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??

14 comments

  1. I love Skippyjon Jones!! He is a personal fave. I didn't get any of the stuffed animals from Kohl's, but I did get the newest book (Class Action). I like to use a Spanish accent when I read the stories too and the kids think it's great.

    I absolutely love the picture you have of him reading the book-hilarious! Your kids are going to have so much fun with this!

    Aimee
    Primarily Speaking

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    1. Mahalo Aimee! I need to get the other books as well for the class library. I will have to add them to my wish list:)

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  2. I love Skippyjon Jones! I purchased the backpack from Kohl's too to make a Class Buddy Bag! Love your pictures! Thanks for sharing them! :)
    Cheryl
    Crayons and Curls

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    1. OH, I didn't know they had a backpack!! That would have been perfect:))

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  3. I hope you have a fabulous long weekend with your family. Skippy is just adorable. I love the buddy bag. I've been wanting to start something like that in my room. You have inspired me to actually do it and stop thinking about it. I don't know how I've missed it...but I JUST found your blog and I'm your newest follower.

    And guess what..

    I was number 500! Congrats! I was waiting for balloons and confetti. ;) I wanted to be the firs to congratulate you. Your blog is fantastic.

    I have a new blog (a few less than 500 followers...hehe).

    I'd love it if you came to visit.
    Amy
    http://whathappensinfirstgrade.blogspot.com

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    1. Hurray!! Thanks so much Amy! I am definitely going to have to have a celebration now:)) I will definitely stop by:)

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  4. WoW! We think too much alike, Corinna. I posted about our class buddy last week on my blog. Go and check it out. I had purchased the same dragon set like you but we used a tiger instead of the dragon. The dragon is in our reading center for the students to read too. I also gave it away at the end of the year but I just picked a student out of our bucket to take him home. They looked it. This year I purchased another tiger (from Goodwill) and he has started his adventures already in our classroom. Check out my blog when you have some time. Your blog is mentioned in my post. Have a great Labor Day weekend.

    Mrs. Flickinger's Butterfly Oasis

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    1. How funny Tammy! Going to check it out right now;)

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  5. I bought Skippy Jon too :). Not sure I can pull off a Spanish accent !!!

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    1. I am sure you can doo it;) Watch a few episodes of Speedy gonzales, lol!!

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  6. We don't have a Kohl's in Hawaii, but I went online to Kohls.com and ... kohlsbackpack.blogspot.com

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Mahalo Nui Loa For Commenting!!

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