WHAT IS “TOP DOG?”
“Top Dog” is a way of highlighting a particular child as the special child of the day. We have a list of the children in each group, and a dog symbol representing “Top Dog” travels down the list of names on a day-to-day basis. The child designated as “Top Dog” for the day wears a “Top Dog” pin, and helps out in daily classroom jobs such as:
· Checking the weather in preparation for our singing of the “Good Morning” or “Hello” song.
· Calling classmate’s names when it is time to move from circle time to snack.
· Helping to set up snack.
· Being the leader if we line up to go outside.
· Other miscellaneous jobs that might arise during the course of the classroom day.
“Top Dog” is a way of helping each child to feel special. It is a way of increasing each child’s sense of self-esteem and competence as he or she masters a classroom job and makes choices which impact on the class as a whole.
The “Top Dog” of the day will also bring in something from home to share with the class during our meeting time. Your child’s teacher will send home a note with your child’s date and what to bring for sharing. You might want to discuss with your child ahead of time what he or she will be saying about the featured item. Our aim in this exercise is to give children support and practice in the skill that unnerves even some adults – speaking in front of a group. We like to help children develop a sense of what it means to be a speaker, as well as what it means to be a listener. It also allows the child to share something of importance to him/her.
Some groups will have particular dietary need or allergy restriction. Your child’s teacher will notify of you of any special situations. If you have any questions please feel free to talk to your child’s teacher.
