Crumpled Heart

To encourage kind thoughts and words in her classroom, Cheri Winton Gaetz cuts a paper heart out of red construction paper. She demonstrates crumpling it up and then trying to open it and smooth out all the wrinkles. Cheri reminds her children that when they say something unkind or hurt a friend it crumples their heart. And once their heart is crumpled, it won’t ever be quite the same. Throughout the year, Cheri keeps children kind by reminding them about the crumpled heart.

Memory Book

Here’s a great idea for saving all those love notes and pictures the children draw you each year. Get a three ring notebook and punch holes in those special notes. Keep the book in the classroom library so children will know you treasure what they make for you and they can enjoy what their friends give you as well.

Signing the Pledge

Most children can recite the Pledge of Allegiance, although the words have no meaning. A teacher once told me a funny story about the pledge. She noticed most of the children fidgeted and were disinterested when they said the pledge, but one little girl was always so enthusiastic. One day the teacher listened closely to what the little girl was saying, and this is what she heard instead of “With liberty and justice for all”, the little girl said, “With lollipops and jello for all”! Children will be much more engaged and focused if you will teach them how to do the pledge in sign language. This would also be a great opportunity to develop vocabulary and talk about the meaning of “liberty,” “justice,” “republic,” and other words.

The Pledge of Allegiance
(Visit the American Sign Language web site for clarification)