Teachers in Tiaras

In high school, we made Warm & Fuzzies for each other at the end of every semester in theater class. I ran across these just yesterday and I cherish them just as much as I did years ago! Here is my take on an elementary version.

Materials Needed:

-Construction Paper

-Markers/pencils

Instructions:

1. Allow each student to chose his or her favorite color of construction paper.

2. Have each of them write/draw their name at the top being as creative as they like. Be sure to tell them not to write too big.

3. Pass the papers around the room allowing about 1-2 minutes with each student. Instruct the students to write one positive word about the student whose paper they have. The tricky part is, no word can be repeated on the Warm & Fuzzy so be sure to have your thesaurus handy!

4. When everyone in the class has his or her own paper returned, allow time for reading and sharing.

When doing this activity, be sure to emphasize that compliments only will be accepted. Also, you may chose to make it anonymous or have the students write their initials on each W&F. I always thought the mystery of who wrote what was a huge part of the fun. This could also easily work at the high school level (as it did in my theater class), but just be sure it doesn’t go horribly wrong. 

Check out The Cornerstone for an unbelievable amount of resources on how the end the school year right and avoid burnout!

Find the one thing that always makes you smile. Save pictures drawn of you and notes and poems. Save encouraging notes or emails from parents and students. Then, whenever you have a bad day or feel like it isn’t worth it, pull those things out. Read them over and over if  you have to! I keep this picture that one of my sweet girls wrote on a whiteboard during free time. 

(Sorry for all the markings. Didn’t want to post my name or hers on the Internet!)

I will always and forever believe that students don’t need to work their minds to make it to the teacher. Teachers should jump through hoops, under the bushes, and over the rock wall to make it to their students.

Do everything you can to help your students to understand even if that means switching up the lesson plan or the assessment method. If your class loathes book reports, use alternatives.

Yes, curriculum and standards are very important, but knowledge is also. The best way to teach students is to know them and relate to them.

Lots of you were interested in the fake Facebook I made on Dr. Seuss. I did a little research and found several templates to create these “fakebooks.”

1. Fakebook

2. My Fake Wall: It is necessary to create an account for this website, so it might not be ideal for students. Otherwise, the “fake walls” look awesome!

3. Microsoft Word Template: This is probably the most practical outlet for this assignment since most schools and students have Word. 

4. Google Docs Template

5. PowerPoint Template: This is excellant for presentation of the accounts.

These can be used as alternative book reports, presentations on scientists, historians, and more.

A free app on the Common Core Standards! I’m so excited! My nerd is showing! (Discovered via @EduMajorProblem)

I hope to never, ever be the teacher that kills creativity.

Google Docs is an incredible and somewhat underused resource. Dr. Ryan Visser, an educational technology professor at both Clemson and Anderson University, really helped me realize all of the possible uses of Google Docs. The most valuable resource to me is by far Google Forms. I attached a very clear, step-by-step tutorial written by Dr. Visser on how to create a form.

Although the tutorial focuses on a parent information form, these can be used for several assignments in the classroom. The form can be formatted for at-home quizzes, interest questionnaires, and so much more. The forms are so easy to make! Another great use for them is to create chapter quizzes on several novels for the students to take either in class or at home to show reading comprehension. The quizzes can be saved on Google Docs year after year to use for all classes. 

I cannot wait to use this for the Back-to-School parent and student interest form. Google stores all responses in a simple easy to read spreadsheet immediately after the form is completed. 

Check out the tutorial now, and I would like to thank Dr. Visser for allowing me to share this with each of you. 

I have to admit I still get quite confused about charter schools. This video is very informational! I love it!

Awesome and very descriptive tutorials on Google Earth, Interactive Websites and Tools, Presentation Design, and Flipcharts. Incredibly helpful and easy to use!

There are tons of websites and prompts to make a “Facebook” on anyone! I created this one on my favorite author.

Have your students create a Facebook full of friends, statuses, and wall updates on characters as an alternative book report. 

Use clipboards on the bulletin board to hang up student work. Simply change the title with each assignment and hang the work on the boards rather than switching the bulletin board each period. Or use the same title (such as writing in this one) to display writing work from the whole year.