I'm constantly thinking about what I can do better as a teacher. When I find an area of
weakness and an idea for improvement, I go for it. Last spring I was browsing the internet and found inspiration on a teacher's blog (scroll down the page). She had made Homework Bags for her class of kindergarten and first graders. I had been worried that I didn't prepare my students for the amount of homework that they get when they go into first grade, but I was not about to load my kids down with typical homework worksheets. In the past my students had to study 8 sight words and 6 spelling words weekly at home, but that was the extent of their homework. Homework Bags give kids practice being responsible for doing homework and returning it to school. They also make homework fun as there are no worksheets involved, rather skills are practiced through games, activities, reading books, and sometimes writing an entry in a class book. I think that it will also be good for the families to work out how they will be helping their student with this homework.
weakness and an idea for improvement, I go for it. Last spring I was browsing the internet and found inspiration on a teacher's blog (scroll down the page). She had made Homework Bags for her class of kindergarten and first graders. I had been worried that I didn't prepare my students for the amount of homework that they get when they go into first grade, but I was not about to load my kids down with typical homework worksheets. In the past my students had to study 8 sight words and 6 spelling words weekly at home, but that was the extent of their homework. Homework Bags give kids practice being responsible for doing homework and returning it to school. They also make homework fun as there are no worksheets involved, rather skills are practiced through games, activities, reading books, and sometimes writing an entry in a class book. I think that it will also be good for the families to work out how they will be helping their student with this homework.
So I took on the project of creating 21 Homework Bags. I worked on them from May to September. Even with the instructions from that inspiration website, it was a TON of work! Being the perfectionist that I am, I had to reformat the instruction pages and come up with a few more ideas for topics that I thought my students would need to practice. I had to adapt the materials that were in each of the bags to suit things that I already had. I made a spreadsheet of things I buy, make, and find in my stash of teaching supplies (or my mom's attic in some cases). Finally, I have completed 20 Homework Bags! (I am waiting for a book that I ordered to come in. That will complete the last one.) I've included pictures of some of my favorites. Yesterday, I sent kids home with the Homework Bags. I took the time last week to preview each of the bags with them. They seemed excited to do the different activities. The plan is for the kids to bring home a new bag each Friday and return by the following Thursday. I told the kids that I was trusting them to return all of the materials. We will see about that... I had reports from some parents that their students had been talking about bringing home a Homework Bag all week. The kids were genuinely excited to do homework!
I believe that experiences in kindergarten should foster a love of learning in all kids. It makes me so sad to think it possible for a kid to hate school during the first year with twelve more to go.
What a cool idea! I bet the kids are so excited. That sounds like a huge project! Kudos to you!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Alyssa...I love this. I just took the time to zoom in on each photo to see all the work that was involved. Not to mention the expense. I hope the students (and parents) are respectful (and responsible!) and the bags make it through the year....that may be high expectations, but at least most all the parts!
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