Bright Ideas Year in Review

Welcome to the November edition of the Bright Ideas Link- Up! This one is a special one! Over the past 10 months, we have shared thousands of great ideas through our monthly Bright Ideas blog posts. This month, we’re re-capping all of those great ideas, just in case you missed any! Below you will find some of my bright ideas from the past several months:

As I moved to fourth grade, I had to rework how I organized my students work. My kiddos really loved it and it really helped me to keep track of who had turned in their paper and who had not! 

I really loved everything about our Camp Write Along and these activities were perfect for soothing the testing season anxiety that kids have as they approach their standardized testing!

I think this Bright Idea may just be my favorite! I always look for ways to incorporate interactive notebooks and this post definitely will help you set up your notebooks too! 

I prepared this post as I was planning for my Meet the Teacher at the beginning of the year! It worked out so well, I used it again this week for my Parent Orientation this week!

I was totally motivated by the documentary, TEACH, and my own Donors Choose project for this post on how to use contact paper in your classroom to provide more work space for your students!

I truly hope that you have enjoyed these ideas and that you found an idea that would works for you! 

It is so much fun to share these ideas with you!  Be sure to check out the link up below for tons more bright ideas from my friends! 

An InLinkz Link-up

Bright Ideas Hop - Table Top Trash Cans

Here I am again! I am so excited that I am able to participate again in the amazing Bright Ideas Blog Hop! It is definitely one of my favorite hops and love to see all the AWESOME ideas! This month has been CRAZY! Seriously...it has been a whirlwind.

For my Bright Idea this month, I am sharing my solution to all the scraps that are left behind after my lessons. We love to make foldables but as we all know, they can be super messy! I love the plastic table top trash cans but those can get expensive and with the begin of the school year, it just wasn't in the budget. 

So I decide to take a look around the room and I came up with an idea! Tissue paper boxes. Yes...the same ones that seem to be completely empty as soon as you out them out for the kiddos! I had three boxes and to my surprise, they were perfect! 

My kiddos just put them in the middle of their table, and just like those cute little trash cans, they  placed all their scraps in the box. It was perfect...and didn't cost me a dime! The kiddos can easily dump them into our recycling bin and they stack neatly in my closets. I couldn't be more happy about this super simple solution to a messy situation!

If you enjoyed this bright idea, please consider joining me on Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest for more great ideas.

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

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Bright Ideas Blog Hop - Meet the Teacher Communication Booksmarks

It's that time again! I love the Bright Ideas Linky and this idea is just in time for Meet the Teacher! School here starts for me on Monday and the kiddos will come to school on Friday for one of the BIGGEST events of the year... Meet the Teacher!

It is such an important day... and you know what they say about a first impression...make it good! It's your first meeting with parents and students and sets the tone for a great year!

One of the most important things that I want my parents to know is that I truly want to be there for their children...and for them. Communication is critical and it starts on day one!


When parents and students arrive, they begin to look around and become familiar with our classroom.  On my boards, I create posters for the parents with all the ways to communicate with me and be involved in our classroom. Each of these have QR Codes for quick and easy access to tons and tons of websites and resources that are used to communicate. From my Teacher Wish List to my phone number/email, all parents have to do is scan and save! It's that easy!

 

Now, some parents may need to leave or may not be able to make the event so this is a little trick that I think will make a great resource, not only for Meet the Teacher, but all year long!

Those same little QR Codes that I created (I use the website qrstuff.com) can be saved. Once made, they can be used as part of your teacher signature in your emails or posted to your social media. My favorite are these little guys.....

These bookmarks make a WONDERFUL way to get the information to all parents, can be out on a frig at home after Meet the Teacher and can also be handed out throughout the year (parent conferences, new students, the possibilities are endless!)

If you enjoyed this bright idea, please consider joining me on Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest for more great ideas.

