A Book

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Home : 2002 : January : 16

A Book
By Sharon D.WL

I agree with Kelly as long as you are OK with attending these functions and the family has not limited those attending. some families are more private then others. I went to the funeral of a student's mother last year and
also sent a card. I also make a point to read a book in class during that week to my first graders. Some will "know" what has happened. Some will not. I also re-read the book once the student involved returns. We usually re-read our stories 2 or 3 times so this is not unusual.
The book I use is called The Tenth Good Thing About Barney (A boy loses his pet.) by Judith Vorist

(SP?). I used it last year as well.

We had a suicide this year that was a student's uncle. I got one note from a mother who said she did not want her child (another studnet) to know about it. I explained that I myself would not talk about the dealth per say but that as a class we would be reading the book. Children do talk and I wanted the mother to understand that the topic/subject might come up.

The girl did ask me why the boy was not in class. Instead of answering her question I asked a question... Why do you think ______ is not here today? She said she didn't know. I did write a note to the mom to let her know that her daughter did ask. I feel she knew something was going on.