Have y’all ever read this precious book???
It’s all about a little girl named Beatrice who is a perfectionist in every sense of the word. She was known as the girl who never made mistakes….until one day she did 🙂
I absolutely ADORE this story for SO many reasons.
Kids can be SO scared to make mistakes. Whether they come from a home where mistakes aren’t embraced or they’re just natural born perfectionists, they’re {sometimes} terrified to make them. I started reading this book at the beginning of the year to teach my kids that mistakes are OKAY! I want my kids to know that I make mistakes EVERY.SINGLE.DAY and I want them to feel like they can make mistakes too. NO ONE is perfect and I want them to feel safe in knowing that I will show them grace when mistakes are made.
So…we start by reading the story and talking about Beatrice at the beginning of the of the story vs. Beatrice at the end. Then I introduce them to “Miss Take”.
I pull out this empty anchor chart with Miss Take’s picture on it and tell them a {very dramatic} story about her. I tell them that Miss Take was a teacher I used to teach with and then tell them funny stories about all the silly things she did…all the mistakes she made. Then we talk about all the mistakes and add those to Miss Take’s anchor chart. When we finish talking about all the mistakes, I tell them that Miss Take is really ME!!! They laugh and think this is such a hoot! I’ve done ALL those crazy, silly things, but I’m still teaching and loving it every single day.
Just because I make mistakes doesn’t make me a terrible teacher {at least, I hope it doesn’t!!!!}. As long as we try and give everything our best, we’re doing the right thing…even if we make a lot of mistake in the process! We spend the rest of the year celebrating our mistakes…laughing about them…learning from them. At the very beginning of the year, they’re real quick to call out every.single.mistake I make. That goes away after a bit, but as long as they’re not afraid to make mistakes themselves, then I’m a-okay with it!
How do you set the stage for a “risk-free” environment in your classroom?
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McCumbee Talent Development says
I love this! I have never read this story but I am going to now. I have just published a book about perfectionism as well called Priscilla and the Perfect Storm. This is something I see in my gifted students for sure. I think I may do a lesson around this theme now:) Thanks for the post.
mrsmccumbeesclass.blogspot.com
stephiemccumbee.com
Marie Roberts says
Awesome post. I'm so stealing this one for my first year with firsties. Thanks!
Dressed with soul says
Thanks for sharing! I think mistakes are indeed important – especially for learing and our own development. Recently I did unfortunately a unpardonable mistake and I had such a bad conscience regarding it that I even arranged a giveaway for compensation 🙂
xx from Bavaria/Germany, Rena
http://www.dressedwithsoul.com
Dynelle Dunn says
Oh Cara you are just lovely I am borrowing this idea to use in my class!!!
First Grade Fun with Mrs. Dunn
Haley O'Connor says
I absolutely 100% LOVE this!!
Miss Kindergarten says
Hhaah! I am totally Miss Take too! This is really cute!
Amanda Klein says
This is so important! Love how you put it all together. Wish I knew about the book when I was still teaching in the classroom! Especially for those sweet gifted kids who were always so hard on themselves!
Elissa Jones says
Love it…what a great way to help the kiddos feel more comfortable in the classroom, too! I can definitely think of a few Miss Take moments I've had myself. Haha!
Sheri Ryan says
This is a great idea. So many kids are afraid to even have a try because they think they can't do it because they know they'll stuff it up. This book will be perfect for my second graders!
Sheri
http://earlyyearswithsheri.blogspot.com.au
A Rill Classroom says
I love this book too. I've read it with my class before, and the idea of making a "Miss Take" is a great idea. I even took this book home to read to my daughter when she was having a hard time dealing with the mistakes she was making with homework. Thanks for sharing.
A Rill Classroom
EMILY BROWN says
I love you. Is that weird?! I FOR REAL do not know what I would do without you!!!! This is my first year teaching first grade (switched from FIFTH!!) and I have gotten and used so many of your ideas to carry me through this intimidating time. Thank you — seriously, from the bottom of my heart — for sharing. I know posting this stuff takes time out of your day – and I so much appreciate it.
Shelley- TheWriteStuffTeaching says
Emily you are TOO adorable. 🙂
Shelley
Diana says
Putting this one on my 'to buy' list!
Shelley- TheWriteStuffTeaching says
What a great post Cara! I'll be adding that book to my wish list. I am always talking to my kiddos about the fact it's okay to make mistakes but this is a great way to do it with a book. Thanks!
🙂 Shelley
The Write Stuff Teaching
Samantha Kearns says
Just the post I needed to read! I have a specific few first graders coming to me this year who are TERRIFYED to be wrong or make mistakes. Last year in K they would shut down when wrong or when they didn't know something or hide class work that went home with things fixed on it. I need to get this book and hopefully it helps them to ease up a bit. Thank you always Cara!
Michelle Hudgeons says
Love!
N Poole says
I love this idea, thanks for sharing!
Christine Renaud says
First of all you are as sweet on this blog as you are in person. I was fortunate enough to meet you in Las Vegas and have been following you ever since. I love the book you are featuring. I do make mistakes everyday and I am very honest about it in the classroom with my students. I am the teacher at the school that request all of the "naughty" children. If that is even possible, but the students I request find themselves labelled and I want them coming into my class with a blank slate. Everyone needs an out after a mistake and the mistakes should not define you. I will be using your book for sure this year.
I always use the book First Day Jitter's, to show the students that teachers are just as nervous as students the first day. Now I can use this book to show them children and adults make mistakes everyday and my lesson for them is what makes us special is that we try and not make the same one twice 🙂
Thanks for the book recommendation.
Christine
K&C Love Grade 3
Heather's Heart says
I love this sweet lesson Cara! Thank you for sharing…..and of course you have an ADORABLE anchor chart. My anchor chart will look like one Miss Take would make! 🙂
Heather
Heather's Heart
dlymari says
I love the books with themes that teach lessons such as this one. I read books like the bucket fillers, I also read the Recess Queen ( this year I will try to "round up" some teacher friends 🙂 thanks for that other great idea. Recently, I found Madonna's book Mr. Peabody's Apples where the power of words is the common theme. I plan on beginning with the latter book this year… I'm looping with my first grade class into second and I noticed at the end of the year, they were beginning to say and do not so nice things with one another for a bit. I want to make sure we begin with a positive attitude. Any suggestions of any other books I can read to my class?
Sarah Stoneburner says
What a great way to set that tone in your classroom early in the year. It might be neat to keep it and write the mistakes you make during the year that your students notice. It'd be a fun way to let them see that you still make mistakes. I will do that in my classroom this year and let you know how it goes!
Emily says
Thanks for introducing me to a new book! The theme is one I deal with all year long in speech/language therapy. I LOVE your "Miss Take". Thanks so much for sharing!
Susan Efseaff says
Thanks for planning my first week of school!! Lol! I love all your ideas!! Great post!
Mary Beth Fields says
Does anyone have a good suggestion for a book like this with a boy as the main character? My K5 son really needs this sort of book, but prefers to read about boys right now instead of girls. I'm still ordering this one, though!
Vanessa Burdick says
This lesson in its entirety is a major part of my first day of school with my second graders now. This year was my third year doing it, and it was even better than ever!!! Thank you for making "Miss Takes" a big, healthy part of my class on a daily basis!