Treasure Blocks

Last Friday(8/31)  we started sharing our "Treasure Blocks".  When students share their "Treasure Blocks" they sit in the "teacher/sharing chair" and work on their public speaking skills by using a microphone to share their most "treasured moments".  In the mean time, the students are learning to be good listeners, learning how to ask questions,  and I  document the information learned on a web.

Grace sharing her "Treasure Block" and to the right you can see her web.  

Here is another example of a web we created to document what we learned about Levi.

Once the child has finished sharing about themselves, all the students in the classroom think of one thing they have learned about the student.  At this point in time, it is my job to help the students to begin "painting a picture in their brains".  For example, when Grace shared, we talked about illustrating Grace dressing up in a Cinderella dress because she loves princesses.  We also talked about illustrating Grace in ballet class with her favorite type of black nail polish.  We are very proud that the students are beginning to come up with their own illustration ideas and suggestions.

When they have "painted an idea in their brains" it's time to get to work.  Every student gets a small piece of paper with the child's name on it and a blank piece of white paper.  The students cut the letters apart, scramble them up and practice using their resources (the students web, the child's name tag, or the child's name written around the room) to put the name back together again.

Maesyn is showing us below how she cut Grace's name apart and glued it back together!

Once the students have completed their task of cutting and pasting the name back together they begin to illustrate.  I can't believe how much their illustrating skills have come just since we have begun the process of sharing our "Treasure Blocks" one week ago.  We went from the students illustrating blue and purple people to now students wanting to find the child's appropriate "skin color".

                                                                        (HOW EXCITING!!!  I went to Lakeshore teacher store and found these "People Colors Crayons".  We have enjoyed finding our "color" of crayons.  It's also great to hear the students talking about colors like "Toast" and "Chestnut" rather than simply "black, brown, and "white".)

Here are a few picture of the students illustrating their friends. 

Grace illustrating her own self portrait.

Now that we are getting the hang of cutting, looking for resources, gluing, and illustrating, the next step has been to begin labeling.  As we start this process, students begin by drawing a line from the person and adding the students name as a label. 

Below, you can see Ian labeling Grace's name on his illustration.  

As we get the hang of labeling our friends name we will begin to label other things in our illustration.  Below you can see Kristen labeling Grace and her "Prince" as she drew Grace dressing up as a princess.  

At the end of the day, we compile all the illustrations into a book for that person.  As for the child who shared, we are keeping their illustration to make them into a class book.  We will be sure to send these pages home later.  

We are thrilled to learn about new friends next week.  

Thank you all for sending in your "Treasure Blocks" early and on time!   

Mrs. Julie Atkin