Our best mate Maggie!

Another idea I took from Megan's seminar... 'A classroom friend'.
Megan also spoke of letting the children get to know you as a person. This struck me as I have always been very careful to keep my private life very separate. And of course that will always be the case there are some things that I won't share. However, it did make me think... these are the people I spend most of my time with it made no sense to keep myself so private.

I integrated these 2 concepts.

I have created a 'classroom friend' based on my childhood pet, a dog named Maggie.
I introduced Maggie to the class. Inside her book is a simple story about her...

When I was a little girl I had a dog named Maggie. She was a cocker spaniel and looked alot like the toy dog accompanying this book.

She was my best friend. Sometimes... on very cold nights she'd sleep at the end of my bed. She'd wake me in the morning with her smelly dog breath.

Her favourite game was fetch the stick and she loved to chew on the lamb roast shank on Sunday's after lunch.

It then explained that Maggie would be a guest in the children's homes and the children would share what Maggie did in the book. I also integrated this with a unit we are doing in C.O.G.S this term and suggested that the children focus on any machines Maggie comes across whilst on her visit.

I have to admit I was hesitant... I was worried the children would think it a little 'childish'... however I thought it was cute and wanted to try it... project more of 'myself' and what I like so to speak. And hey guess what... they loved it. I have children begging me asking when it's their turn to take Maggie home.

Just think about how the children are going to learn about each other as well. I think this goes really well with the 'values' education we are also teaching... values such as acceptance!

So there ya go... another simple idea and cheap as chips with no huge preparation time (The toy cost $10, scrap book $2.50).

And also a lovely addition to the class :)