Introducing a back-to-school read about staying true to yourself and sharing your story, featured in the MaiStoryBook Library Collection:

“The Day You Begin” by Jacqueline Woodson and Rafael Lopez

*~Click here to purchase your own copy of “The Day You Begin” to start on your own reading adventure!(This is an affiliate link~ 5% of your purchase will go to MaiStoryBook to help create Reading Resources for your littles)~

Book Synopsis and Review

There are many ways and times we can feel different. Maybe it’s our skin, our food, our clothes, our interests, our talents, our culture, or even something completely random. Being different can make us feel frightened and alone~ hesitant to share our true selves with others, and willing to hide behind a quiet or fake facade to fit in. In this book, young students experience this feelings as they begin a new school. Readers who have ever felt the same anxieties or fears at starting somewhere or something new will connect to the story, and then be inspired, as the characters were, to stay true to who they are, and to share their story with the world. Littles will see that when we begin to reach out and share, others will be happy and excited to meet us half way.

Taking the first steps into a new school year is always a bit nerve-wracking (especially this upcoming school year with all of the uncertainties). It’s not easy entering a new space and feeling like an outsider~ but you do it anyways because you are bold, and your strength resonates from within. With a lyrical, rhythmic text, and vibrant illustrations, this beautiful story reminds us that we all have the courage to go forth and connect, learn, grow, and discover. 

Vocabulary

• fragile (p. 9) something that is easily broken
• souvenir (p. 9) something you get from a different place to remind you of that place
• kimchi (p. 15) a Korean food that is spicy, pickled cabbage
• steel (p. 22) a very hard, strong, gray metal
• fabulous (p. 27) extraordinary and amazing~ super awesome!

Themes/ Main Ideas

• Be willing to share who you truly are with others. When your are open to sharing and connecting with others, you will find those who will reach out and meet you halfway, accepting you for who you are.
• Celebrate what you have in common with others, and value your differences as well. What makes you different is just as special as what you have in common.

YouTube Video: Guided Shared-Reading Read Aloud Example

Example of a shared-reading, interactive Read Aloud of “The Day You Begin” – how to subtly introduce the vocabulary list words within the text, ask guided questions, and spark conversation!

*~Check it Out~*

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Welcome Doors: Share Your Story Craftivity

Here in California, the governor announced that any county currently on the County Watch List for Covid-19 will have to start school via distance learning until the country is cleared from the list. To be cleared, the county has to have a decline in cases for 14 consecutive days~ then traditional in-person schooling may resume with safety precautions put in place. It’s going to be a wild school year, with plenty of unknowns and new unknowns arising throughout the year, and it will be completely bizarre for the children~ but at least with a firm directive now in place, teachers can properly prepare for effective distance learning. What will be imperative is finding a way to establish a strong virtual classroom community. Usually, the first weeks of school consist of community building activities, establishing rules and procedures, and sharing about ourselves through crafts and activities~ replicating this back-to-school atmosphere will be a goal of mine. We want students to feel open to share about themselves, and to feel comfortable connecting over digital platforms. This week’s craft inspired by the book is not a digital one~ but can be downloaded and sent to students to complete at home, and then share online. Use it to help littles start sharing about themselves and making connections with others.

Materials

• Welcome Doors: Share Your Story Craftivity Template
• Glue/ Tape
• Scissors
• Colors: crayons, markers, colored pencils, etc
• Pen/Pencil

Directions:

• Choose a FRONT and BACK *Welcome Door* template.
• Front choices: Black and white or Color- with Plain pattern or swirl patterns
• Back Choices: Prompts with lines only, Prompt with lines and picture space, Prompt with picture space only, Blank-Print out DOUBLE SIDED. 
• Cut out the template and Fold in half on the middle line with the front-door side facing outward.

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• Color in the door and letters if you chose black and white.
• Write your name in the blank space on the 4^thpartition down.
• On the Front-door side, cut the 4 dotted lines to make 5 flaps.

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• Fold the flaps open and fill in the writing prompts.
• Fold back all of the flaps and draw a self portrait of yourself in  the blank space under “This is me” (the circle is for your head)

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• When finished, take turns sharing your crafts and information about yourself. See what you have in common with others and what makes you unique!

How to Use Your *Welcome Doors: Share Your Story* Craftivity

• Display your Welcome Door Craft in the classroom or at home to share a little bit about yourself with others.
• Display your Welcome Door Craft in your room to remind your self to share your story with others.
• Share your Welcome Door Craft with peers to share your story and learn what you have in common with others, and what is different between you
• Share your Welcome Door Craft with a. family member or friend, and encourage them to share a bit about themselves with you too.
• Re-read the book “The Day You Begin,” and along the way share about yourself according to the different topics on the page.

*~Overall, as always, I hope you all are staying safe and healthy, and are ready to enjoy some back-to-school adventures! Tag me on Instagram @MaiStoryBookLibrary, Twitter @MaiStoryBook  – post on FaceBook – or contact me via email to share your own *Welcome Door: Share Your Story* and your own reading adventures! I’d love to hear from you !~*

*~Until next time, Happy Reading~*