Totally Terrific Children

For three weeks, we have been using our writer's workshop time to focus on getting to know each and every one of our classmates.  Each child was designated a day at random to be name, "Totally Terrific Child."  After a brief interview by myself, the stage is opened to children looking for more information about their peer.  Anywhere between 5-10 questions are answered and connections are made.  During this time, students not only get to know more information about what the child likes to do, what their favorite foods, animals, and colors are but we also practice important early literacy skills in phonological awareness.  Through this get to know you activity we often practice our letters and sounds, work on syllable awareness, rhyming, and sentence structure.  Your child has probably told you all about their favorite activity - the letter chant.  INQUIRE with them how this works.  After many literacy and listening activities, each child makes a page for the Totally Terrific Child's own book.  Students spend time thinking and reflecting on what each unique child is interested in and produced a drawing for their special keepsake book.  It is amazing to look back to the beginning of the school year when we first began this project.  The progress that I am seeing each child make is unbelievable.  Students are improving in their fine motor skills, attention to detail, and most importantly improving in their listening skills with their peers.