Special Person of the Week!

This post is going to share with you how I do the Special Person of the Week in my class.

Word Work

I always spend a significant amount of time talking about the Special Person's name. We make a list of all the things we notice about that person's name. We also compare their name to another classmate's name.

Used To

When I used to make the Special Person book, I would have the students each draw a picture of the Special Person.  The Special Person's name is written at the top, and then students would write a compliment, on the bottom. 

I would have lots of conversations about that person but when the students went to write their compliment they were all the same... I like you. You're nice. They struggled with writing compliments.

Now  


At Back to School Night, I give everyone a date of when their child is the Special Person. 


(letter to parents)

Each week, a child will be our “Special Person of the Week”. On Friday, your child will be given a questionnaire to complete and return to school on Monday. Along with the completed form, they will bring five photos of special times in their lives to be hung on the “Special Person” bulletin board. Parents or other family members can be guest readers during the child’s week. Guest readers will read a favorite book to the class at the start of the day. If this time does not work with your schedule, we can always find another time during the week.

I put a limit to how many pictures to send in because one year I was getting over forty pictures from families. You can find the questions and book template at the bottom of this post.

There is a second page with a few more questions

Making the Class Book

I have the Special Person sit in a chair, and we share their pictures. We then read all the questions and answers together. The group sits and listens. 

After, I call out each page and pass them out. Each child makes a page for the book.

I am always surprised that the students remember the answers. If they forget they, find the Special Person and ask.

Reflection

 It can be tricky for kindergarteners to figure out where to put the words on their page, but with repeated practice, they get it!  

I think this book is something that if a child were to read it years from now, they would have a book full of childhood memories. 
Students are so proud and excited to take home their books and READ them.

I have the Special Person draw their face in the box. 
At the top of the page,  I put the first letter of the Special Person M...is for Mary.

Extension

 I recently took a course on Thinking Maps. If you ever have the opportunity to take a course/class, I strongly recommend it.  I am going to add a Bubble Thinking Map about the Special Person. I think this will be a great way to help kindergarteners learn about adjectives in an appropriate way.

 If you come up with a question that I don't have on my list, I would love to hear from you.

Click here for the questions and book