student moving

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Home : 2003 : January : 4

student moving
By Tia

I would advise against a party--what will happen when you have a child show up and say, "Today is my last day"? That child might feel slighted. (This is a common occurrence at my school--we have a good-sized population
of migratory students.)
What I do for students who are leaving is something that can be pulled together in one day. I took a class photo at the beginning of the year and saved it to a disc. I find an ancillary staff member (I usually start with the counselor--she can do a little "sorry you're moving; here are some coping skills" talk) who can take the moving child for 15-20 minutes.

I've had the secretary do it--"So, where are you moving? What school will you be going to?..." and my teaching partner has even offered to help if I can't find someone.

While the child is out of the room, I pass out sheets of construction paper. (I cut the long white paper in half and then in half again, so the pieces are about 4.5 X 11 in.) I then have the class write a note and draw and color a picture on the front side--avoiding the top 1/4 inch of the paper (horizontally oriented). They have to give good wishes, make positive comments, and write their name. I organize those, print a copy of the class photo, write a page myself, give the student our email address, and create a cover that reads Goodby, ____________. At recess I bind the book with a binding comb. At the end of the day, we say goodbys, and I present the book to the student. The children really cherish the books, and it's a positive note on their leaving.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do!