Using Stamps in Centers

Good Morning Everyone, 

I'm so excited to link up (AGAIN) with some F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S bloggers in yet another amazing Bright Ideas Blog Hop! 

This is such a great way to get, well, BRIGHT ideas!

This month's BRIGHT idea is one that I use all year round. It is also a great tool to use in any classroom and at any grade level.

I call it: Stamping Fun! 

Stop at your local Dollar Store and grab yourself a basket!

I use them for E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G and the kiddies get a real kick out of it!

I love to integrate manipulatives and fun trinkets in my lessons. I feel that it makes the activities more meaningful and fun. 

The students are engaged when they can “play” during a lesson. 

This past week we have been learning about patterns in math. This has proven to be quite a difficult concept to grasp. The use of shapes, colors, Smartboard, etc... was just not cutting it! 

I decided to mix things up a little and use Halloween stamps (since Halloween is coming up) to practice. 

The mere fact that they were doing something “different” made the kiddies more interested in what they were doing. They were interested and in turn, took the lesson very seriously. 

All I did was create a simple worksheet with some basic pattern rules and gave each group of students the appropriate stamps needed to complete the sheet.

Voila! Instant, fun, inexpensive, math center!

Oh, and I let each kiddie keep a stamp!

You can use them for absolutely anything (well maybe not anything, but ALMOST)! 

Be sure to make it interesting!

• Spelling Centers (alphabet stamps)
• Number Lines (number stamps)
• Story Starters
• Sequencing Activities
• Number Correspondence

And many, many more!

As I mentioned, the possibilities are endless!

Leave a comment with MORE STAMPING BRIGHT IDEAS! 

I'd LOVE to hear from you!

I hope you enjoyed this BRIGHT idea! Please consider joining me on Facebook, Instagram, and my Teacher Store.

For more bright ideas from over 100 different bloggers, please browse through the link-up below and choose a topic that interests you. Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

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Using Window Writers in Center

Good Morning Everyone, 

I'm so excited to link up (AGAIN) with some F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S bloggers in yet another amazing Bright Ideas Blog Hop! 

This is such a great way to get, well, BRIGHT ideas!

This month's BRIGHT idea is one that I use all year round. It is also a great tool to use in any classroom and at any grade level.

I call it: Window Writer Fun! 

WELL, stop by your local Walmart or Target and grab yourself a few packs of these bad boys because you are going to looooooooove them! 

I use them for E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G and the kiddies get a real kick out of it!

I apologize for the poor quality in photography, it is QUITE a big task to get a good shot of a window!!

These markers create an instant center and are fun and simple to use. The quality in "real life" is quite good and it washes off quickly and easily. 

You can use them for absolutely anything (well maybe not anything, but ALMOST)! 

Be sure to make it interesting!

- Spelling Center

- ABC Order Center

- Math Facts

- Publish a Story

- Write a Class Story

- Graphs

As I mentioned, the possibilities are endless!

Leave a comment with MORE Window Writers BRIGHT IDEAS! 

I'd LOVE to hear from you!

I hope you enjoyed this BRIGHT idea! Please consider joining me on Facebook, Instagram, and my Teacher Store.

For more bright ideas from over 100 different bloggers, please browse through the link-up below and choose a topic that interests you. Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

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Quick & Easy Fluency Practice

Good Morning Everyone, 

I'm so excited to link up (AGAIN) with some F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S bloggers in yet another amazing Bright Ideas Blog Hop! 

This is such a great way to get, well, BRIGHT ideas!

This month's BRIGHT idea is one that I use all year round. It is also a great tool to use in any classroom and at any grade level.

I call it: Fluency Fun!

It is a quick and easy way to practice fluency with your students. Take a short text that the student is not familiar with. Read it aloud to the student. You will need to read it a little slower than usual for this activity. As you read, time yourself. Once the passage is complete, ask the student to read the same passage aloud, while trying to beat your time! Repeat this activity a few times. Always be sure to make the goal attainable for the student and always be sure to up the ante! 

Be sure to make it interesting!

You can give the student a sticker or small prize when he/she beats your time.

You can make an announcement and/or display his/her triumph!

You can choose funny passages and/or write funny passages with the student.

The possibilities are endless! Just have fun with it!

This little trick really DOES help improve fluency skills and the kiddies love it because it's competitive and fun and one-on-one with their favorite person at school: YOU!

I hope you enjoyed this BRIGHT idea! Please consider joining me on Facebook, Instagram, and my Teacher Store.

For more bright ideas from over 150 different bloggers, please browse through the link-up below and choose a topic that interests you. Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

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Don't Bother Me Hat!

