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8-29-00On our home visits my assistant and I have a very special "friend" with us, Max. He's a stuffed teddy bear who just happens to be wearing a back-pack and is ready to start school! The children just gravitate towards him and some what to hold him and play with him thru out the visit. I tell them that "Max" will be in the class on the first day and every day there after and that he "moves" around the class room all the time, I never know where he is. They come in and look all over, when someone finds him they usually yell out "I've found Max!" It really helped some of the children who were a little unsure of leaving Moms in the morning! They love the idea and come in everyday and look. I make sure I move him around alot! At the end of the year it had been so much fun for the class that the kids started to "hide" Max all around the room! Then they want the teachers to "find" Max! It was a really good year long activity. Max would come with us outside for walks and on field trips. He would be there for a child who was a little sad and needed some rest time! On the last day we took pictures and guess who was smack in the middle of the class photo?........You got it, Max!
8-27-00We do our home visits before school starts. This year I brought along the book Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see? by Eric Carle. We read the book and noted the teacher and children at the end of the book. I then explained to the child I was visiting that we were going to create our own version of this book. We called it Mrs. Garvue, Mrs. Garvue who do you see? I then explained that each child I my class would get to do a picture of themselves to go in the book. We used the similar repetition found in the orginal story. We just adapted it to our class. The children each drew a picture of themselves. I wrote the words ________, ________ who do you see? I see_________________looking at me. the blanks are filled in with the appropriate child's name and ON the back I put a picture of the child taken at home visits. Once the book is compiled I photocopy it and send a copy home with each child the first week of school. The parents love this it helps them to put the faces and names of their child's classmates together.
8-21-00When setting up the home visit with the parents, I ask the parent to do a simple activity with their child. I ask them to write a list with their child (in their own words) of what they would like to do when I come to their home. This is a great activity to encourage early literacy, get the parent involved and help the child have a plan just in case they are a little anxious about the visit.
8-21-00I take a bag along with three items inside. The child is immediately interested and will usually come and sit by you to see what's inside. I show them a music box because I love music. I le them try it. Then I pull out a plastic apple with stickers inside. I tell them I love apples and give them a sticker. The last item is a cross because I love Jesus and Jesus loves me and them. I give them a bag of their own and ask them to bring it back with 3 items inside that tell about them. At show and tell time they get to share what they brought. The children love it and its a great way to get children to open up with their teacher and their friends.
8-21-00We go on home visits before school starts. I take along a book this year Eric Carle, Head to Toe and read it with the family. They can keep the book. When the first day of school arrives I read that book at circle. The children are thrilled to talk about who gave them that book (me of course) find out that their classmates have the book also and they can act out the book to make circle time even more fun.
8-21-00Each year I do home visits with each family before school starts. While I'm in their home, I fill out a page with the child that asks a couple of simple questions, such as your name, favorite color, number of people in family etc. I then take a picture of each child and attach it to their page. These pages are slipped into page protectors and put into a notebook labeled "Meet The Cubs" (our class name). I then rotate the book home over night with each child. When the book has had a visit in every home it is left in the reading area for the remainder of the year. It is by far the children's favorite book! This activity is great for promoting self esteem, name recognition and a sense of belonging to a group.
8-15-00Prior to a home visit send a letter to the child. Let them know that you will be coming to visit and ask them if you can see their room when you get there. Allow them to show you their personal space. You can learn a lot about the child by seeing the things in their room and they love showing it to you.
7-15-00A great idea for a home visit is the pattern name necklace. Materials: different colored straws, scissors, yarn, nametag. We have the parent do this with the child and have the child wear it to school on the first day. Have the child select 2 different colored straws, cut into small pieces, and put on the yarn in an ABAB pattern. Have Mom or Dad help hold or knot the string. Put the nametag in the middle of the necklace. You could also put a piece of magnetic tape on the back and the child could use it as a refrigerator magnet after the first day of school. It's a fun activity and also a great way to help us remember their names on the first day! You could also have the child decorate his nametag with his favorite things or classroom symbol to make it unique and special. Bring extras for siblings.
7-15-00This is a high tech option for a fun low tech idea! You can do your home visits, and take pictures of the children as usual, digitally if you have a digital camera. Have the children do a self portrait, and tell you their favorite food, and color. After the home visits you download your information into your computer and create a Power Point or Presentation presentation for the kids to watch on the first day of school. If you have an LCD pad, or a hook up to a TV screen it would be easier for the kids to see.
7-12-00I do home visits as part of a transition process when our toddlers are transitioning to a center. I bring a small photo album that shows activities in school to read with the child. The last page of the book has a small school photo of the child's new teacher with a magnet on the back for them to keep and put on their refrigerator. It helps them get to know who their teacher will be when they come to school for the first time.
