How 'fancy' would you expect a reading fair project board to be for a preschooler? Initially it sounded like everyone was required to do one, then a note later said all the preschoolers were doing something together with their teacher, but could do one separately.
Well I thought it would be a fun way to have my daugher practice her cutting & writing, etc. But now I'm a little worried, seeing the examples on a website they gave us, and pinterest, etc. They look awfully extravagent! Especially for the little people standing beside them, lol. I wasn't planning on doing anything myself really, just helping steer her a little. We haven't got the board & put it together yet, but the individual pieces were all her.....So is it ok if it looks like a hot mess? :-)
This is my oldest kid, and her first school event, so excuse the question, but I don't want to stick out like a sore thumb if this is not the norm. Teacher didn't answer me either when I asked how many other 4kers were doing one separately. Should I not care? or try to pretty it up? we only have tomorrow basically to work on it together.
Thank you all for the reassurance! We've been working on it little by little. She's been pretty excited about it, so I'm not going to worry about it. Not sure everyone will get what the book is about, but that's ok.
Depends. Do you want her to learn something or you? Let her do it. But if it stresses either one of you, don't do one.
Ha! The examples look extravagant because you KNOW the Pinterest-y moms did the whole project! Lol
I can't stand those obviously phoney projects...
My thoughts:
Guidance? Yes.
Suggestions? Sure.
Get the supplies? You bet.
Help cutting or pasting? OK.
But let her do it IF she even wants to.
Sounds low pressure, so let her decide.
We as parents always want the projects to look just so but really, those that look almost professionally done are clearly the work of the parents. Teachers can tell the difference in a project done by a preschooler (with maybe some guidance and/or help from a parent) or that which a parent does and slaps their kid's name on.
What I suggest is talk with your preschooler, help w/ ideas. Maybe even guide her on the best placement of things on the board but let her do the work. The one area that might need more assistance from you would be the writing (maybe let her give you the words and you write them or type them in large font for her to trace before gluing in the board).
From science fair projects, I've learned that kids have only so much stamina to complete a project. Typically, a project such as the one you have described takes more time than a child in the first month of preschool can accomplish in one sitting. Writing more than a sentence or two may be taxing, so the idea of typing the responses is a good one. Have your child draw a picture (or more, if willing) and label it, and maybe include a photocopy of the cover. Sticky letters are fun (for your child to use) for the title. Is she expected to present it? Plan for that, too.
My daughter took for her show and tell moment in preschool four Winnie the Pooh drawings her babysitter had drawn (just for fun) and then she drew her own versions of the scenes of the books and talked about them. No board. Have fun.
A little of this and a little of that, a little of mom (maybe the area around what she has done-the perimeter) and a lot of daughter, ask HER what she wants to have you help her with, maybe she doesn't WANT help...take your cues from her, no matter what she will be proud of her project and remember the time you spent together...if you have a digital camera & a printer maybe you could, 'jazz' it up a little by pasting/gluing/taping as she goes onto the board and let her, 'tell' what each picture, 'says'???
If you want to do one, I think you should do it and not worry about what you see on Pinterest. Anything that looks really extravagant was done by a parent and not the child. If the point of the exercise is for your daughter to practice her skills, have her do it yourself. Personally, I think it's fine if it looks messy and looks like a four year old did it, especially since the project is optional.
The only thing to consider is whether your daughter will feel bad comparing hers to other ones that she sees. You'll need to be prepared to talk to her about why the others are nicer (because adults did them) and why you wouldn't do hers for her, since she may ask why other parents helped and you didn't. I think it's a good opportunity to talk to her about doing your own work and learning that trying your best is what matters most. So, unless you think she'll be crushed when she sees the others, by all means, let her do it herself.
it's so tempting to 'help' and let her have the proud moment of everyone ooh-ing and aaah-ing over it, isn't it? but you know the answer.
she's in pre-school. just DOING the project is an awesome learning experience for her. don't look at pinterest!
:) khairete
S.
I think a child's work is completely appropriate. That is what this is about and strongly encourage that she do her own work, with guidance. That is how they learn and that should be what this is all about.
Last year on the last day of school, the kids had an assignment to build a box car. This was their car to sit in for the end of year movie. It was a great idea and loads of fun.
We got there and there were cars that were beyond the size requirements, one film wrapped, real wheels, obviously done with a $500 budget. My husband said one of my daughters classmates was so proud of his angry birds car and when he got inside he refused to take his car in and cried. My husband got him to go in by telling him how cool his car was.
So yes, you will have parents that place a budget on this and obviously do the work themselves, but I believe in teaching my child to achieve her own goals.
If it is a Family Project then I would expect to see a Family Effort. If it is a Student Project then I would expect to see a Student Effort.
I had a similar discussion with my son's Pre-K teacher, she sent home family projects and she expected to see the student with touches of the parent(s) as well. She said she could tell how much family effort was put in based on what was turned in, and she sent out Family Projects to get a feel for the family dynamic.
Hope this helps.
