Our Class Mission
Here are our class mascots Mimzy (Bunny) and Orville (Pig) showcasing our class mission statements.
- << Nous sommes fiers de parler français >> (We are proud to speak French)
- << Soyez proactif partout >> ( Be proactive all the time)
- << Respectez les idées des autres >> (Respect everyones ideas)
Journal de voyage
Mimzy the traveling Bunny!
From the first day of school, this cute, stuffed bunny makes her presence known. She greets the students in the morning, travels around the classroom helping out, and joins the students on the carpet during calendar and read-aloud time. Mimzy spends the first half of the school year embedding herself as an important member of our classroom community.
During the second half of the year, when my students have become more proficient writers, Mimzy becomes more than a stuffed animal. Mimzy is "fluent" in French and inspires the students to learn french just like her. She becomes a tool to help inspire students to learn french and share their new language skills with their families.
Their job will be to take Mimzy home with them in order to show her what happens in the real world and practice their french skills as home, and of course they will need to write about their adventures. I show my students Mimzy’s journal and her travel bag. Whenever Mimzy returns, the class is always eager to hear her guardian read their journal entries aloud to the class, and they especially love seeing the pictures of what Mimzy has been up to.
I’ve discovered that the excitement of taking Mimzy home transforms many writers from reluctant to prolific. With Mimzy acting as a springboard, students who normally struggle speak in class come back eager to share their adventures. I love it so much because of the excitement and enthusiasm it generates on a weekly basis and parents do too!
During the second half of the year, when my students have become more proficient writers, Mimzy becomes more than a stuffed animal. Mimzy is "fluent" in French and inspires the students to learn french just like her. She becomes a tool to help inspire students to learn french and share their new language skills with their families.
Their job will be to take Mimzy home with them in order to show her what happens in the real world and practice their french skills as home, and of course they will need to write about their adventures. I show my students Mimzy’s journal and her travel bag. Whenever Mimzy returns, the class is always eager to hear her guardian read their journal entries aloud to the class, and they especially love seeing the pictures of what Mimzy has been up to.
I’ve discovered that the excitement of taking Mimzy home transforms many writers from reluctant to prolific. With Mimzy acting as a springboard, students who normally struggle speak in class come back eager to share their adventures. I love it so much because of the excitement and enthusiasm it generates on a weekly basis and parents do too!
Orville
Having a buddy in the classroom is very important for the littles. Once introduced to Orville they were so happy to read aloud to him or work with him at their desk. He is a great tool to have in the classroom because kids are not self-conscious about stumbling over words when reading to a stuffed friend, and for speed-demon page-flippers, reading aloud is a good strategy to slow them down to a comprehension-friendly pace.
I also love using stuffed characters for social emotional support. For example, students can grab Orville and move to a different place in the classroom to chat with or cuddle while they cool-down or like a hall pass walk to the water fountain if emotions flare too high. Learning a new language can be frustrating. Sure, stuffed animals are cutesy and not going to revolutionize reading instruction. But anything that helps young readers and writers joyfully embrace their roles is worth exploring. |