Morning Message Ideas

Pictures

Here are some pictures of ideas that might be helpful!

Break Activities

One of the things I'm trying to do this year is to give my students short breaks in the day.  I know I won't remember all of the activities unless I have them at my fingertips, so I made a notecard for each activity I chose from the Responsive Classroom website.  On one side I have an address label describing the activity.  The other side has the name of the activity and a picture.  I have also made a book of song lyrics on large construction paper for activities where the students need to be able to follow along.

Here are the links to these documents:

Pictures

Lyrics Used to Make Songbook

Labels

Books for Teaching C.A.R.E.S.

Here is a list of books for teaching each of the C.A.R.E.S. social skills.  The books with a * are books that I own, in case you want to borrow them.


Cooperation:
* The Patchwork Quilt by Valerie Flournoy
Swimmy by Leo Lionni
Today I Will Fly by Mo Willems
The Crayon Box That Talked by Shane DeRolf
Stone Soup
*It’s Mine by Leo Lionni

Assertion:
*Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell
*A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon

Responsibility:
Arthur’s New Puppy by Marc Brown
Pigsty by Mark Teague
*Strega Nona by Tomie dePaola
Brave Irene by William Steig
 
Empathy:
Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge by Mem Fox
Grandfather’s Journey by Allen Say
*Agate by Joy Moran Dey
*Hooway for Wodney Wat by Helen Lester
 
Self-Control:
*Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes
Sit Still by Nancy Carlson
*My Mouth is A Volcano by Julia Cook
Olivia by Ian Falconer

If you have any suggestions, particularly for assertion books, I would love to hear them!

Books for Hopes and Dreams, Logical Consequences, and Take a Break

Here are some great books to use at the beginning of the year for introducing hopes and dreams, logical consequences, and take a break.

Hopes and Dreams

• ish by Peter Reynolds
• The Dot by Peter Reynolds
• Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman
• Agate by Joy Morgan Dey
• Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney
• A Chair for my Mother by Vera Williams
• Leo the Late Bloomer by Robert Kraus

Logical Consequences

• Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes
• Willy the Wimp by Anthony Browne

Take a Break

• A Quiet Place by Douglas Wood
• Howard B. Wigglebottom Learns to Listen by Howard Binkow

These are all great books to use as read alouds to help the students get a better grasp on these subjects!

RC Routines and Letter

These links should work to my documents.

First weeks break down: http://www.scribd.com/RC-Routines-Begin-of-Year/d/36024407

Parent Letter: http://www.scribd.com/doc/36024529/Responsive-Classroom-Letter

Books for C.A.R.E.S.

I want to teach the CARES aspect of responsive classrooms early in the school year. What are some good picture books to use to teach those social skills. Thanks! I cannot wait to learn from all of your great ideas!