On the first day of school I love to read Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes. Before school started for Chrysanthemum, she thought everything about her name was perfect. But then on the first day, the other “mice” in her class start to make fun of her name. They tease her and make Chrysanthemum feel so sad.
When we read this book, I ask one a student to come up, sit next to me, and hold a heart. I tell the class that the heart represents how Chrysanthemum feels during the story. Before Chrysanthemum starts school, she feels happy (her heart is not wrinkled). While I am reading, the student wrinkles the heart up when Chrysanthemum’s feelings are hurt. Every time someone says something nice to her, or tries to make her feel better, the student holding the heart flattens it out. This is a great visual to show how peoples’ hearts break when their feelings are hurt. In the end I show how the creases remain the same in the paper heart even after it is flattened out. I leave this up all year long and refer to it whenever there is a similar situation happening in the classroom.
Please check out the rest of my blog... I am having a giveaway to win 3 units (in honor of my 3 year old's birthday!!) You have until Sunday, July 31st to enter! :)
PS - This is my first "Linky Party" participation... I hope I did it correctly!!!