NEW ADDITON TO THIS YEARS CLASSROOM

I loved when I had a gerbil last year, unfortunately he died of age over the summer.  I decided to get 2 more for next year.  The students loved watching them burrow, and play with the paper balls they would put in the cage.  Last year I let them take the gerbils home; this year I decided against it because of how difficult it was to plan with parents, and some parents didn't want to so the students got upset.  I always let the students name the gerbils on the first day of school.  I have everyone write down their names and then I pull 3 from the pot, the students then vote on the three that I pull out. 

I found that for some children that didn't have pets, or suffered some type of emotional instability, having the the gerbils served as a warmth for them, and a kind of refuge from everything that was going on.  They loved petting them when I held them.  I didn't allow them to hold the gerbils because I didn't want them to get bit and parents to get upset. 

It is proven that pets bring a sense of peace and calmness to ones self.  Having them in the classroom can add light to some children when they are sad or overwhelmed.  You never know what a student is going through each day, but having something to put a smile on their face when they walk in the door, is a start to good bonding relationship in your classroom community.