Llama Llama Misses Mama- Going to School

Llama Llama Misses Mama

During the week that Adelyn began her new school year in September we read books about school and making new friends. Adelyn fell in love with Anna Dewdney's Llama Llama book about Llama feeling very uncomfortable about being in a new place.  The author also has a great website with activities, puppet characters and coloring pages at this address:  http://www.llamallamabook.com/. 

Adelyn and I decided to act out the book with her animals. We happen to have the Llama stuffed animal.  Our Hop on Pop character played Mama and Sylvester the cat was the school teacher. Adelyn loved repeating some of her favorite lines in the book while playing.  

School Bus

Time for us to get back into our school routine! With Zachary starting kindergarten it has been a new type of routine but we are all liking it a lot. I have been looking forward to Adelyn getting the one on one time with me for our themed activities. This was the first lesson Adelyn and I did since Zachary started school.  I found the bus image from printables on google images. We printed extra wheels and put a brad through them so that the wheels would go "round and round".  

I think I would like to make another bus but make it raised off of the construction paper with something like cotton balls. The next steps would be to use an exacto knife and slit the door so it opens, find coloring pictures of children which would be cut out and then have them go through the door of the bus. That might be a fun trial craft for myself! 

It's a good set up craft for The Wheels on the Bus song.

Many have asked how I feel about Zachary going to school.  I will miss him in so many ways . We have developed so many cherished memories and learning experiences.  At the same time I know that if we did not let our sweet babies go this year we would be looking for extra help to stimulate them as they move towards a need for new learning experiences. I would definitely need to learn more about home school curriculum. I feel like we are definitely to the point where he needs more than what we have been doing so I would either step it up or send him to school! 

We chose school for many reasons.  He is enjoying new little responsibilities that allow him to be a little more independent such as the take home folder and being somewhere on his own yet still loves to share experiences after school.  I'm happy that he is learning to socialize with a variety of children. This school has opportunities in the school that I cannot provide him myself such as the fabulous art teacher and a music room FULL of Orff instruments. I love his teacher who is very gentle and has a classroom full of great visuals and hands on learning items. She put up a picture and description of herself on her website which was so helpful to Zachary before we officially met her. It really helped to ease any anxiety he had. We have seen him full of energy and enthusiasm since he arrived on the first day. I'm so glad this has been a positive experience so far. 

My mother n law sent us this poem from the eyes of a teacher before Zachary started school and I thought I'd share.  I am unsure of who the author is.  

The First DAY

I gave you a little smile
As you dropped off your child today
For I know how hard it is to leave
And know your child must stay.

You've been with him for several years now
And have been her loving guide
But now, alas, the time has come
to leave him at my side

Just know that as you walk away
And tears down your cheek may flow
I'll love him as I would my own
And help her to learn and grow.

For as a parent, I too know
how quickly the years do pass
And I remember the day it was my turn
to take my child to class.

So please put your mind at ease
and cry those tears no more
For I will love him and take her in
When you leave him at my door.

I Go to School

I Go to School

Books

Berenstain Bears Go to School- Sister is a little nervous about going to kindergarten but she learns about all of the fun things that are part of the school day.

Llama Llama Misses Mama- Little Llama does not feel happy at school until some of the other kids invite him to join them.

School Bus by Donald Crews- This book shows where school buses stay and goes through the whole route of picking kids up to dropping them off and going back to the bus barn.

Monster makes himself a clock at school but this one does not have numbers or hands on it. Instead he makes a schedule clock with pictures of the daily activities.

How Do Dinosaurs Go to School?

I Am Not Going to School Today- This little boy is nervous about not knowing who the teacher is, who is in his class, where things are and what the schedule is at school. He takes a pal along to accompany him and learns to cope with the "first day".

Every Morning at Play Group- Sesame Street- Emily's parents both go to work and her brother goes to first grade. She is going to play group and is not sure about going.

The Sesame Street gang talks about all of the things they like about school.

Tucker experiences a variety activities at his new school and learns how much fun it is!


ASL- Sign for School- from www.lifeprint.com

Crafts

Dog Puppet

http://www.allkidsnetwork.com/crafts/animals/dog-craft.asp

Personalized Lunch Box- Find at Crafts Kaboose


Decorate your notebook/journal- Find at Crafts Kaboose


Backpack Craft for a doll or stuffed animal- Find at Danielle's Place

Music

• The More We Get Together
• The Backpack Song- Learning Through Music- Kathleen Coleman, MMT, MT-BC with Prelude Music Therapy
• The Months of the Year- Greg and Steve
• Days of the Week- Tim Pacific or to the tune of Oh My Darlin

Activities

• Play school and use props such as backpacks, supplies, lunch boxes etc.
• Do a puppet show or act out one of one of the books.
• Stuffed animals go to school and learn to make new friends.

Coloring Pages


From My Coloring Pages Blog


From


From Coloring Pages Blog.138


From Big Activities


From Big Activities

I Go To School

August 30- September 3

• Books- Llama Llama Misses Mama, Every Morning at Playgroup, Tucker's Four Carrot School Day
• Letter A
• Music- The BackPack Song
• Crafts- Making a backpack from a paper bag (for a teddy bear), Making a Rock Friend
• Cooking/Baking- helping with dinner
• Activities- Imagination: Playing School with stuffed animals

Find the School crafts here

http://www.daniellesplace.com/html/backtoschoolcrafts.html