education students introduced the idea of The Great Kapok Tree, written by Lynn Cherry, to the Dance students and they in turn thought what a fantastic way to introduce movement to younger audiences. When the dancers approached the Theatre students about creating the set, things blossomed even more. The theatre students realized the potential to use their own skills in adaptation, design, script writing, costuming, make-up, and stage management, and the growing and learning process became the driving force behind the performance. As word spread through the school, others became involved. The Advanced Art students and Environmental Science students quickly became interested and have made huge contributions. Quite literally, every major and the Connect students have contributed to the creative process in this event.

Photos of students building the great kapok tree and student dancers and actors in costume.(Photo credit- S. Wildt)

The Great Kapok Tree

On Friday, our class will travel to the AAST to see The Great Kapok Tree and to learn and grow with Ms. Sellers! Today Ms. Sellers and Ms. Madison came to help us get ready for our trip. After Ms.Sellers read the story, The Great Kapok Tree, to us the students made animal masks! They thought about the animals they saw in the story and picked one to "become" on Friday through their mask. Then, the students made
t-shirts to wear Friday! Finally, they reviewed all about the different animals that will come to life as characters in the play! More pictures will be coming soon. Many thanks to Ms. Sellers, Ms. Madison and the AAST. We cannot wait for our trip this Friday!

Mr. Scott Ledford, Allen Scott's Special Guest

Mr. Scott Ledford came today to share his story with us. Mr. Ledford is a SC State Trooper. He is a part of a specialized group of officers called "A.C.E" (Aggressive Criminal Enforcement). He shared with us that he has to be extremely flexible because of his position he can be called at any moment to travel anywhere in the state to work. Mr. Ledford told us that growing up he loved to be outdoors and especially loved riding motorcyles! That serves him well in his career because he works as a state trooper on a motorcycle! He brought it to school and showed us the many tools it has on it. He even drove it around our school parking lot so we could see him in action. Mr. Ledford also owns a landscaping company and Ledford Outdoors. As you can see, he is very busy. When he does have free time he is spending it with his family outdoors! Together, they love to hike, camp, and hunt! His family is very important to him. We loved learning all Mr. Ledford today.

Mr. Oltrino Alfons, Vermalane's Special Guest

After travelling for over 24 hours by an airplane, Mr. Alfons finally arrived in the United States of America from Micronesia! That was almost 10 years ago! Micronesia is made of many islands in the South Pacific! Mr. Alfons, Vermalane's special guest, shared that he misses the beaches, warm water and fishing that he could do in his home land. However, he truly enjoys the many opportunities he has found here in South Carolina. He has worked for many years as a chef at Miyabi's! After many, many hours of practice he learned tricks to perform and special ways to prepare food! When Mr. Alfons is not working he enjoys spending time with his family. Together they like to go to Family Kingdom, go out to eat or just be together! Mr. Alfons also enjoys golfing and going to the gym. Next time I would like to go out to eat, I think we will head to North Myrtle Beach to see Mr. Alfons in action at Miyabi's!

Ms. Heather Boykin. Maddy's Special Guest

Can you imagine having a job where you could look out your window and see the ocean every day? Ms. Heather Boykin can at her job at the Beach Club Hotel! She works at the front desk helping vacationers and traveller! She shared with us that you have to be helpful, patient, informed about the area and very friendly to do her job well. Ms. Heather is also in school to become a police officer! She is a busy person! When she is not working or in school, Ms. Heather enjoys spending time with Maddy. Together they enjoy going to the zoo and just spending time together! Her hobbies include kickboxing, reading, watching TV and going to the movies. We enjoyed learning all about Ms. Heather today!

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