Building Bridges with Children and Their Families -

Family Bottle –

Collect clear, plastic bottles (from water or soda) and give one to each child when they come to register or on the first day of school. Ask them to fill the bottle with cut out photographs of family members and other small trinkets and mementos. Have children bring their bottles to school the first day and use them for “show and tell.” Store the bottles in a basket and when children are a little sad or homesick, tell them to get their family bottle and it will make them feel better.

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Business Cards –

Use your computer to help children design personal business cards. Include the child’s name, school, teacher’s name, and a graphic of their choice. Print on cardstock, cut apart, and have children distribute them to family members, neighbors, and friends. They will be so impressed!

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Daily Schedule –

Write your daily schedule on a language experience chart. (You can also write routines on sentence strips and use with a pocket chart.) Take photographs of children during the day to illustrate the different activities. Review the schedule frequently during the first weeks of school to help children learn the schedule and routine

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