Google Voice

I recently set up a Google Voice account. With Angie's help it was so quick and easy! I sent an email to my students' families, requesting that they call in, state their name, and then tell me how they can show caring. Caring is our school's character word of the month. We don't have many days in December, plus there is a LOT of assessment and holiday activities. We don't often get a lot of opportunities to explore what caring means and how we can show it: especially in half day kindergarten!
I posted the phone number and an example of what I was looking for on my blog. I played the example in class and told my students that when they went home they should talk to their mom or dad and call in. I had 7 students call in out of 21. Not wonderful odds, but the content of what I received was so touching. To hear, directly from a 5 year old, how they can help their mom around the house or play with their sibling is very touching.
I played several of the examples in class and the students cheered for each other as if they were celebrities! It was a wonderful way for students to build each other up and show that they care for one another. I love that it allowed many of my students, who can not always communicate through writing, a chance to share their great ideas!! I plan on doing it again, but changing the activity to reading a list of 5 sight words, or read the attached sentence. I hope to post more great results on my blog!