School Success Story

I'm joining Ladybug Teacher's success story link party.  Let's give a shout out to all our successes!

My class thoroughly enjoyed my Bottle Cap math activities to reinforce all areas of my math curriculum.

 

I originally {blogged about the idea here} . It's easy to get started with this idea in your own classroom. Simply send home the note below and you'll get all the bottle caps you need lickety split, and then some! At some point, you might even need to turn away bottle cap donations.  I still have students asking, "Are you still collecting bottle caps?'  and I say, "Yes! Keep Em' coming"!

Mother’s Day Art Forever in My Heart

For Mother's Day my students did this crayon resist and oil pastel art project that turned out beautifully.
They drew crayon heart designs, watercolored them, applied rubber cement, and outlined with oil pastels.

I attached a note that said,                                                                                                
          "Mom, You'll forever be in my heart"

Get the note here

                              

                                        

I recently started a Facebook Group for teachers to share ideas, questions, and inspiration. 

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My Teacher Rules Writing - Teacher Appreciation Activity

Every year I get the cutest responses to this writing activity. Save this one for the end of the year when, no doubt, it seems your students know you better than you know yourself! LOL.  I first read aloud the book What Teachers Can't Do. Then, I bravely allow my students to write their honest opinions about me on this "{My Teacher Rules" writing activity}. You can also use the activity for a teacher appreciation note for your child's own teacher or as a memory book for retiring teachers.

  Check it out HERE

I recently started a Facebook Group for teachers to share ideas, questions, and inspiration. 

Come Join the group!

State Testing Read Aloud Book and Writing Activity

I have to say that testing week wears me out. I have 1 day to go and I'll be done! Yeah.

I found this cutest book called The Biggest Test in the Universe by Nancy Poydar that is great for talking about feelings and anxiety over testing. The book is also available as a video on Discovery United Streaming and Amazon Prime Video. My class LOVED it!  Afterwards they wrote about how they would "tackle" the biggest test in the universe. It’s great for reinforcing and reminding students of test taking strategies in a fun way.

This is available as part of my Test Tip Poster set 

                   

 

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I recently started a Facebook Group for teachers to share ideas, questions, and inspiration. 

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Bunny Business

Isn't this just adorable?  A parent brought in these donut bunnies today. Now that's some very cute "Bunny Business"!

Signs of Spring

With Spring in the air, I read this book to my class today.

Then students wrote a poem called "Signs of Spring" with sunglasses decorated with their springtime views!  I used patterns similar to this sunglass template from The Best Kids Book Site. Looking for spring writing paper?  Check out the templates at Activity Village.

The poem above reads:

I go for a walk and what do I see?

Beautiful butterflies looking back at me.

I go for a walk and what do I smell?

Red, pretty roses, a joyful springtime smell.

I go for a walk and what do I hear?

Bees buzzing that's what I hear.

I go for a walk and what do I feel?

Sprinkling rain, that's what I feel.

I go for a walk and how do I feel?

Delighted and merry that's how I feel.

Spring makes my heart sing.

 

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Doorway Quotes

Doorways make great learning display opportunities.  Just above my door I display posters that say:
Never say, "I can't." Always say, "I'll try." and "You Can't Do Wrong by Doing What's Right" It's amazing how students DO pay attention to "small posters" with very BIG messages.  Just the other day when one of my students was showing a moment of self defeat I simply said, "Never say I can't..." and  the class chimed in after me, "Always say, "I'll try".  Grab a copy of Doorway Quotes below and test out their power in your classroom!

Doorway Quotes

What are some of your favorite quotes you use in the classroom?

Show the Money

I made these handy quarter posters. Enjoy.

Take a look at {this link} for literature titles with money themes. Summaries are included in the listing.

I've linked this post up with Marygrove College's linky.

Litter Bugs Earth Day Recyling Project

For Earth Day, I read a favorite childhood book called  LitterBugs Come in Every Size to my kiddos.  I make a big deal about sharing with the class that the book I'm actually reading is the same book my mom read to me as a child.  Here's the book.

Here's a read aloud of the book:

Following the read aloud, I tell the class that they will create their own Litter Bugs using trash or items used for recycling.  I have my students do this as an at home project, but it could be adjusted to do within  the classroom.

Here's my sample I shared with the class.  I used newspaper, a Starbuck's sleeve, water caps, juice pouch straws, ribbon and a paper clip.

  

I must say, It's a Bug's Life.   Later in class students can write a "Buggy Bonanza" story.  Project details are available for purchase at my {TPT store}.             

                             

I display all the bugs in a "Litterbug Lounge"

This is also part of my Earth Day Bundle at a discount.

 

 

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I recently started a Facebook Group for teachers to share ideas, questions, and inspiration. 

Come Join the group!

Bottle Cap Math Games

Over my years of teaching, I'm always thinking of how to make use of ordinary items.  "Bottle Cap Math" has been by far one of my best brainstorms in the classroom yet.  Why?  Because bottle caps are everywhere.  Ask your class to collect the caps and you have instant manipulatives! All you have to do is number them the way you want. This past summer I got busy creating 20 versatile math worksheets using bottle caps.  My worksheets include everything from patterning, skip counting, multiplication, probability, comparing numbers, fractions, place value, rounding and much more.  You have to check them out!  They are available at my {Teacher's Pay Teachers Store}.

Keep in touch. Find me at:

My TPT store

I recently started a Facebook Group for teachers to share ideas, questions, and inspiration. 

Come Join the group!

Open House Project: Mini Me's Poster People

Poster People are a perfect fit for my Open House every year.  I send home an outline on tagboard of a head, torso, and arms with each students to create their own mini me.  I encourage them to make their person resemble themselves as much as possible and it is absolutely amazing to see each student's uniqueness come out in this project.  And best yet...the night of Open House you'll have the quietest, cutest class sitting at their desks ready to learn!  What more can I say?

Find more great ideas at my TPT store

I recently started a Facebook Group for teachers to share ideas, questions, and inspiration. 

Come Join the group!

I Wish I May...I Wish I Might

As teachers we have so many high hope wishes for helping our students, but we don't have the high dollar money to go along with those wishes. Many of you are familiar with Donor's Choose, but have you heard of the National Teacher Registry?  You can set up a wish list account for willing families to buy from.

Do you like Lakeshore or Amazon? Yep, they have wish lists too.  Better yet...Amazon has a feature called the "Universal Wish List".  I added this hot little item to my computer toolbar, and whenever I see anything that tickles my fancy on any site online, I simply hit my Amazon button and it is added to my registry.

  

If you'd like to peek at all my wish lists to see how I've set them up check my Wish List page on my website.

The Value of Bucket Filling

For the past several years I've used the popular Bucket Filler books by Carol McCloud in my classroom.

If you've not taken a peek at this series it is a MUST do.  At the start of every school year I begin the bucket filler program. I have this bulletin board display of personalized buckets for classmates to add positive bucket filler thoughts.

Here's my Bucket Filler Bulletin Board. I personalized each bucket with student's names and taped them to party favor treat boxes.  

 

I recently started a Facebook Group for teachers to share ideas, questions, and inspiration. 

Come Join the group!

 (Freebie ideas and giveaways are sometimes shared there!)

I've also created seasonal themed bucket filler notes. Grab them here:

Pick of the Patch notes

Thankful notes

Holiday cheer notes

New Year's notes
Valentine notes
St. Patrick's notes
Eggstra Special notes
Friendship Growing notes

 

Stay in touch. Find me at:

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