An important and fun first activity is to decorate the room with the students. Forget about the themed decor sold in teacher catalogs. That's all about the teacher and design professionals. To give students a sense of belonging in their classroom, and a sense of investment in their school year, they should be given the opportunity to decorate the room and make it about themselves.
One way to decorate with students is to help them create acrostic poems about themselves. While they are working, the teacher circulates, taking a photo of each child. The end result is the classroom will be arrayed with pictures of the kids, and poems written by the kids.
To accomplish this, teachers will need to prepare an acrostic poem template for each student. Bright, colorful paper on which to glue the photo and poem is a big plus.
To make the templates for the students, by computer or by hand, fill the left side of the paper with large letters spelling the child's name, reading downward. Add a light line to the right of each letter on which to write a word or phrase beginning with the letter.
Give each student an alphabetical list of adjectives from which to choose. This will help them a great deal, not only to think of words to describe themselves, but to spell them. Of course, leave them free to use words that are not on the list.
Students should make a first draft on blank, lined paper to be checked by you before copying the words in marker or crayon on the printed template you made for them.
Take an individual photo of each child while the class is working on their poems. Print them to a size that will fit with the size of the colored paper and leave room for the poem.
The next day, give students their poems and photos to be cut out and glued on brightly colored paper. One display idea is to put up a clothesline. Use clothespins or paper clips to mount the finished projects.
In conclusion, warm, inviting classroom decor should be created by the students. This will give them a sense of belonging. By decorating with student-created acrostic poems, supported by a ready list of adjectives, students will be on their way to learning some words, and you'll be on your way to learning about them.
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