Showing posts with label color. Show all posts
Showing posts with label color. Show all posts

#Hashtag Book Awards

Who wants to INCREASE engagement in BOOK TALKS?!



I love talking about books and take a status of the class daily on my checklist - just quickly jotting down the page number the student read to (goodbye reading logs!!) and we discuss brief events and summaries if they are finished so they can share with the class.

I do this periodically throughout the day as well when I get a few moments or during silent reading time using Reading Conference questions to guide my questioning along with some comprehension and their plan for reading next as well.

Book talks no matter the form are essential to get students EXCITED about reading! I love that they can be applied to any level and therefore any grade!!!





I threw in a new element recently of #Hashtag Book Awards!  My students were just introduced to my students during review for another subject but they love them so I thought why not add them to our book talks!


These can work in a variety of ways but I'll tell you what has worked for me and what you might want to do in your classroom!

You can use awards for the whole year and keep a checklist that students nominate! Easy but must be managed.  I use this as part of a reading station in my room.


You can use awards monthly - introduce the hashtag and have students nominate their books (using the nomination form - to get in some writing and prove why their book deserves to win) then as a class vote at the end of the month.  I think this gives students enough time to read the books that are being buzzed about and time to get enough in throughout the year.  This is what works best for my class this year.  We focus on one genre at a time as well so this can help us focus on that more indepth.  I love reading their reasoning behind their selections.  Always do the COVETED #lovethatbook award anyway at the end for the favorite book of the class.


You could also have this be done after every book a student reads - what hashtag would you give it and why.  I already find students hashtag during their notes they take on books to help remember :)


The pack comes with a blank template, nomination and voting forms or just use this as a jumping off point for discussion.  Just plug in the book title, draw a cover or print a picture and go.



These are easy on colored ink but can be done in b/w or 1/2 sheets to save color and space!

I love having the #lovethatbook award for years to come kind of like a wall of fame - seeing how it changes throughout the years!  I make the rule that students can't vote unless they read the book as well.  You could vote on your best read aloud from the year to make it more fair.




The absolute best benefit would be the BUZZ it creates in our room!  Deciding which hashtag and thinking about some of those elements we normally wouldn't make it fun for students.  This could also replace the traditional end of year awards to a more reading focused ceremony and great reading closure for a class.

What is your best book talk tip?

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Classroom Reveal 15 - 16

Well it's that time of year again!  I've been putting my room together slowly and surely over the past few months.  Yes that slowly! I did have time to work since they cleaned before summer school and I got a chance to put my room back together then!  I get literally no budget in my room so I'm always looking for ways to save some money in my classroom!  We all know how much teachers spend in their rooms and I have one really big way that helped save me money this year -


USE COLORED PAPER!!  I know this isn't a new idea by any means but it makes coloring your classroom so much easier than buying colored ink!  

Our school does have some colored ink available but really frowns upon us using it frequently and I DO NOT have the budget to be buying it more than once a year at home so I get creative.  Really with 2 packs of bright colored paper that are less than 4 dollars each I make my room look pretty dang good!

Check out what I did this year!   My theme was pretty much the same just lots of bright colors and focusing on boards and spaces I know my students would need and use frequently. 





The writing center can be purchased from TPT- here! Its the same one I had last year but I love how it can be used again and again!



I LOVE LOVE LOVE all these parts of my classroom this year! They are so colorful and I can't wait to hang up work and use them! 



Link for Parts of Speech

Link for Jobs in Upper Elementary




Here's what will be welcoming my students when they arrive!  I plan to have parents sign the flip book making sure they review and agree to all info before school starts!!

Those flip books are perfect for any grade and FULLY EDITABLE!   That colored paper is hands down the best way to get it in the hands of parents!



Hopefully this looks warm, inviting, and colorful!  My goal was really to not make it too busy! I wanted all the spaces to be student friendly and accessible.  Can't wait to see what everyone has planned for this year and ideas I can steal!  