1-3-00On my first home visit, my partner and I try to spend 1/2 the time with the parent and 1/2 the time with the child. One very successful ice breaker has been our Bedroom Book. With the parent's permission (of course!) I take a picture of the children in their special place in their home -- their bedroom. From these pictures, I create a poster to hang near the door. It's the first thing the children see when they come to school and makes them very comfortable. They usually have a lot to share about their pictures. We write down their 1-3-00s and use them later to create a class book. Our first unit then follows from this first home visit.A later, successful home visit, actually came from friend's experience. Once the children are use to her coming into their homes, she makes playdough with them. It doesn't really take long and gives the parents an inexpensive activity to do with their children in the future.
Date: 7-27-99For each home visit, I bring some crayons and paper, 3 books, finger puppets and some stickers. I visit with the child for about 30 minutes. When I phoned the home prior to the visit to set up the meeting, I request that the mom have a baby picture ready for me, a recent photo of the child and photos of the family - for me to take home with me. I ask that the mom allows the child to be included in the selection of photos that will be given to me. On the day of the meeting, I read to the child, I ask what their favorite food is and then ask them to color with their favorite color of crayon. After all the visits are completed, I make an "All About Me" album. I take a large piece of white construction paper and place the baby photo, the recent photo and the family photo. I also glue the picture they drew for me with their favorite color of crayon, and I cut pictures out of a magazine of their favorite foods. This then becomes their page. I clear contact each page and turn it into a flip book. At circle time, we use this book to help the children get acquainted. It works like a charm. At the end of the year, I return the page to each child. Date: 6-28-99Home visiting is one of the most successful ways of reducing first day separation anxiety. Once you have been at a child's home (prior to school beginning), you have bridged the gap between home and school. The child already has trust in you before their first day! On your home visits, try making up a literacy pack. This would be a back pack with books, flannel stories, games, art etc. You go through the literacy pack with the child AND the parents during the visit. ( I also include a list of what is in the pack and a list of extension literacy ideas). Ask the parent to take a picture (you bring a camera!!) of you and the child. You also take a picture of the parents and the child. On the first day of school, the child brings in the literacy pack and you have the pictures hung on a bulletin board for them to see. Example of a Literacy Pack: Literacy Pack Name: Blue's Clues Materials included: Blue stuffed animal Board books of Blue's Clues Flannel pieces (some uncut for children to make their own story from and some precut into Blue and other story characters) Construction paper scissors glue stick Blue's Clues puzzles Pre made journal(for family to write in about their activities with Blue) Put a list of materials in the pack. Also put in a list of activity ideas. I write them on recipe cards and place the activities in a small, handsize photo album. The packs do not have to be TV related, this is just one example. Be creative. Take children's interested and turn them into an opportunity for encouraging literacy skills. Your ideas may be theme related (Farm animals, alphabet), Book related (Chicka Chicka Boom Boom) or very open ended (Creative arts, Everything Grows and Grows)...the possibilities are endless!! The children and parents love the literacy packs. I have a classroom of 12 children. It took some time to put together 12 packs but it was well worth the time and effort. We rotate the packs all year long, one for each child each week. The parents now give me ideas on new packs and donate materials and ideas to put in them. Date: 4-18-99Take along some games or activities that the parent and child can make together and keep. A good example of this is file folder games. take along the copied pages, a file and some contact paper as well as a finished one to show as an example of a finished game. This will give the parent a chance for parent involvement and some supplies for them to work with their child. Date: 1-10-99My assistant and I thought a photo would be helpful for the children to become familiar with us, and it would help them remember our names! My assistant made inexpensive picture frames using cardboard,fabric, and magnetic strips. We toted along a Polaroid camera and, with willing students, had parents snap a picture of us with the child. We just taped the photo to the frame and the children put their pictures on their fridge. It was very helpful. By the time the first day of school arrived, several weeks later, the children were totally comfortable with us and had no problem separating from parents. :) Name: Date: 1-7-99On home visits, I take a Polaroid camera and take 2 pictures of the child. one of them I let them keep and the other I glue onto a possible stick. Each morning, they come in to class and place their picture into a holder with there name on our "Who's Here" board. Each child has a special color/shape to help them identify where there name is on the chart. Now, they always come in and know exactly where to place their picture. 10-25-98 Name: Sue 9-28-98 Name: Nancy 8-26-98 Name: Jean E-Mail: mjg74@dfsi.net Take along an assortment of colors and types of drawing paper with you when you go on your beginning of school home visits. This helps you and the children to become acquainted with one another as you draw and chat together and also gives you some of the children's work to take with you and display in the classroom. It is a good idea to let the children choose two pieces of paper. This way, they will usually make two drawings and you can ask them if they will let you take one with you when you leave. They usually like to give you one and keep one at home with them. On the first day of school, the children and parents are delighted to see their "work" already displayed. Your classroom also will look more cheerful and inviting with the children's work on the walls. Also, I like to take a photograph of the children alone and another of them with their family members while on the home visits. You can use the photos in a variety of