The first school week brings different feelings, like excitement or worry. With many new faces and places, it is important for teachers to create a positive environment. Students thrive when they learn and feel good. “Chrysanthemum” by Kevin Henkes is a great way to do this. This story makes a friendly classroom from the start.
Using this book can help students gain many skills:
1. Build Confidence:
To begin with, “Chrysanthemum” teaches about feeling good about yourself and handling teasing. In class, teachers can engage students in discussions about their differences. This can help them feel better about themselves and start the school year with confidence.
(In the activity shown above in my Chrysanthemum Back to School Pack, students spend time meeting their classmates. After meeting each classmate, the students create a graph depicting the number of letters in each student’s name. It’s a great way for students to meet all of their classmates, while also integrating reading and math.)
2. Cultivate Empathy:
Similarly, through the story students will discover the importance of empathy, kindness, and respect for others. Engaging activities will encourage discussions on the power of empathy. This will prompt a supportive and inclusive classroom environment.
3. Strengthen Literacy Skills:
Without a doubt, the activities included in my back to school pack seamlessly integrate reading comprehension and vocabulary. Students will have the chance to enhance their literacy skills through creative writing tasks, .
(The Chrysanthemum Pack also includes printables with three different writing prompts. The different lined options make it suitable for students of different academic levels.)
4. Foster a Love for Reading:
Additionally, “Chrysanthemum” showcases the joy of reading and the magic of storytelling.
5. Encourage Classroom Connections:
While reading “Chrysanthemum,” students will engage in collaborative activities. They’ll become friends and feel close in the class. Talking in groups and working as a team will help them get along and be social. All in all, this will make going back to school easy and fun.
In conclusion, the first week of school is important. Teachers can use “Chrysanthemum” to create a positive atmosphere. Tell students to be themselves, embrace differences, and respect others. They can remember lessons from this story all year, which helps them understand empathy and acceptance.
Grab my Chrysanthemum Back to School pack from my TeachersPayTeachers store. It comes with FIVE unique activities:
