Thursday, February 28, 2013

How to tell my students that I'm pregnant?

I told my kids the baby news this morning.  It was so so sweet and I'm sure I will never forget it.  I wanted to do something special instead of just blindsiding them with the information so I looked around and found a book called Our Teacher's Having a Baby by Eve Bunting.  Thank goodness I waited and didn't read it in the library.  Page one and I was crying.  And that was at home in my kitchen while I waited for my 2nd lunch to cook!
If you ever find yourself pregnant while teaching, you must read this book.  It was great.  Just be warned that you might tear up if you're anything like me.  {don't fight it, just grab a tissue.}  The kids in the story share their feelings, draw pictures for the baby, suggest names for the teacher and put stickers on her big belly...bless!  It's so cute.  I used it in a mini lesson on making connections.  After they shared their self-to-text connections, I shared mine!  It took a few minutes to sink in, but then they were super excited!!!  :)

{Sorry it's so shaky...I was nervous and excited and trying not to cry all at the same time!!}
I knew my kids would need a follow-up so I created a little packet.  The pages print in pink or blue or you can just print it in black & white if you don't know!




We only did the 1st page today {drawing my picture and what the baby will look like}.
{still in my heels with lots of hair bows}
{love the little baby in my see-through belly}
{my shirt is still regular size, my stomach just sticks out the sides!}
And the sweet notes to the baby!!
{You mom loves you.  Your mom is going to teach you.}
{I hope you can be in this class.}
{I love your mom because she is being nice to me.}
Eve Bunting did a fabulous job capturing honest child feelings in the book as they talk about being scared to have a substitute who isn't "their" teacher, being sad that their teacher isn't coming back for a while and the excitement of a new baby in general.  I also included some titles that you can use to make an "I feel..." anchor chart and an anchor chart for questions.  I suggest leaving them up for at least a few days because the questions have been coming non-stop!

Since I'm not due until September these kids will already be in 1st grade by the time the baby comes but I plan to read it all over again in August before I go out on my maternity leave.  The beauty of the download {besides being free} is that you can use it all at once or spread it out.  I'm saving the gender graph for when I go to that appointment - it'll be something great for the person covering my room to do while I'm at the doctor! - and will save voting on a name until the end of the year.  It's meant to be fun and I hope you'll share it with any of your teacher friends who are sporting baby bumps covered in stickers!  ;)

14 comments:

  1. What a great idea to read the book and I love the notes to baby! Too cute!
    Kate
    http://funinecse.blogspot.com/

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  2. I was pregnant twice while teaching and my kids loved doing the boy or girl graph:) We even got the whole grade level involved! It turned out great!! Congrats and good luck with the pregnancy!!

    Tammy

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  3. This is SO cute! Thank you so much for sharing! :) and congratulations!!!!!!

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  4. Their little letters and drawings melt my heart! So stinking cute!!! I loved telling my class when I was pregnant for my daughter. They were so excited and kept referring to the baby as "their baby". :)

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  5. Congratulations! Looks like a wonderful book.

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  6. Congrats! I wish I knew about it way back when I was having my boys.

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  7. This is so sweet! Congratulations!!

    Lindsey
    Lovin’ Kindergarten

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  8. What a good idea! I didn't even tell my students, I sent a note home to their parents over Christmas break hoping they would tell their own child. It took until the beginning of Feb for any of my students to say something. I was waiting for the "why is your belly getting fat?" comment, but it never happened! It is kind of funny that they don't talk about it at ALL.
    Hope its going well for you!

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  9. This is adorable thanks for sharing! I'm your newest follower!
    ✿Sue✿

    Science for Kids Blog

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  10. This is adorable! Love it! I wish this had been around when I had my boys!

    Robin
    The Bomb-Diggity Classroom

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  11. Oh, my goodness! How precious! I love that they all clapped for you. Warms my heart! :)

    Congrats again!

    ~Mrs. K. from The Teacher Garden Blog

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  12. Great Idea! I bought this book two years ago for my principal. I bought it for her so she could let any/all of pregnant teachers to use. And after they read the story to their class they sign their name and the year the baby will be born.

    Kindness Counts in Kindergarten
    Hollie

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  13. Aww, I find this a little heartwarming. Stories like these really make teaching children worthwhile. I bet they'll miss you as much as you miss them. Take care of yourself and your baby! I hope you've got a good ob/gyn to help you during and after the pregnancy.

    Centennial OB-Gyn, P.A.

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  14. This is a fabulous idea. I'm so glad I googled the thought, because I couldn't figure out how to share my news with my first graders. I'm SOOOOO nervous! Thank you for sharing your story. This is so awesome. The worksheets look like they'll be a blast too =)

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Thanks for the comments! {like virtual hugs}