SPECIAL SECTION: Getting Parents Involved

Teaching Pre K-8, Nov/Dec 2004 by Meagher, Sandy

Parents are always willing to help. In the past, parents have shared their interests, hobbies and careers. A mom who was a great quilter read a chapter of The Quilt by Gary Paulsen (Random House, 2004, ISBN: 0-385-72950-2). Samples of quilts and a demonstration of quilting were of interest to the students and also gave them ideas for their own writing because, in the Paulsen novel, the quilt tells the truth about happiness, pain, courage, joy and loss in the life of a family.

Some moms who are great at crafts presented holiday crafts to make. A super new book is Nick Jr.'s I Made it Myself! Christmas: 38 Crafts and Recipes (Chronicle Books, 2004, ISBN: 0-811-84420-X). Third grade through fifth grade students took an interest in cooking on their own and making holiday gifts. Have your students bring in a craft they've made or teach the class to make a necklace (for girls or boys), knit a scarf or make some other treasure.

Have a wonderful celebration!