Mothers' Day

We love to put on a mini performance for our mommies for Mothers' Day. We sing four songs and read  three poems. Our songs include...

1. Happy Mothers' Day

2. I Love You Mommy

3. M-O-T-H-E-R

4. A Piece of Me

The students trace and cut out their handprints. I roll them, add a stem, and a leaf. The bouquets are set up on each table.

Cookies and labeled bottles of water are served. Here are more details for our celebration!

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Volunteers

Here is what we made for our fantastic volunteers. All 23 of them! The Lifesavers read, "You are a Lifesaver!" and the rock candy read, "You rock!"









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Helpers

Every month, I send home a Parent Volunteer Calendar, providing parents with an assigned date and time I need their help on. I schedule Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Mondays are usually days that parent helpers will read a leveled reader with the students one-on-one at a desk, in the hallway. I provide the parents with a basket and the following:

• Two copies of the book
• Class List to call students from. They check off next to the student's name once they have read together.
• Stickers to reward the students for their effort
• Before, During, and After questions to check for understanding
• Guided Reading flipbook
• Number flashcards
• Letter flashcards

On Thursdays, the parents call students into the hallway to practice number and letter identification with flashcards. On Fridays, I ask for help with AR tests, assigning new reading books, filing, and checking off homework participation. I always include a To-Do list...

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Help Wanted

This has been the most succesful way in bringing in help. At the beginning of the year, I send home an interest form for parents who are willing to help. Then, I assign a (willing) parent on Tuesdays and Fridays for both classes. I've tried other ways of soliciting help, but this is great since parents can plan for their day in the room and the teacher knows when she has help coming.

I'm very lucky to have such great mommy-helpers!

Mother's Day

Here is the plate I made in kindergarten. We make the exact same plates (from the same company) for the moms on Mothers Day.

Wrapping 50 plates is pretty difficult, so I just throw them in a pretty bag and tie the bag off with ribbon. The bags are scented as well!

We decorate the tables with cards, table cloths, homemade cookies, bottled water, and mother-child activities. While the moms sit in the kids' tiny chairs, we sing, recite, and dance for them.

The bottle labels are my favorite part.