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

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Bright Ideas Blog Hop- A Little Trick for Duck Tape

It's that time again!!! It's time for the monthly Bright Ideas Blog Hop and I have a fun little trick for you!

I don't know about you but I just love duct tape! It's comes in about a gazillion different colors and patterns and it can be used for so many different purposes! Long ago are the days of that yucky plain gray tape!

One of the many ways that I use it in class is to prepare my interactive notebooks for my students. 

Duct tape can be used on the binding to help organize the subjects by color/pattern and are perfect for creating pockets in the back of your notebooks for all those little loose ends. 

But here are two little tricks that I use when cutting duct tape:

1. Save your place! I can't tell you how many times I can't find the end of the tape. 

So what I do is place a paperclip to mark the start! Simple....but it works like a charm!

Don't you love it?!?

2. Use wax paper to cut your duct tape. It won't stick to your scissors or to itself and 

you can actually cut it in a straight line! It's awesome and so simple!

Hopefully you will find these just as useful as I did! 

If you would like to know more about my interactive notebooks 

just click here!

If you enjoyed this bright idea, please consider joining me on 

Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest or Twitter for more great ideas.

Thanks for stopping by! Make sure to check out the rest of the Bright Ideas!

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Bright Ideas- Writing on the Walls!

It's time for some more Bright Ideas and I have a super fun one to share with you! 

My idea was inspired by the documentary TEACH, which aired last fall. One of the teachers was teaching Algebra to 9th grade students and piloted a program to help her students to succeed. Part of what occurred was that the room was a 360 degree classroom, where students had wipe boards all around them. Every single wall. She used this to create an AMAZING collaborative environment for her students to be able to work through problems, watch others work problems and have conversations about their strategies.

I feel in love.

Then I thought....how can I do that? I couldn't very well buy giant wipe boards! My classroom has two already (one that is somewhat covered with my Promethean board) but the rest of the room is mostly large blue cabinets....and then it hit me!

WRITE AND WIPE CONTACT PAPER!

So I wrote a Donor's Choose grant for several rolls of write and wipe contact paper and expo markers! Here are the results...

 

This was the easiest project and is going to have so many rewards! The students can get out of their seats, allows for collaboration and creates an environment that fun, save and productive!  This worked beautifully with task cards from all subjects and will make a great resource for writing reading responses, editing and so much more! I hope you enjoyed this idea and are inspired to show "the writing on the wall" in your classroom! 

If you enjoyed this bright idea, please consider joining me on 

Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest or Twitter for more great ideas.

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

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Bright Ideas Blog Hop...Lowering Test Anxiety!

It's spring and for most of us that means we are about to move into what could be one of the most stressful times of the year. State testing season is upon us and more than anything, it is important to keep your classroom environment a positive one. Kiddos want to do there best but with some grades facing 3, maybe even 4 tests in a one month period, stress and anxiety levels can definitely hit an all time high!

This is my first year in a STAAR testing grade and it has been intense! I love teaching fourth grade and all that comes with it but won't deny the stress that comes with want my students to perform to their full potential. I know that if I am feeling it....they are too. 

Here are a few tips that I have picked up along the way this year that have helped lower testing anxiety: 

It All Begins with YOU!

Yes...you. What you feel they feel. It comes out even when you are really trying not to let anyone see it. Take care of yourself and find ways to relax. Use the data that you have collected to drive your instruction and to make the most efficient use of your time. Plan your lesson carefully and with precision so that you can guide your students learning. BREATHE.....and remember...your kids need you to be their role model. They need you to show them how to take the anxious energy that comes with state testing and channel it to meet and challenge even our own wildest expectations. 

 Make test prep FUN! 

We are having an absolute blast practicing all the skills that they have learned through fun themed weeks, games and competition! Camp Write Along was our week for review and test prep for the 2 day writing STAAR and I could literally see the stress melt away as they worked through the fun camp activities of the week. The focus was no longer "the test" but more about celebrating all the amazing things that we have learned this year to become amazing writers. 