Good Morning Everyone, 

I'm so excited to link up (AGAIN) with some F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S bloggers in yet another amazing Bright Ideas Blog Hop! 

This is such a great way to get, well, BRIGHT ideas!

This month's BRIGHT idea is one that I use all year round. It is also a great tool to use in any classroom and at any grade level.

I call it: My Don't Bother Me Hat!

It is a quick and easy way to inform your students that you are busy and cannot answer their questions at the moment. I often use it when working one-on-one with students. It's always nice to have the least amount of interruptions when reading with or assessing a student. 

It is simple, just wear the hat anytime you wish to be undisturbed and point to it each time a student "forgets" and comes up to you with a question. This way, you do not need to speak and disrupt your one-on-one lesson.

It takes a few "training" sessions to get your students accustomed to the practice. It is expected that students will need some time to adjust to the fact that they cannot come to you at any given time for any given reason! Once they are familiar with the Don't Bother Me Hat, it is a wonderful, and well quite snazzy (if you ask me!), little trick.

The sillier you look, the better. For some reason, they just take it more seriously that way!

I hope you enjoyed this BRIGHT idea! Please consider joining me on Facebook, Instagram, and my Teacher Store.

For more bright ideas from over 130 different bloggers, please browse through the link-up below and choose a topic that interests you. Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

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Keeping Track of Awesomeness - Positive Notes to Parents

Good Morning Everyone, 

I'm so excited to link up (AGAIN) with some F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S bloggers in yet another amazing Bright Ideas Blog Hop! 

This is such a great way to get, well, BRIGHT ideas!

This month's BRIGHT idea is one that I use all year round. It is also a great tool to use in any classroom and at any grade level. 

I call it: Keeping Track of Awesomeness - Positive Notes to Parents! 

It all began when I taught a behavior class and had to communicate with parents daily. I found myself reporting many of the negative aspects of the day and forgetting the positives that had occurred. 

I was fortunate to attend a workshop for new teachers and left with quite a few tricks under my sleeve, including, Keeping Track of Awesomeness. I have been using this idea ever since.

It is quite simple. Make a copy of your class list, write the month of the year, and start ticking. This log ensures that, each month, I write a positive note for each of my students. 

Everyday, I select a different student to encourage and then tick off their name on the list. Voila!

I also like to write down what I wrote so that I can keep track from month to month. I like to vary my notes from academic, to behavior, to organization, etc... 

Another great idea I picked up at this workshop, is to staple "less desirable" notes in the agenda rather than write them directly inside. This ensures that students do not feel as though the negative note is something permanent. They make a mistake, their parents are informed, we move on. 

I hope you enjoyed this BRIGHT idea! Please consider joining me on Facebook, Instagram, and my Teacher Store.

For more bright ideas from 150 different bloggers, please browse through the link-up below and choose a topic/grade level that interests you. Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

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Quick and Easy Positive Reinforcement Idea

Hi Everyone,

I'm so excited to be linking up with some FANTABULOUS bloggers in the Bright Ideas Blog Hop!

Today, I will be sharing a quick and easy tip for positive reinforcement.

This year, I was faced with a challenge! My class is quite rambunctious, to say the least, and I have some behavior difficulties that can be tough to manage. 

The behavior consultant from our school board has been a great help and shared this idea with me. It really works and it so quick and efficient.

Place a pencil holder on a bookcase or desk. Be sure to place it somewhere where the student in question will have a direct and good view of it. Place 3 or 4 pencils, popsicle sticks, or in this case, flower pens in it. 

It is essential to have a discussion with the student before you begin this strategy. We sat down with our student and explained that we wanted to work on staying seated during class time. We told her that she will have four chances (i.e. four flower pens) during each period. Each time she gets up, the teacher removes one pen. At the end of the period, we check to see if there are any pens left. If so, the student receives a small prize and praise. Prizes can be as simple as a sticker, 10 minutes on the computer, read a book to the class, etc... The list goes on and on! If there are NO remaining pens, then there is no prize, but also NO negative feedback. 

This works great for those students who do not respond well to consequences. There is no reprimand for emptying the pencil holder, but not praise either. This helps alleviate anxiety and stress.

What I really like about this strategy, is that it is not disruptive to the class. There is no need to call upon the student or stop the lesson each time he/she misbehaves. Simply walk by and remove a pen without talking or interrupting your lesson. It is also great because the other students are unaware of the reminder/cue. The student is not being singled out in front of his/her peers. 

It is QUICK, EASY, & POSITIVE!

Keep on hopping and check out the next BRIGHT IDEA over at Seusstastic. 

Mel D. is a first grade teacher with FABULOUS ideas!

Her post is all about Classroom Management. 

Until next time...

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