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Home : 2003 : Feb : 12

    book party
    By stefanie
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    Every year my students write their own books. We base it on an author study of Eric Carle, and the students choose an animal, research the animal (with help), write their book, I edit, they rewrite, then we illustrate. The cover illustration is done in the collage style Eric Carle uses (the video "Eric Carle: Picture Writer" is great -- he shows all the steps. I use typing paper instead of tissue paper, though -- I have been the tissue paper route, and it is not good!)I laminate all pages and bind books on a binder.
    I plan this so that the children make two identical books each: one for them and one for me. I keep my copy in my room in a center, and my former students become "stars" when my current first graders fall in love with a book one of the older ones have written. I call my party a "book party", but a "tea" would be the same. The following is the routine I have developed and like.
    1. Secure our school library for a time.
    2. Send home invitations telling time and place. I send home two or three invitations; one for immediate family, and one for extended family and friends. Everyone who wishes to come is invited. Secure extra people for those who inevitably will have no one: janitorial staff, high school, or college students.
    3. Secure refreshments: We have a Subway that has adopted our school and they always give me 75 cookies. Wal-mart donates a cake. I make punch. Have plates, napkins, and cups handy. This year I may just do cookies and punch, omit need for plates.
    4. Put books in different categories: friendship, family, etc. Then, make certificate awards for each child with the category on them.
    I also secure coupons from area businesses to go with the certificate.
    5. I practice the following program with the children one time so they will be accustomed to the routine.
    6. On party day, our program consists of a welcome, we say the pledge, sing some songs that are special to us. I give an explanation of the project and present awards. I DO NOT ALLOW CHILDREN TO READ THEIR BOOKS TO THE WHOLE GROUP. Parents only want to hear their own child, truly, so I dismiss them to go to a spot in the library all their own (I set this up beforehand according to their number of guests). Children read their books only to their guests.
    7. After reading, all are invited back to our room for refreshments.

    This may seem like a lot, but it truly gets easier everytime. It is the single most rewarding thing I do because it promotes literacy in the family and celebrates the many leaps and bounds in their growth in first grade. PLEASE let me know if this helps you.


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