Every morning in September, an MICDS first grader bravely stands in front of their class to give a special presentation. What are they sharing? Their “Me I Am” posters!
Our first graders, as outlined in our History & Social Sciences curriculum, focus on a year-long theme of community. As they jump into the school year, they kick off this theme by getting to know one another through the “Me I Am” project. The project helps build their classroom community.
“The ‘Me I Am’ presentations are such a meaningful way for students to celebrate who they are while learning about one another,” explains Robin Campbell, First Grade Homeroom Teacher. “They build a sense of belonging right from the start and help create a strong, supportive classroom community. Watching students listen to each other with such curiosity and kindness is one of my favorite parts of the year!”
In August, students were tasked with creating a single poster about themselves at home. They were prompted by their teachers to include any of the following:
- Their first name
- A picture of their family
- A picture of their pets
- Pictures of their travels
- Pictures of their favorite things
- Pictures of their favorite activities
- Pictures of their favorite foods
- Pictures of anything else they want the class to know about them
- Stickers, colors, and decorative elements
On their presentation day, they reveal their poster, introduce themselves, and use a presentation pointer stick to go through each picture and describe it to the class. Students not only share a lot of fun details about themselves, but they also get to practice public speaking, a first for many of them. This milestone moment is also shared by their parents and guardians, who are invited to watch their child’s presentation.
The audience of first-grade peers also practice something—active listening skills, asking relevant questions, and giving compliments. Once the presenter has finished, they say, “I am ready for questions and compliments.” Then, they call on members of the class with raised hands who have something to say. They ask questions like, “What is the name of your dog?” and give compliments such as, “I like how you wrote your name.”
At the conclusion of their time in front of the class, they answer three additional questions:
- Are you left-handed or right-handed?
- Are you six or seven years old?
- Do you have any brothers or sisters?
These questions work to teach students about their peers and their classroom community as a whole. They learn about similarities and differences after discovering what is unique about their peers and what they have in common. “We can be alike and be different and still be friends” is a common phrase in the first-grade classroom.
After the presentation of the day, the class moves on to the next lesson, and the student presenters often feel proud of having spoken in front of their class. “It is amazing to see the pride in each first grader’s eyes as they present themselves to the class,” said Jennifer Gillis, First Grade Homeroom Teacher. “We hang up their posters in the hall so friends can feel celebrated all year long!”