Next week, we will be having Beach Retreat which will be our time to lounge and relax as we comb over all the awesome skills that they have mastered in math and reading. I CAN'T WAIT...and neither can the kids!

Everyone LOVES a little competition!

Rather than wasting away time running of worksheets for the kiddos to do, turn that review from boring to fabulous by playing games to engage the students! I have purchased and ABSOLUTELY love the templates that I have bought for games such as Family Feud, Jeopardy, Are You Smarter Than Your Teacher and so many other quiz shows! Talk about student engagement and instant fun!

Brain Breaks 

We all need them....yes....even you! Taking a moment to stretch, move, sing or dance is almost like a reset for any lesson you may be teaching. When I see my students starting to look as though they are reaching the maximum potential....we stop. We do something to get us moving and change our train of thought and then we are ready to hit the ground running once again. Read your kids. They will let you know when they are ready and it will greatly improve stress and anxiety in those last few days of test prep!

Show a Lot of LOVE!

This is when our kids really need us to step it up and show them just how much we love them! Affirmations of a job well done make a huge difference. Celebrate the successes....both BIG and SMALL! Make it a team effort where your class is a network of friends that will encourage and support each other. Start a class tradition (like a lucky charm or a special cheer) to foster an environment of support for your students. Bring in your administrators, parents and staff to show your students that they are AMAZING and that everyone around them truly believes they will work to their fullest potential and show there very best work.

               

I wish you all the very best and hope that each of you have a wonderfully "stress free" testing season! 

If you enjoyed this bright idea, please consider joining me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest or Twitter for more fun and ideas!

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!

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Bright Idea Blog Hop- How to Manage Student Work in the Older Grades

Welcome to the Bright Idea Blog Hop! 

I am so happy to have you here! My name is Lynda. I have taught for 14 years, most of which were spent in first and second grade. The little ones are adorable and the amount of growth that occurs in just one school year is amazing. This year is my first year to teach 4th grade and am having a blast! 

With the change in grades, I have had to tweak some of my classroom procedures. One of my many learning curves has been how to collect and maintain student work. This is definitely different for me because I was use to collecting things as a class. My students are in control of their work, managing their time and turning in the assignments in an efficient way and it was my job to find what worked best for all of us. 

So here are a few tips that I can suggest that worked beautifully with my older students:

These drawers are my friend. I use two of them to collect papers from my kiddos. Now this doesn't look like much but after a little make over, these little beauties have saved me hours of work!

And the big reveal.....

TA DAH! It's magic! (Well, a little teacher magic that is!)

My students know to turn in complete assignments to these drawers according to subject. In each of  the drawer, the kids find the roster with their name which I use to help keep track of all the assignments as they are turned in to me.

               

         

I ask that they highlight two things: 

1) Their name on their paper to make sure that they put their name on their paper 

2) Highlight their name on my roster so as to make sure I SEE that they have turned in their paper.

On the roster, there is a number that represents each kiddo. I have those numbers on magnets and put their number on the board under "Missing Assignments". This also works out well with make up work when students  are absent (because they aren't there to highlight their name when the assignments are turned in.)

When the students see that their number is on the board, they go to the binder that holds their sign in sheets, and check to see which assignment is missing. I always keep extra copies of the assignments in a basket (just in case they have lost it.) Once they have completed it, they turn it into the "Missing" drawer and all is right with the world!

It has been a blast to be able to share this with you! I will be posting the labels soon so make sure to come by and snatch those up as well! I can't wait for the next blog hop.....I already have some BIG BRIGHT IDEAS waiting for you!

Next up on the blog hop is Mandy of A Special Kind of Class has a great post for 

you all about how to organize for guided reading! Just click on the button below to check it out! 

An InLinkz Link-up

An InLinkz Link-up

Bright Ideas Blog Hop!

I am so excited and absolutely thrilled to be a part of this awesome blog hop! There are so many amazing bloggers with great ideas that will definitely make life in the classroom much smoother!