What's your number 1 classroom decorating tip? Do you see all the colorful paper spotted! Luckily we don't have a paper limit (or I haven't reached it yet so running my colored paper through school printer makes for a great alternative!)





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Double the Experiments, Double the Fun

So we've been really busy and working away all week.  What you ask have we been doing?  Well here is a couple project we've been working on:


Rubber Cement Resists- so easy (!) and super hands-on.  You could do so many things with them! Art projects GALORE!




Now they are not the most fancy pieces of art work ever but they are fun! All you do is put rubber cement down then let it dry,  paint over it and let dry, then using your finger rub the rubber cement off!  Easy-Peasy!!!

Pretty much every age level would love this and you can paint designs and peel as well- ours were just abstract. 

This could also make a great background for a card or other type of project that you want to do!





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Fireworks cards!

Today I have an awesome activity I randomly stumbled upon last summer!  We had supplies and just experimented to see what would happen!

This would  be great for any age and they are so fun to do- easy as well :)

Without further ado, I present to you......FIREWORKS CARDS!!!!!





Ok so the pics aren't the best but these things come out so well!

Materials: 

food coloring
oil
tray
toothpicks
paper (we used notecards, but anything heavy will do)


1. pour a small amount of oil on a cookie sheet or small tray.
2. add food coloring
3. have student mix up the colors with a toothpick
4. Dip the paper in and then lift it out.
5. We put ours on newspaper to dry and you could decorate them the next day!

Here's some more pics to check out: 



Hope you get a chance to try this...it was one of our favorite projects last year!




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Pin-spiration!

So I have a slight obsession with Pinterest (and I'm sure I'm not the only one)!  Check out my button on the side or click here to follow my boards!


One of the first awesome ideas I pinned for teaching was the hardware organizer turned supply "keeper."  I loved it from the start.  First it has everything all in one place!  Second, it is all organized (a pet peeve of mine)!
You can personalize it too!  Colors, sparkles, patterns...ANYTHING YOU CAN IMAGINE!

Well I'd been eyeing one for awhile and low and behold, my mom made one for me for Christmas!  I LOVE IT! Mine has a couple wider drawers on the sides which are perfect for bigger items and all the small items fit in the middle.






I put labels on the tips using my label maker!  Mine is pretty colorful and I think I can make it work in any room !  This is one of the most helpful tools I've seen for teachers.

What is your favorite Pinterest thing you've made?  or really want to for your classroom?

So much inspiration!!!! Leave me some links and I'll go take a look- are some of the best Pin-spirations!




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Shaving Cream Paintings

Whew...Spring Break is coming to an end....why do I feel like I have so much left to do?!

So Friday, I only had a few kids at camp which was great because I got up so early.  We flew through the activities that were lined up for us with still a few hours left.  What to do, what to do?

I remember one of the activities I was planning on doing for camp this summer and luckily we still had all the supplies.  Our shaving cream paintings were so much FUN! They were messy and each one turned out unique. I think when doing art, each child should have a say in how they project goes, if they want to change something or modify it...go for it!!! What a great way to learn!  Each kid got to put their own colors and mix it before we put it on paper.  The kids had so much fun making these, and seeing how they turned out I can't wait to try them with even more kids this summer.


They may not be the most beautiful things..but watching all the colors swirl together was  A BLAST!!

First: Put shaving cream in a big tub
Then: add water colors and take a toothpick and swirl them around anyway you want
Last: Press paper (we used heavy white construction paper) on top of shaving cream and wipe off excess.




After wiping away excess, you magically see how the watercolors stick to paper but shaving cream doesn't! It was so fun revealing what was underneath.

I apologize for not getting pics of the process but only one of me and all the kiddos, that was a little difficult.

This would go great with a lesson on color mixing as well! or just plain fun!!  So easy and cheap!!

Note: We used washable water-based watercolors (just in case they get on hands) but I know that there are more vibrant colors available.  I got this idea from http://totschool.shannons.org/?p=3917


HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY EVERYONE!



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