Our New Class Buddy

Happy 3 day weekend everyone!! I am so excited because my big sister is here visiting with her kids from Colorado:) My niece is in her senior year of high school and is taking a look at the Manoa campus here on Oahu. It would be so fun if she came to school out here, and she would have family near by:))  My daughters adore her and her brother who is 15. Since we have moved to the islands I don't see my family as much and the cousins aren't as close as I would like them to be.  My niece and nephew are just as sweet and can be and my daughters adore them.

Okay before I run away with the family for the weekend I just wanted to share our new class buddy with you.  Last year we had this cute little guy, Norbert the dragon.

He went home with my Star of The Week for the weekend and they had to take him wherever they went.  They would then write in his journal and share all of the adventures they had over the weekend with the class.

He came back every Monday and the kids were so excited and responsible with him.  At the end of the year I soldhim in our end of the year auction and he went for a bucket load of $$$.

Well this year we have a new buddy.  This summer all over blogland teacher's by the dozen were buying this guy and the books that went with him at Kohls. We don't have a Kohl's in Hawaii, but I went online to Kohls.com and shipping was only $2.99!

I purchased Skippy Jon and his book with the intention of putting him in our class library and having him as a reading buddy.  Well as we began the year I realized he was perfect for our new class buddy.

So I made him a journal, bought a cheap grocery bag at Long's Drugs and got him ready.  I had him at home so he hung out with my daughters who were very happy to take care of him.  I took lots of pictures  and wrote all about his days in his journal.

I'm not strangling him, it's just a big hand hug;)

Watching TV

Reading

So I packed him up in the bag, with his book and his journal and he came to school to meet the class.

 I read the book to the class first with a very heavy Spanish accent and they loved it!!

Then I brought him out and told them all about him and shared his journal.

They loved the pictures!

 The journal is written by Skippy Jon, but I helped him a little:)

Oh my goodness are they excited to take home this little guy!!  I am sure he will be well worn and loved by the end of the year.  I did send home a letter that day telling parents all about him.  They have to sign an agreement to take care of him, write in his journal and send him back to school on Monday.

The letter really makes parents more aware and responsible for our buddy, and the students know they have to take good care of our friend.

I really love this activity and the kids get so excited to write about all the things they do with him. I am looking forward to reading the adventures myself.

How many of you purchased Skippy Jon or some of his buddies this summer? What do you plan on doing with them in your class??