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Volume 1 Issue 5
December 30, 2003
Beginnings
WELCOME! to Education World's Early Childhood Newsletter.
Each month, I'll share some ideas on a familiar teaching
theme. Hopefully you will find a new activity idea or
two -- or a new twist on one of your old favorites!
Since I know you are very busy, I'll be short and sweet
-- like most of activities I suggest.
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!
The beginning of a new year has me thinking of all
the beginnings teachers face. There are, of course,
the first teaching job, first classes, the first 100
days... But also the wonderful beginnings our cyclic
profession provides us: the beginning of a new school
year, the beginning of a new semester, a new group of
students, a new teaching assignment, etc. Each of those
beginnings gives us a chance to start again, each time
with more experience under our belts and more awareness
of what we want to accomplish. Each school year (and
calendar year), each new class of students gives us
the opportunity to start anew. Happy New Year!
Coming for February: LOVE of Learning
Anne Guignon
Editor, Early Childhood Education Newsletter
OPEN a new CALENDAR
BEGIN January by changing the calendar. Take down the
old calendar and put up a new one. Show students that
the months follow the same pattern (January, February,
March...) each year. Ask what will come after December.
2004 ALERT
Talk about the change in the date: 2003 to 2004. Ask
what the next year will be. Ask children to alert you
whenever they see the date, 2004. Keep a list of places
they find it throughout the year. Extend this by recording
all the places they see such dates. I once had a kindergarten
class that became fixated on dates. They always wanted
to know how old coins, automobiles, and other things
were. Reading dates became a great transition activity
with that class.
Make RESOLUTIONS
A year is a long time for young children, so begin with
one-day resolutions. You might make Monday (or any day)
Resolution Day with children making individual resolutions
for that day, or making a class resolution for the day.
Depending on the ages and stages of your students, they
might be able to work up to weekly resolutions.
Present a New Years PARADE
Parade through your school or neighborhood using student
made noisemakers (shakers or horns), hats, streamers,
and confetti -- wishing one and all a Happy New Year
and a Happy 2004 (to reinforce the number of the year).
Then celebrate with a 2004 New Year's Party.
New Year's CLEANUP
Out with the old, in with the new... what a great saying.
Take a few minutes to clear out materials from your
classroom that you no longer use. Get the kids involved,
too!
Check out the following Web sites for more background
about New Years celebrations and activities your students
might enjoy.
Celebrate!
Holidays In The U.S.A. -- New Year's Day
http://www.usis.usemb.se/Holidays/celebrate/newyears.html
An interesting explanation of American New Years customs
written for a Swedish readership by the Embassy of the
U.S. in Stockholm.
Chinese
New Years
http://www.chineseparade.com/parade/about/about.asp
You can keep celebrating New Years almost all year long.
The Chinese New Year is celebrated later in the winter.
This Web site will give you information about the Chinese
New Year Parade coming up in San Francisco on February
7, 2004. A section on history and culture is included.
This will be the Year of the Monkey.
A
History of New Year's Celebrations
http://wilstar.com/holidays/newyear.htm
Living
in Japan -- New Year
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2064.html
Learn all about Japan's three-day New Year's celebration
-- and about "bonenkai parties ('year forgetting
parties') held with the purpose of leaving the old year's
worries and troubles behind."
History
of New Year's Day
http://www.birthdayexpress.com/bexpress/
planning/NewYearsDay.asp
Learn about the traditions of Western Society and New
Years around the world.
How
to Keep Your New Year's Resolution
http://www.how-to-keep-your-new-years-resolution.com/
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