Last year, I had enough. Not only were my 2-3 grade students obsessed with dating one another and getting themselves into awkward love triangles, but their lack of self-esteem was exhausting to witness. I decided to take a non-traditional spin on Valentine’s Day to distract from the romance and focus on a much needed concept – and I’ll never go back!
Read alouds
I like to set up the day with a clear focus on how we are celebrating the holiday – all the amazing strengths we have, and reasons why we love ourselves. Here are three books I read last year, and will be staples on Valentine’s Day in our classroom this year, too.
Interactive Activity
Have you ever read the book The Best Part of Me
by Wendy Ewald? It’s a BEAUTIFUL book with photographs of real kids sharing their favorite parts about themselves. It is such a perfect way to highlight our strengths, the important features of our bodies, and to highlight self-love. It’s also a fun way to talk about writers craft! I will be using this template, available as a *freebie* in my TPT store, to guide us through the process!
by Wendy Ewald? It’s a BEAUTIFUL book with photographs of real kids sharing their favorite parts about themselves. It is such a perfect way to highlight our strengths, the important features of our bodies, and to highlight self-love. It’s also a fun way to talk about writers craft! I will be using this template, available as a *freebie* in my TPT store, to guide us through the process!
I also love this idea, that I’ll be incorporating this year – a heart map. Students brainstorm the things, people, and concepts that take up the most “room” in their heart and make them tick, and share it through words or pictures.
I love this freebie I found on TPT…
and this sweet picture from The Silver Lining in Teaching!
Will we still eat chocolates and pass out Valentine cards? Yes! As a teacher, I feel this is a perfect time to begin developing and focusing on the importance of self-esteem on a holiday that so many ADULTS feel like can only be celebrated if you are coupled up.
True story: last year, I had a 3rd grade boy who was inconsolable for the majority of Valentine’s Day because he was single! AHH!
May your Valentine’s Day be filled with sweetness and limited child-romance drama!
Love,
Allie
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