I taught in the primary grades for many years and have made the big jump to fourth grade this year. Like with anything new, there has been a HUGE learning curve for me! A different age group, a new curriculum, a new team and state testing are all but a few of the changes that have occurred this year! So I decided early on that there had to be away for me to use some on my best practices that I used in the primary grades and develop that in fourth grade.

Here is what this little primary teacher brought with her to the big kid side of the hall:

1. Music and movement

I realized pretty quickly that the big kids were still...well...kids. Incorporating music whenever possible makes class fun, helps to review the concept in a new and appealing way and lets them get some energy out (in a positive way)! My students are so talented that they will write their own songs (parodies of popular hits) and share them with the class! Talk about higher level and critical thinking!

2. Stations 

As I came over to intermediate side of the school, I really wondered what this would look like and how it would work. I had all my stations assigned using Daily 5 in the primary grades and I really wasn't sure if it would translate when moving to an upper grade. Not to mention, I was departmentalized and only taught reading (and now teach all subjects to my kiddos). But, I am happy to report that with a few tweaks and changes, it is working! Whatever system you chose, do what works for you....but make sure you do it! Small group instruction time is critical and will definitely be worth every minute of effort that you but into your stations....and more importantly into your students.

3. Conversation is a must. 

One thing that I learned really early in fourth grade was that they love to talk. Love, love, love it. So, why not use that to my advantage? I was a primary ELL and GT teacher for years and in my classroom used the art of conversation to build language, listening and speaking skills with my little ones. With my older students, I am able to continue to work on those skills and so much more. Through their conversations, they create meaning and understanding. They are able to reason, explain and justify their responses. It is absolutely amazing the conversations they will have when they are given the liberate to make connections, speak freely and represent their view of the concept. It is amazing.

4. Read Aloud

Yes, I have a big carpet in my big kid room and yes, we all sit on it and I read to them. They are not to old to be read to and really do enjoy a good read aloud. So much modeling, thinking and conversation comes from read alouds in the primary grades and I am happy to report that it is alive and well in this fourth grade classroom! I have always loved the connection between reading and writing. It is essential and using mentor texts to model great thinking and amazing writing are a prefect place to start. 

There are so many more things that I will continue to share as I navigate the world of intermediate elementary! This has been such a wonderful experience and as I go into the spring and experience state testing and other benchmarks along the way, I know that this little blog is where I will be sharing my thoughts.

For all my new friends, thank you so much for stopping by on this AWESOME hop and for all my sweet friends that have joined me on this ride...thank you!

Next on the the Bright Ideas Blog Hop is Jennifer of Luckey Frog's Lilly Pad! She has a great post about getting students moving while they learn....don't miss it! 

You can also check out our Big Ideas Pinterest board full of tons of great ideas! Happy blogging!

More Bright Ideas for Lower Grades:

1. Using Hallway Time Wisely	2. Adding In Movement	3. Three Steps to Increased Student Engagement	4. Partner Talk Tips
5. Singapore Math	6. Start a Kindness Revolution	7. Easy No Sew Chair Pockets	8. Managing Your Turn-In Tray
9. Valentine's Day Door for Craft-Phobic Teachers	10. Tips from the Trenches	11. Fluency Tips and Tricks	12. Fishies Can't Write ~ Writing with Class Mascots
13. Goodbye Carpet Squares!	14. Science Centers from Dollar Store Finds	15. Interrupter Stopper! Classroom Management	16. Color Coding Text Evidence
17. School-year Resolutions!	18. Student Leaving the Classroom Board	19. Unique Art Ideas	20. Brain Breaks for Winter
21. Gallery Walk	22. Dice and card games	23. Reading Instruction with Readworks	24. Blurt Chart + Minute to Win It
25. Class/Student Supplies	26. Learning CAN come from Creative Hands	27. DIY Privacy Screens	28. Whole Brain Teaching The BIG 7
29. Celebrate Writing	30. Tap Light Ideas	31. Adapting activities	32. Organizing Student Data
33. Cooperative Learning	34. Edible Science	35. Don't Rip Your Hair Out - Classroom Management	36. Bright Ideas for iPads in Elementary
37. Simple 5 Minute Game	38. In case of emergency	39. A Differentiated Kindergarten Bright Idea	40. The Many Uses of Mini-Desks!
41. Classroom Management & Brain Break Ideas!	42. Pinterest for Smooth Transitions	43. Word Making Fun	44. Technology in the Classroom
45. Keep 'Em Learning in the Hall!	46. Teacher's Technology Station	47. Building Reading Stamina in Kindergarten	48. Don't Waste a Second!
49. Managing Computer Time	50. A Classroom Bank	51. Classroom Management...When all else fails....	52. Using Sentence Frames To Help Students Write
53. Data Notebooks in Kindergraten	54. Making Every Minute Count with Math Facts	55. Help from DonorsChoose	56. Save Time With Labels
57. good behavior... no matter where you are!	58. All About Fidgets!	59. Math Journal Fun!	60. GINORMOUS TUB Organization
61. Magic e sort	62. Keeping Kinders Organized	63. Building Vocabulary	64. Scientist Lab Coats in 3 Easy Steps
65. A Solution To Copycats	66. High Fliers	67. Teacher Heaven	68. Easily Distracted Students
69. Colorful Center Creation Idea	70. Whole Brain Teaching: Super Improver Wall	71. Twitter, Tweets & Graffiti	72. Best Toolbox E V E R!
73. Dollar Store Items in the Classroom	74. Organizing Supplies	75. Early Number Ideas Using Feet	76. Interactive Word Wall
77. Small Group Writing Conferences	78. Kidblog in the Classroom	79. Visual Spelling Practice	80. A TOUCH of Technology during Daily 5
81. Offering Choice in the Classroom	82. Accountable Talk	83. Displaying Student Work	84. Portfolio Writing
85. Ten Tips For Helping Learning Stick	86. Why didn't I think of that! {organization}	87. Creating with Classroom Materials	88. Writing mini-rubrics
89. Literacy Studio	90. Attention Getting Signals	91. Organizing Games in the Classroom	92. Making word work independent!
93. Coin Counting Fluency	94. Reusing Containers for Learning	95. Get Kids Moving- AND Learning!	96. Groundhogs and Shadows
97. Think Math	98. Engage Students Outdoors with Authentic Writing	99. Organizing Classroom School Supplies	100. An Adaptable Learning Game
101. Communicating with Gen Ed Teachers	102. Classroom Organization

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More Bright Ideas for Upper Grades:

1. Critical and Creative Thinking in Minutes A Day!	2. Get great discussions going in your room!	3. Organizing Lesson Plans	4. Indoor Recess: Try Mum Ball?
5. 7-Up! Introducing New Vocabulary	6. Math Manipulatives on a Budget	7. Secret Student (Even for Big Kids)	8. Displaying Mentor Texts
9. Just Add Kids and Questions- Quick Review Game	10. Classroom Organization: Colored Pencils	11. Save Your Old Cords	12. Making Meaningful Connections
13. The BIG Move (From Primary to Intermediate)	14. Planning with Pinterest	15. Making the Most of Classroom Jobs	16. Igniting a Passion for Learning in Kids!
17. Building Fluency	18. Ideas to Maximize Learning in the Classroom	19. Ten Tips for Making Learning Stick	20. Room Organization
21. Special Delivery Book Bags	22. Using WebQuests	23. Attention Getting Signals	24. Organization in a Departmentalized Classroom
25. Mixing Guided Reading and Literature Circles	26. Student Response Cards & Organization	27. $2 Versatile Valentine's Center	28. Make Grading a Little Easier
29. Stress Relievers for a Bright Teacher!!

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