ways to make your classroom more inviting and comfortable for the children. The children's photos can be used on message/attendance/helper charts and with your back-to-school bulletin boards. The family photos are nice to display at child's eye level on a "Family Board"and in "About Me" photo albums or books you make. You will want to get reprints of the photos as you will want to use them in various ways. Be sure and get permission to photograph from the families and explain to them what you plan to use them for. Hope everyone has a HAPPY NEW SCHOOL YEAR. 8-26-98 Name: Donna E-Mail: dlgjchakar@msn.com I have recently begun using a website called trip quest (www.tripquest.com) to direct me to the homes I need to visit. It gives you door to door directions using both text and maps. Just enter where you are going and from where you are leaving. It takes all of the guess work and anxiety out of finding the home and lets you concentrate on your job! 8-18-98 Name: annette E-Mail: myke_annette@hotmail.com When I go to do homevisits I take an album that I have created over the years filled with pictures of all the fun things that we will do together. The children love to see other children doing different things. When the children arrive I take pictures of trips,centers etc. and create a new album. This is then left on display for the year and added to with my photos and photos parents send in. The children love being able to look through this. Then next home visit I take the new album. For kids coming in they sometimes recognize their siblings and this is a great thrill for them. 8-9-98 Daylene Do's and Don'ts For Home Visitors Do's
Don'ts
8-8-98 Name: Lisa E-Mail: lisa.kelly@ncx.com On home visits, I take a camera and photograph the child with his/her family, pets, stuffed animals, etc. At school, I put the picture in the child's cubbie and if the child has a tough day or is missing someone, we look at it together and talk about all the comforting images in it. This has been helpful MANY times! 7-1-98 Name: Debbie E-Mail: rhasson1@netsync.net I take a tape recorder along on home visits. I use it in between visits, usually on the drive to the next. I record my observations, parent questions, comments or concerns. This makes it easier for me when I have made so many visits each day. Later I play back the recording and make appropriate memos or recorded observations. 6-18-98 Name: JULIE E-Mail: duboisj2@ocps.k12.fl.us Before my visits, I send a welcoming postcard to the child.I attach a balloon to the note and ask the family to hang the balloon on their door or mailbox so I can find them easily! 2-13-98 Name: Debbie E-Mail: rhasson1@netsync.net One idea is to photcopy a picture of yourself and mail this to your homes. Also included should be a letter introducing yourself and any other support staff. You can also tell the families what the visit will entail...such as: What are your goals for your child, any fears, favorite toys and activities, allergies, questions or concerns they may have, emergency numbers...anything. If you can, bring a camera and take a picture of the child to label their "cubbies" at school. If possible, videotape the child and have a special "movie" with popcorn the first day of school. (You should let the families know you will be taking pictures ahead of time.) Name: Emily E-Mail: eebrand2@pe.net When I do my first home visit I take a matching game with me for each child. Take along extra for siblings if possible. I make these games myself so the cost isn't too bad. This year I made matching baseballs and baseball mitts of various colors. I wrote the name of the color on the mitt in both Spanish and English. During the visit I gave the child the game and asked him what the colors were and if he could match the baseballs to the mitt. This gift enables parents to work with their child. It also helps them to realize that I see them as a valuable partner in their childs education. On the second home visit I take self portraits which the child has made since the beginning of the year. Usually at least three. This shows the parents some of the developmental growth their child has achieved. Example from scribbling to making a circle to adding eyes, nose, or mouth. Name: crystal E-Mail: greenman@io.com When I go on home visit, I take a picture and crayons for the child to color while I visit with Mom. Then I give them a homemade magnet for them to use to hang their just finished picture on their refrigerator. I tell them to use this magnet for all the other great art pictures that they will be bringing home from school. The parents really love it. area: Submitted by: Daylene E-mail: aactchrday@aol.com When I was doing home visits, I would visit two or three homes in one day. Even though I was a native of Phoenix, at times it was difficult to find some of the homes. Also, I found that some parents did not give the best directions. Many times, I would get lost which would throw off my home visit schedule. To solve this, I went to the library and copied the street maps out of The Thomas Guide. For each home I visited, I copied the corresponding map and then traced my route from the school to the home with a highlighter. Finally, I would attach the map to all of my paperwork that I was taking to the home. Submitted by: Daylene E-mail: aactchrday@aol.com Some tips for a successful home visit:
Submitted by: KC028 E-Mail: KC028@aol.com I also do home visits (but I do mine in August before our pre-school session starts)--they are not required, but it gives me an edge with: a) home life, b) child's support system and discipline, c) the child seeing my face and hearing my voice (for most of my guys, this is there first school experience and separation from parents). I go to the home fully equipped with a snack (enough for siblings also), books, small puzzles (I get an early idea of what the child can already accomplish!) and a Polaroid camera. Two pictures are taken: one for his/her refrigerator (to keep my face fresh in his mind <poor kid!!>) and one for my file so I can easily pick him out of the crowd when school begins! I also use this time to ease Mom/Dad's minds and answer any questions that have come up since they signed their child up at our school (yes, we have an open house when school starts, but sometimes certain personal queries arise and it's easier to deal with on their turf than in front of other parents). The visit takes no more than 20 min. to 1/2 hour, so I can meet with 4-5 families in a morning and still have the summer afternoons for myself and my family.
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